Mahabharata - The Story of Savitri and Satyavana

Aswapati, the king of the Madra, was a very pious and dutiful king. He was a great giver of wealth, performed sacrifices and was well loved by his subjects. He was truthful and a master of passion. But the king had one great regret. He did not have any offspring and he was growing old. He therefore did a yagna for eighteen long years. He fasted and ate only one time a day, poured oblations in the fire to satisfy goddess savitri, led a life of austere brahmacharya or celibacy and thus at the end of eighteen years the goddess was highly pleased with him and appeared to him. When the king asked for many offspring the goddess gave him a boon that a beautiful daughter will be born to him who will fulfill all his desires. The king was delighted and in due course of time he got rewarded with a daughter whom he named as Savitri after the goddess. The daughter was beauty embodied, she was verily the Shree or Lakshmi incarnated, such was her beauty and intelligence. When she grew up and attained the prime of her youth the king tried his best to get her married to suitable men, but none were brave enough to ask for her hands as she was not only beautiful, but also pure and radiant like a goddess. So the king, who became sad on account of his failure, asked his daughter to go and find a suitor herself. So Savitri along with a royal retinue went to the hermitage of the royal sages in a forest to seek blessings of the the great sages. When she came back to Madra, sage Narada had visited his father. Seeing her Narada said to her father Aswapati as to why was he not giving his daughter in marriage to a worthy suitor? The king replied that he had sent Savitri for the purpose of selecting a husband for herself and perhaps she had come back accomplishing that mission. He then asked Savitri to tell them as to whom she had selected as her husband. Savitri said that in the forest she met prince Satyavana, whom she had mentally chosen as her husband. Narada became very grave by listening to this and Aswapati asked Narada as to who Satyavana was and what did he know about him. Narada said that in the Salwa kingdom there was a king named Dyumatsena who was wise and virtuous. But he became blind through misfortune and his enemies had taken away his kingdom. With his wife and his child he left his kingdom and came to the forest and lived like a hermit. The child who grew up in that ashrama was Satyavana whom Savirtri had chosen as her husband. The king and queen were truthful and hence the child was named as Satyavana. He was an excellent prince, of noble qualities. He was truthful, handsome and had all good qualities. He looked after his parents and was always magnanimous. He was pious and dutiful and an ideal husband. However he had one defect that would overshadow all his qualities. The king asked Narada about the defect. Narada said that Satyavana was destined to be extremely short lived. In fact he would die in a year from then. The king was saddened by this and asked his daughter to change his mind. But Savitri said that she could not chose anybody else, come what may. Since she has mentally selected Satyavana as her husband she would marry him and nobody else. The king acquiesced and Narada blessed her heartily and took his leave. The king began to make preparations for his daughter's wedding. 

The king visited the hermitage of Dyumatsena in the forest on foot and disclosed his identity to the blind king who sat on a kusha grass seat under a tree. When the blind former king asked for the purpose of his visit Aswapati told him that he sought an alliance with him by marrying off his daughter to Dyumatsena's son Satyavana. At first Dyumtasena did not agree to the proposal saying that though he had desired such an alliance when he was a king, now that he was living as an ascetic it would be extremely difficult for Savitri to live the life of deprivation, leaving all the luxury of her palace. But Aswapati told him that since they were equal as kings the alliance was only desirable. Moreover his daughter had chosen the husband and therefore she would be capable of living with her husband anywhere. Such an alliance would only be mutually beneficial. Dyumatsena agreed and Savitri and Satyavana got married in presence of all the sages and the munis of the forest, following the norms. Savitri came to reside in that hermitage. She got rid of all her ornaments and costly robes and wore only the clothes as worn by the hermitage dwellers. She behaved impeccably towards her mother and father in law, pleased them in every way and also loved her husband and shared all the work of the hermitage willingly. She led a very happy life. Everybody loved her because of her sweetness of nature. But inward she had one nagging fear, she knew that her husband would die in a year and she dreaded that thought. 

Atlast a year passed and Savitri knew that the appointed moment would come our days later. She began to undertake fast for three nights and when Dyumatsena requested her not to undertake the fast she replied that she was doing it for the sake of her husband. At this Dyumatsena, who was concerned about her delicate health nevertheless agreed. On the fourth day, the day of breaking her fast, Savitri was blessed by all the Brahmanas of the forest who recited Swasti verses and blessed her never to suffer from widowhood. When requested to break her fast Savitri said that she would do so only at sunset. On that day Satyavana had to go to the forest for cutting wood for the sacred fire. Savitri requested for his permission to accompany him. Satyavana at first objected saying that the path through the wood would be too torturous for her. Besides, she was already tired and lean with her fasting. However he would not deny Savitri the only request that she had made after her marriage. So he agreed provided Dyumatsena agreed. Savitri took permission from his father in law. He was also concerned about her health but could not deny her daughter in law the only request that she had made to him since marriage. Savitri thus went with his husband to the wood. This was her first outing with her husband and she knew that it was the last one. She was very afraid but she did not express it. Quietly she went with him deep into the forest. She saw the lovely blossoming trees, the peacocks and other birds and animals and the streams and rivulets. Her husband started gathering fruits and cutting the logs and she helped him.

