A Friend Who Walked Beside Her

Yama told Savitri to turn back — she answered that seven steps walked together make a friendship, and by that argument won two boons from him

An urge to turn back

After some way, Yama said to Savitri — "Savitri, stop! Go back, and perform your husband's last rites. You are freed from every duty toward him. You have come as far as it is possible to come."

Savitri answered — "Wherever my husband is taken, or wherever he goes of his own will, there I will go — this is the eternal law. By the strength of my austerity, my regard for my elders, my love for my husband, my observance of vows, and by your own grace, my path is unobstructed. The learned have said that walking even seven steps with another creates a friendship. Keeping that very friendship in mind, I wish to say something to you."

The first boon

Savitri said — "Those whose selves are not under control gain no merit even from following all four stages of life. What is called dharma is, in truth, true knowledge. The wise have declared this to be the greatest of all things, not the mere passage through the four stages." Hearing this Yama said — "These words of yours please me — they are woven together in the right letters and the right sense. Ask for a boon — except the life of Satyavan, whatever you wish, I will grant."

Savitri said — "My father-in-law has lost both his kingdom and his sight, and lives in the forest. By your grace, let him regain his sight, and become as strong as fire or the sun." Yama said — "I grant you this boon. But you look weary from your journey — go back now, and tire yourself no further."

The second boon

Savitri did not stop. "In my husband's presence I feel no weariness at all. My mind wishes to go still further. Listen, I say again — even a single meeting with the good is precious, friendship with them still more so, and the company of the virtuous is never fruitless. It is for this that one should always live among the righteous." Yama said — "These useful words of yours delight the heart and increase wisdom. Except Satyavan's life, ask for a second boon."

Savitri said — "My father-in-law's kingdom was taken from him earlier — let it be restored to him, and may that noble one never turn away from his duty. This is my second boon." Yama said — "The king shall soon regain his kingdom, and shall never fall from his duty. Now go back, daughter of a king, and take no more trouble."

Still Savitri did not turn. "You restrain all beings by your own decrees, and by those very decrees you take them away, not by your own will — it is for this that people call you Yama. Listen, I say more — it is the eternal duty of the good never to harm any creature in thought, word, or deed, but to love them and give them their due. The good show mercy even to their enemies, when they come seeking shelter." Yama said — "As water to a thirsty soul, so are these words of yours to me. Ask, if you will, for another boon — except Satyavan's life."

Note: This episode is given at length in Ganguli's translation — this exchange between Savitri and Yama is considered one of the most celebrated dialogues in Sanskrit literature. The "seven steps make a friendship" principle, and Savitri's speeches on dharma, are both directly from the original text. Scholars emphasise that Savitri wins Yama not by force but by speech and reasoning. The English dialogue lines are flowing paraphrases of the Sanskrit verses, not word-for-word translations.

Source: Mahabharata, Vana Parva — Pativrata-mahatmya Parva, A Friend Who Walked Beside Her