Vat Savitri — Savitri and Satyavanवट सावित्री — सावित्री और सत्यवान
Jyeshtha Amavasya (North) / Jyeshtha Purnima (West)ज्येष्ठ अमावस्या (उत्तर) / ज्येष्ठ पूर्णिमा (पश्चिम)
Savitri, daughter of King Ashvapati, chose as her husband Satyavan, a prince living in the forest with his blind, exiled father. The sage Narada warned that Satyavan had only one year to live. Savitri did not change her mind.
She lived with Satyavan in the forest, serving his parents. As the fated day came near, she kept a fast for three days. On that day she went with Satyavan to cut wood. Under a banyan (vat) tree he felt a sudden pain, laid his head in her lap, and died.
Yama, the lord of death, came to take Satyavan's life. Savitri followed him. Yama asked her to go back, but she kept walking, speaking wisely about dharma, friendship and the company of the good.
Pleased with her words, Yama granted her boons — but not her husband's life. She asked first for her father-in-law's sight and kingdom, then for sons for her own father. Finally she asked for a hundred sons of her own by Satyavan. Bound by his promise, Yama had to return Satyavan's life.
Satyavan woke under the banyan tree as if from sleep. In memory of Savitri's courage, married women fast on Vat Savitri, worship the banyan tree, and wind a sacred thread around it while praying for their husbands' long life.
Read aloud by your phone's own voice, not a recording. While listening, tap any line to jump to it.आपके फ़ोन की अपनी आवाज़ में पढ़ा जाता है, रिकॉर्डिंग नहीं। सुनते समय किसी भी पंक्ति पर टैप करके वहाँ जाएँ।
Retold from the Mahabharata (Vana Parva). Switch the language at the top to read and hear it in Hindi or English.महाभारत (वन पर्व) से पुनर्कथित। हिंदी या अंग्रेज़ी में पढ़ने और सुनने के लिए ऊपर भाषा बदलें।