After sometime Satyavana was tired and he had a terrible headache. He requested Savitri to sit for a while so that he could sleep for sometime placing his head on her lap. Savitri did so and she knew that the moment had come. She began to count every minute. Suddenly she saw a terrible and dark looking person, clad in red attire and his head decked with a diadem. He was of large proportion, carried a noose in his hand and was dreadful to look at. Savitri stood up reverentially and with folded hands asked for the identity of the god of death. The god replied, that he was Yama, the lord of the pitris or the ancestors. Because Savitri had acquired considerable merit in her piousness, asceticism and virtue that she could see him and talk to him. When asked by Savitri why did he come in person when normally his associates come to take the dead to his abode, Yama replied that Satyavana was extremely meritorious and that was why he had come himself. Then Yama with his noose brought out the subtle body from Satyavana's body, which was the size of a thumb, and tied it to his noose and went southwards. When the subtle essence left the body, the body lost all its luster and remained motionless.  Savitri followed Yama. At this Yama asked her to desist from following him further, go back to the hermitage and perform the last rites of her husband. But Savitri continued to follow him. At this Yama was irritated and told her sternly to go back. Savitri was intrepid. She replied that she was bound to follow her husband as per her marital vow. Also it is ordained that by following the seven steps with anybody one becomes friend to that person. Also by her religious merit she had been able to come thus far unimpeded. So according to her, acquiring religious merit should be th purpose of life for anybody, be in any mode of life like brahmacharya or studenship, garhasthya or householder, vanaprasthi or forest dweller and sannyas or renunciate. By keeping one's senses under control and by observing vows as well as practising one of the four modes of life sincerely and as per injunction of the scriptures one can acquire religious merit, as has been declared by the wise. Hearing this wisdom Yama was extremely satisfied and asked her for a boon, anything apart from her husband's life. Savitri requested that her father in law Dyumatsena should get back his eyesight and should enjoy a good health. Yama agreed and proceeded further. But Savitri still followed her. Yama by this time was more malleable and he told Savitri that since she was fasting and weak she should go back and should not come thus far. Savitri told him that the wise men said that the company of wise and great men was always desirable, even for a short period of time. One should always keep the company of the righteous and a friendship with them was even more desirable. This was in effect a praise of Yama because Savitri was in his company. Yama was highly pleased and he asked for a second boon. Savitri said that her fatehr in law should get back his kingdom and should never be defeated by his enemies. Yama agreed to grant that wish and asked her to return. But Savitri continued to keep pace with him. Savitri told Yama that since he acted according to the decree of punishing the evil doers and restraining mankind from committing sins his name was Yama (literally - controller). One must be always kind to the fellow creatures and must never cause any injury or harm. Everything in this world is transitory as the death of her husband had revealed. Therefore one should cultivate devotion and faith and should love everybody. Yama said that her words were like nectar to him and he was very pleased with her and therefore she could ask for a third boon, except for the life of her husband. Savitri, knowing her own father's wish now went to fulfill it. She asked for hundred sons for her father who would perpetuate her father's lineage. Yama granted and said that one hundred illustrious sons would be born to her father (a boon that was earlier sought by Aswapati to goddess Savitri) and they would perpetuate his race. Then Yama told her to go back. But Savitri continued and told Yama that she did not feel any fatigue as she was with her husband. She also told him that Yama's other name was Vaivaswata as he was the powerful son of Vivaswan, the Solar Deity. Also he was the Lord of the Justice as he dispensed justice righteously and without any discrimination. One should always seek the company of the righteous people as goodness of heart alone inspired the confidence of all creatures. Yama was again very pleased and said that he never heard such beautiful viewpoints from anybody save her. She should therefore ask for a fourth boon and then go away. Savitri then asked for a hundred sons that would be begotten by her and by Satyavana. Yama did not think much before he consented to the boon and resumed his journey. Savitri however did not leave his company. She went alongside and said to him that righteous always sought the company of pious and righteous. Righteous people through their actions upheld all morality and therefore the heaven and the earth. Righteous through their actions caused the sun to stay in its course. The righteous continued to do good without any expectation knowing that it was the eternal practice. Righteous were the protectors of all and the righteous maintained the dignity of the office and the position bestowed upon them, implying indirectly that since Yama was righteous he would do only what was right and just. Yama, hearing all this was mighty pleased. He knew that Savitri wanted to get her husband back to life and therefore he had agreed to the fourth boon. He was merely testing Savitri's tenacity, wisdom and fortitude all along. He now told her to ask for any impossible boon, well knowing what was expected. She did not let go of this chance. She therefore told Yama that she had already asked for a hundred sons that she would beget from her husband Satyavana. That would not be possible if Satyavana was dead. Therefore Yama should give back his life. Yama was only too willing. He loosened his noose and let Satyavana's subtle body go back to his body. He said that Satyavana and Savitri would live long and their fame would be eternal. His other boons would also be effective immediately, i.e. Savitri's father in law will get back his eyesight and kingdom, Aswapati would get his hundred offspring of his wife, the daughter from Malava kingdom called Malavi, and Savitri and Satyavana would have hundred sons that would perpetuate their race. Moreover this story would grant all of them immortality. Thus saying, Yama departed for his abode. He had already freed the soul of Satyavana.

