Index

Book Five Canto III: Satyavan and Savitri

Both Savitri and Satyavan recognise each other in the depths of their being.

Satyavan speaks: "Thou who art more than a mortal, what is thy name? I know that mighty Gods are friends of the earth; I have travelled long with my soul and have seen behind forms many a wonder, beheld the nymphs and glimpsed the Godhead. I fear thou too art from the land of the immortals though I would rather that thou were a human accessible to us. If thou canst dwell on earth's soil, descend from thy car and come down to us."

"My father's hermitage is close by." She answers: "I am Savitri, princess of Madra. But who art thou? Why art thou here when thy glorious youth demands heroic deeds from thee elsewhere?"

Satyavan: "Dyumathsena was the king of all the tract behind these peaks before adverse Fate turned him blind and he came here in exile. I am his son, Satyavan; I have lived here content as I was not yet aware of thee. I have lived close to the earth in the bosom of Nature. I have caught echoes of the voice of God, felt his veiled touch but could not clasp his body. I have seen men, portions of one Self, living as fragments separate from each other, each shut within himself. I have sat with the forest sages entranced and glimpsed the One in all. But with all, Matter has continued to be without its Lord. Death and Ignorance continue. However, now that thou hast come, all shall change. My body shall be free like my spirit."

Savitri: "Speak more of thyself, Satyavan, speak till my mind understands the truth of our relation which my being feels."

Satyavan: "Savitri, words cannot speak what thou hast meant to me. All my life has moved towards this great moment, I see that I am the soul made ready on earth for thee. Once I was like other men, living in the common rounds of life. But there came glimpses of a deeper Self and the Mystery behind life beckoned me. I searched for the meaning of life with my Thought but it proved an inadequate guide. I strove to find it through Beauty and Art, but Form could not unveil the indwelling Power. When I looked upon the world I lost the Self, when I found the Self, I lost the world. I could not get at the link; but now the golden link comes with thy feet; I feel a diviner breath. All is expectant and awaits thee. Descend, enter my life, thy shrine."

Savitri: "I have heard thee and I know that thou art he."

She gets down from the car, picks flowers, weaves a garland quickly and lays it on the bosom of Satyavan as a flower symbol of her offered life. She bows and touches his feet with worshipping hands.

Satyavan gathers her up into his arms and Savitri feels her being flow into him as a river into a mighty sea.

Both are lost in each other and become one. The wedding of the eternal Lord and his Spouse has taken place once again on earth and the Two begin a greater Age.

Then he leads her on the narrow path and shows his hermitage through an opening in the woods.

Savitri is deeply moved and speaks: "Now I must go back to my father's house, but my heart will stay here. I shall soon return to thee never to part again."

She mounts her carven car and speeds back, but keeps her eye on the receding figure of Satyavan.