Days passed by, Pandavs were almost coming to the end of their twelve- year period of exile. One more year of exile incognito remained. Once sage Dhaumya proceeded to tell them the story of Savitri that represented power of chaste and loyal wife.

Story of Satyavan and Savitri

Savitri was the beautiful and intelligent daughter of the king Ashwapati. When she attained her youth, the princess decided to select husband for herself. The king gave his permission. Savitri frequented many states and interviewed many princes, but a youth from pious family and meager means caught her attention and she gave him her heart.

His name was Satyavan. The father did not object, but sage Narad warned the king and Savitri not to marry Satyavan as he was to die a premature death on a particular day. But the princess was firm in her resolve. "Come what may, I have decide to marry him, and I won't change my decision now", she said.

It was improper for an Aryan lady to think of somebody else once she had made up her mind to wed someone. They were soon married, and lived happily for some time. Savitri had left her father's palace to live with her in-law's in the forest house. Satyavan worked and Savitri looked after his needs.

On the fateful day when sage Narad had indicated Satyavan's death, Savitri performed special worship and meditated for some extra period of time. The couple went to the forest as usual, Satyavan was not aware of his impending death.

After the morning labour they together took afternoon meals and Satyavan dozed off in the lap of her wife Savitri. Soon she saw the cruel hand of Death approaching her husband. Yamaraj - God of Death - himself had come to take away Satyavan's life-force!

Savitri protested and pleaded, but in vain. Death said, "O Savitri, your pleas do not affect me. You know everyone has to die at the destined hour. That time has come for Satyavan. Do not obstruct my way for I cannot change the hour and mode of death of anyone. Let me do my duty."

But Savitri was not to be put off. She followed Death and told him about her love for Satyavan. She told Yamaraj about the duty of an Aryan lady to follow her husband in joy and sorrow, life and death. She would follow her husband in heaven or hell!

Thus all efforts of Yamaraj were futile to dissuade Savitri to follow him and turn back. Without any food or water, she continued to follow her husband for miles together. Yamaraj told her about the meaning of death and purpose of life and found Savitri intelligent and loyal to her husband. She was indeed Sati! Her love and devotion to Satyavan was pure, selfless and true.

Yamaraj was pleased and offered Savitri two boons and to return back to her home. Savitri first asked for the health and prosperity of her father-in-law. For the second boon, cleverly, Savitri asked that she be blessed with hundred sons!

When Yamaraj unwittingly granted the boon, Savitri was pleased and insisted that Death should release her husband now for without him how could she bear even one son! Even in dream she could not think of marrying other man. Yamaraj was trapped in his own words, and liberated the soul of Satyavan. Thus, even Death is defeated by the chaste and noble wife.

Many more stories were told, of Nala and Damayanti, Ram and Sita, and the Sati. All these pious and noble ladies suffered innumerable hardships but their love for the husband was never diminished.

The emphasis on chaste and pure life was always seen in Indian epics from ancient times. Sita, Sati, Savitri, and Damayanti are household names in India that bring out adoration, respect and noble thoughts due to purity of their character.