The One She Chose

A princess travelled the land to choose her own husband, and returned to say she had chosen the son of a blind, kingless king — whose life had only a year left to run

On a golden chariot

Ashvapati said to Savitri — "Daughter, the time has come for your marriage, yet no one comes to ask for you. So go and seek out a husband worthy of you yourself. Whomever you choose, tell me, and I will arrange your marriage with due care. Listen — I have heard from the learned that a father who does not give his daughter in marriage earns disgrace, as does a husband who neglects his wife, and a son who fails to protect his widowed mother. So go and seek a husband, and act so that the gods have no cause to blame us."

Obeying her father's word, Savitri mounted a golden chariot and set out with his aged counsellors, to roam among sacred places and hermitages.

The one she chose

Some time later, when Ashvapati was seated with Narada in his court, Savitri returned. She bowed to both her father and Narada, touching their feet. Narada asked — "Where has your daughter been, and where has she returned from? And why have you not married her, now that she has come of age?" Ashvapati said — "It was for this very purpose that she went, and she has just returned. Hear from her own lips whom she has chosen."

At her father's command, Savitri said — "Among the Shalvas there was a virtuous kshatriya king named Dyumatsena. In time he became blind. That blind and wise king had an only son. An old enemy nearby, taking advantage of the king's misfortune, seized his kingdom. The king then went into the forest with his wife and infant child. That very son, born in the city, grew up in that hermitage — it is that youth I have chosen in my heart as my lord."

Narada's prophecy

Hearing this, Narada said — "Alas, my king, Savitri has unknowingly made a grave error, for she has chosen for her lord this Satyavan of excellent qualities, not knowing everything about him! His father speaks the truth, and his mother too is truthful — it is for this that the Brahmins named the son Satyavan. In his childhood he loved horses greatly — he used to make clay horses and draw pictures of horses. For this he is sometimes also called Chitrashva."

Ashvapati asked — "Is prince Satyavan, devoted to his father, endowed with energy, intelligence, and courage?" Narada replied — "In energy he is like the sun, in wisdom like Brihaspati, in courage like Indra, in forgiveness like the earth herself. In gift-giving he is like Rantideva, in truthfulness like Shivi, in magnanimity like Yayati, and in beauty like the moon." Ashvapati asked further — "Then does he have any fault?" Narada said — "He has just one fault, that outweighs all his virtues, and it cannot be overcome by any effort. Within one year from this day, Satyavan, short-lived, will cast off his body!" Hearing this, the king said — "Come, Savitri, go and choose another for your lord! This one great fault covers all his merits. The illustrious Narada himself, honoured by the gods, says Satyavan's days are numbered, that within a year he must cast off his body!" At these words Savitri said — "Death falls but once. A daughter is given away but once. And a person says 'I give' only once. These three things happen only once. Whether his life be short or long, whether he be full of virtues or without them, I have chosen my husband once, and I will not choose a second time." Narada said — "Best of men, your daughter Savitri's heart does not waver. It is not possible, by any means, to turn her from this path. No one else possesses the virtues that dwell in Satyavan. I give my approval to this marriage." The king said — "What you have said, illustrious one, must never be disobeyed, for your words are true. I shall act as you say, since you are my preceptor." Narada said — "May the giving of your daughter Savitri bring peace. I depart now. Blessings on you all."

Narada rose into the sky and returned to heaven, and the king began to make arrangements for his daughter's wedding.

Note: This episode is given at length in Ganguli's translation — Narada's comparison of Satyavan's virtues to the sun, Brihaspati, Indra, the earth, Rantideva, Shivi, Yayati, and the Ashvins is exactly as the original text gives it. Savitri's famous line — "Death falls but once, a daughter is given but once" — is also directly from the text. The English dialogue lines are flowing paraphrases of the Sanskrit verses, not word-for-word translations.

Source: Mahabharata, Vana Parva — Pativrata-mahatmya Parva, The One She Chose