Savitri, being pleased with her accomplishment, went back to the place where Satyavana's corpse lay and put his head back on her lap. Soon Satyavana came back to life as if he woke up from a dream. He was his former self again. He told Savitri that he had a most wonderful dream, that a mighty person was carrying him away somewhere and he was helplessly hanging on to a noose. Savitri told him that it was Yama who had carried him, now he had gone restoring him to life and all was well. It was already night and they should go back to the hermitage, else his parents would be very worried. 

Satyavana hearing this was grief stricken. He said that never before he was so late in returning to the hermitage. His parents would be very worried and they could not live without him. Once when he returned late they had searched for him everywhere. This time they would be sick with worry and might come to harm. If anything happened to the parents Satyavana said that he would not be able to live and therefore they must hurry and go back to the hermitage even though it was dark. Saying this, Satyavana began to cry. Savitri, then told him that if she was virtuous and truthful, no harm would come their way and in the way of their parents, and they would be alright. Saying this she supported her husband and went along the same way that they had come. They had lost the fruits but Savitri took hold of her husband's axe and also also held her husband and quickly proceeded. After sometime Satyavana could recognize the path saying that he could see the palasa trees that would lead to the ashrama and therefore they should continue. By that time he had regained his strength and identified the path that would lead to the hermitage and proceeded quickly.

In the meanwhile Dyumatsena had regained his vision and was surprised as he could see everything. The old couple then realized that their son and daughter in law had not returned and they were extremely worried. They searched everywhere in all the hermitages and wailed loudly. All the other hermitage dwellers came out and helped to calm them. The sages recounted to the king stories of valours of other kings and royal families to distract them. Then one Brahmin Suvarchas said that since Savitri was extremely pious, performed austerities and self restraint, there was no doubt that Satyavana was alive. Then Gautama said by virtue of his knowledge of Vedas, austerities and the performance of all religious rites he knew for sure that Satyavana was alive. Then his disciple said that what his guru said must be true and Satyavana was alive as Savitri bore all auspicious marks. Bharadwaja told the king that Satyavana must be alive as Savitri was chaste, self restraint and pious. Dalabhya said that getting back the vision was indeed a good sign for Dyumatsena. It means that something good must be happening to them and since Savitri did not take any food and completed her vows, her power of penance would keep her husband safe. Another sage Apastamba said that all signs indicate that the prince was safe. Dhaumya told the king that Satyavana was pious and meritorious and he must be safe and he had possessed all signs of a long life. Thus comforted Dyumatsena was assured and soon his son and daughter in law reached there. All the sages then made them sit beside the fire and asked them the reason for the delay which caused so much anxiety. Satyavana said truthfully that he felt a headache in the forest and fell asleep and when he woke up it was very late. He knew nothing more. The rishi Gautama however realized that there was more to this and that Savitri held the key to the mystery. He therefore asked Savitri to narrate everything if it was not a secret. Savitri then told them the story truthfully, that she knew about her husband's imminent death owing to the prediction of Narada, that she accompanied him to the forest for that purpose, met and convinced Yama who was taking his soul away to the pitri loka, and got wonderful boons for her in laws, her father and herself and her husband. Hearing all these everybody was extremely happy and the sages blessed Savitri saying that she saved the race of the the king which was facing deep calamity.

In the morning there came to the hermitage a large body of people from the kingdom of Salwa. They brought the news that the usurper of Dyumatsena's throne was killed by his minister and all his enemies were slain by his soldiers. The people wanted Dyumatsena back as their king, whether he was blind or not. And when they saw their king healthy and with eyesight restored they were delighted and the king again marched to his kingdom with his army and his subjects singing his praise, accompanied by his son. Savitri also rode in a palanquin together his mother in law Saivya and went to the kingdom like a queen. In due time they had hundred mighty sons and her father also had hundred sons born to her mother Malavi and they lived happily for a long time. Thus Savitri became the symbol of chastity, of righteousness, of love for one's husband to defy even death and became synonymous with the devoted and chaste wife who can bring back her husband to life by her sheer power of penance. Even today people utter the name of Savitri along with Sati, the consort of Shiva who gave up her life not able to withstand the insults hurled at her husband Shiva by her father Dakhsya.

