Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/101

Rh "A prince so great and so noble as Satyavan," said Yama, "deserved that I should come in person to take him away." With these words he bound with his noose the helpless form of the prince and began to drag him away towards the south. Savitri, stricken with grief, followed. A few minutes later Yama turned round and saw that she followed, "Go back, Princess," he said, "you must return home now, and there honour the dead prince with the last rites."

Savitri bravely faced the god and said, "The wise have said that by walking but seven paces together one contracts friendship with another. Thus I have become your friend. Listen, therefore, I pray you, to what I say. It is my duty to follow my husband wherever you take him, even if I go to my death also. For true happiness lies in wedlock and neither celibacy nor widowhood equal it in merit."

Yama was touched with Savitri's words and replied, "Princess, I, too, consider myself your friend. Ask me, therefore for any boon you will except only the life of your husband, and I shall grant it to you." "Lord Yama," said the princess, "my father-in-law is blind. Graciously give him back his sight. That is the boon that I ask of you." "Princess," said Yama, "I grant you the boon. King Dyumatsena will recover his sight."

But Savitri still followed. Shortly afterwards King Yama turned and saw her. "Princess, you are wearied with walking. Turn back home, I beg of you. For you will gain nothing by journeying further." "Lord Yama," answered Savitri, "I feel no fatigue while I stay with my husband, and where he goes there also shall I go. For Satyavan was a virtuous prince, and the wise have