Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/103

Rh are the Lord of Justice and it is for you now to shew me justice. I therefore beg of you my lord Satyavan." "O Princess," said King Yama, "the life of Prince Satyavan I cannot give you. Ask me any other boon and it shall be yours." "I thank you, Lord Yama," answered Savitri, "and the boon that I ask is this—grant that I may bear to Prince Satyavan a hundred sons, strong, brave and beautiful as he was."

"O Princess," said King Yama, "I grant you this boon but I cannot grant you any more. So turn back homewards and do not weary yourself in vain by following a dead husband." "No, Lord Yama," said Savitri, and her wan face lit up with a smile of triumph, "the boon which you have just granted me cannot take effect, unless you give me back Satyavan. You are an Immortal and righteous, and you will not let your words prove false. Therefore give me back Satyavan so that I may bear him a hundred sons."

King Yama thought deeply but he could see no escape from the snare in which the brave princess had taken him. At last he said, "So be it, Princess. I set free your husband. You will bear him a hundred sons, strong, brave and beautiful as he himself is. And I add to the boons which I have given you yet another. You shall both live for four hundred years."

With these words King Yama unbound Prince Satyavan and, leaving him lying on the ground, departed immediately to his kingdom far away in the South. But Savitri went up to her husband's body and sitting down beside him once more placed his head on her lap. In a short time he awoke and looked round him, not knowing where he was. At last he said, "O Savitri, I have slept long. Why did you not wake