Mahabharata - Story of Mudgala and Durvasa

Sage Mudgala was a pious, truthful person who performed hard austerities together with hims family members. He used to live in Kurukshetra. He lived like a pigeon, i.e. lived by collecting grains from the fields after they have been cut by their owners, also called Unccha vritti, a form of severe austerity. Yet he used to entertain his guests with his limited means. He also performed Vedic injunctions and sacrifices. He collected with his family members the grains from the field for a fortnight and then ate them after duly offering them to the gods and the guests. By the virtue of his penance the food increased manifold when guests came to visit him and many pious and learned Brahmanas partook of that sanctified food. Even the king of gods Indra used to take part in that Yajna and took his share, such was the power of the penance.

One day, sage Durvasa, who was noted for his quick temper, came to hear of the the sacrifice of the sage Mudgala and decided to test him. In behavior and look he was like a maniac. He wandered the earth devoid of any possession or any care for his body. He was always angry and cursed whosoever failed to discharge their duty properly. Everybody was afraid of Durvasa, because of his ability to curse others on account of the toughest austerities that he underwent. Mudgala extended a warm welcome to the sage and washed his feet and gave him an excellent meal with all the grains collected over a period. Durvasa ate up all of that and  smeared all over his body the remaining food without leaving anything fro Mudgala and then went away. Mudgala was not at all angry. He again went for collecting the grains.But Durvasa came again in the next season and ate up all that was offered. Mudgala was not all affected by anger although he was very much afflicted by hunger. Durvasa again came and did the same several times more. Yet, the sage Mudgala, though worn out by hunger, never once did harbour any anger against the sage. Durvasa, who himself had failed to control his anger, was now defeated. Very pleased by the behavior of the sage he said, that by his behavior and extra ordinary self control Mudgala had performed a wonderful feat. Nobody can control the pangs of hunger. Hunger and sense gratification drive even pious men to lose their temper. Mudgala had set example of self restraint. By remaining calm and serene even under the gravest provocation by Durvasa, by completely overcoming the pangs of hunger, Mudgala had conquered those realms of heaven that are unconquered by even the mightiest sages. Therefore he would soon go to his heavenly abode. As soon as Durvasa spoke, the heavenly chariot with the messenger appeared and requested Mudgala to accompany him to the heaven.

Mudgala however asked the celestial messenger to describe him about heaven and then he would decide whether he wanted to go there or not. The celestial messenger said that only pious and virtuous can reach heaven and can enjoy all the pleasures there. In heaven there is neither grief nor sickness nor old age. People enjoy eternal youth and enjoy in the company of the other celestial maidens and gods and get all the objects of enjoyment. There is only pleasure and no pain. People are ever joyous, beautiful and ever free. Higher above the realms of the heaven of Indra are the realms of Brahma where only sages and the highest of the gods live. They are above all pains and pleasures and they enjoy divine bliss. However there is one disadvantage of all heavenly pleasures, that they are temporary. People can live in heaven as long as their karma permits. Once their merits are exhausted they fall back to earth and are born among men and once again go through all the pleasures and pains of life. If perchance they happen to lead a sinful life they may have even inferior births. So the people who have to leave behind heavenly enjoyments and take birth are unhappy as they fall from heaven upon exhaustion of their merits. This is the reality for even Brahma Loka. There the sages may enjoy greater bliss for a greater duration but they will have to take birth again.

Hearing this Mudgala asked him, "is there any realm from where there is no return?" The celestial messenger said that higher than even the realm of Brahma there is the realm of the Vishnu, the Supreme Being, wherefrom there is no return. However only people in whom the knowledge has dawned of the futility of the world of senses can go to that region and they are above all duality of pleasure and pain. They have completely mastered their senses and are not attracted by desires for the material world. They lead a completely selfless and blameless life and in the end attain to the Supreme Being.

Hearing this Mudgala said that he wanted to go to the realm wherefrom there was no return. He did not want the heavenly pleasures as that did not attract him. The celestial messenger and the sage Durvasa went back, and sage Mudgala resorted to his Unccha practice, completely mastered his senses, engaged himself in Yogic contemplation of the Supreme Being and being steadfast on his goal of liberation merged his mind and ego with that of the Supreme Being and thus gave up his body. He became fully emancipated and attained to the supreme Brahman, the pure existence, consciousness and bliss.