Background The
Mahabharata, a vast work of over 100,000 double verses, contains numerous side episodes, some of which are
nested within one another, in addition to the main story, which narrates the battle between the
Pandavas and
Kauravas, two related princely families. The episode of Savitri and Satyavan, known in Sanskrit as
Savitri Upakhyana or
Pativrata Mahatmya Parva, appears as an embedded narrative within the
Vana Parva, the third of the epic's eighteen books.
Savitri Upakhyana, which spans sections 277 to 283 of
Vana Parva, follows
Ramopakhyana (episode of
Rama). In the main narrative,
Yudhishthira, the eldest of the five Pandava brothers, loses his kingdom to the Kauravas in a rigged game of dice and is forced into exile in the forest for twelve years along with his four brothers and
Draupadi, the common wife of the five Pandava brothers. During their exile, Draupadi is abducted by
Jayadratha, a Kaurava ally, but remains steadfast in her devotion to her five husbands, even when offered queenship. Following this event, Yudhishthira asks the sage
Markandeya whether any woman has ever displayed devotion equal to Draupadi’s. In response, Markandeya narrates the tale of Savitri and concludes that Draupadi, like Savitri, will bring fortune to the Pandavas. Pleased, the goddess Savitri appeared to him and asked him to choose a boon. Ashvapati sought the boon of having many sons to extend his dynastic line. The goddess, however, informed him that he would be blessed with a daughter instead. Savitri grew to become a beautiful woman, brimming with such energy that she was often regarded to be a celestial maiden. No man dared to ask for her hand in marriage. On an auspicious day, after she had offered her respects, her father told her to choose a husband with suitable qualities on her own. Accompanied by ministers, she embarked on a quest on her golden chariot, visiting a number of
hermitages and
forests. Upon her return to Madra, Savitri found her father seated with the sage
Narada. She informed her father that she had chosen an exiled prince named Satyavan as her husband, the son of a blind king named Dyumatsena of the
Shalva kingdom; Dyumatsena had been driven out of his kingdom by a foe and led a life of exile as a forest-dweller with his wife Shaivya and son. Narada opined that Savitri had made a bad choice: although he was intelligent, righteous, generous, and handsome, Satyavan was destined to die one year from that day. In response to her father's pleas to choose a different husband, Savitri insisted that she had made up her mind. After Narada expressed his agreement with Savitri's decision, Ashvapati consented to his daughter's choice. Ashvapati and Savitri approached Dyumatsena and Satyavan in the forest to propose the marriage, which was joyfully accepted. Savitri and Satyavan were soon married. Immediately after the wedding, Savitri discarded her jewellery and adopted the bark and red garment attire of a hermit, and lived in perfect obedience and respect to her new parents-in-law and husband. Despite her happiness, she could not stop dwelling on the words of Narada. Three days before the destined death of Satyavan, Savitri started to observe a vow of fasting and stood day and night. Her father-in-law worried that she had taken on too harsh a regimen, but Savitri replied that she has taken an oath to perform these austerities, to which Dyumatsena offered his support. The day of her husband's predicted demise, Savitri offered oblations to the fire and obeisance to the
Brahmanas, completing her vow. She joined Satyavan when he went to chop wood. Growing fatigued due to exertion, he conveyed his desire to sleep to his wife, who placed his head on her lap.
Yama, the god of death, personally arrived to collect the soul of Satyavan with his noose. Distressed, Savitri followed Yama as he carried her husband's soul away. With Yama’s blessings, Savitri returns to the forest and places Satyavan’s head on her lap. He regains consciousness, confused, but she reassures him. As Satyavan and Savitri return, Dyumatsena, having regained his sight, searches anxiously for his son. The sages reassure him, predicting Satyavan’s survival due to Savitri’s virtue. Late at night, the couple arrives at the hermitage, bringing relief to all. Savitri recounts her encounter with Yama and the boons granted—her father-in-law’s sight and kingdom, a hundred sons for her father, and the same for herself and Satyavan. The next morning, messengers announce Dyumatsena’s restoration to the throne, as his usurper has been slain. He returns to his kingdom with his family, and in time, Savitri bears a hundred sons, securing their lineage. ==Influence==