Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/105

Rh promised the Princess Savitri. But distracted by his fears for Satyavan, he felt no joy in it and searched in every direction to find some trace of him. Every time a twig cracked or a leaf fell, he looked up joyfully saying, "Satyavan and Savitri have come back," and a moment later he would groan, finding out his error. The Brahmans of his household strove to pacify him, and in a measure had succeeded, when suddenly Satyavan and Savitri came up to him unobserved. After the king had greeted them, the Brahmans lit a fire and all sat round it. Then the Brahmans questioned Satyavan saying, "O Prince, why did you loiter so late in the forest, causing such pain to your father and your mother." "Reverend Sirs," answered the prince, "I can tell you but little. While I was cutting wood in the forest my head began suddenly to ache. Then I fell asleep and slept longer than I have ever slept before." But the Brahmans turned to Savitri and said, "Wise Princess, tell us what you know. For we are greatly astonished. Prince Satyavan has never stayed away so long before. And in his absence King Dyumatsena's eyesight returned to him."

Savitri answered, "Venerable sages, the wise Narada foretold that my husband would die to-day. On that account I did not leave him. But as he has told you, he fell asleep after cutting some wood. As he slept, King Yama appeared, bound him with a noose and began to drag him away to his own kingdom in the South. But I spoke to King Yama gently, and pleased him. He therefore gave me five boons. He promised that King Dyumatsena would recover his eyesight and regain his kingdom. He promised that my father King Asvapati would beget a hundred sons. He promised that I should bear Prince Satyavan a hundred sons. And