But his days and loves are ended, and he leaves his faithful wife,
In this noose I bind and carry spark of his immortal life,
Virtue graced his life and action, spotless was his princely heart,
Hence for him I came in person, princess, let thy husband part.”
Yama from Satyavan's body, pale and bloodless, cold and dumb,
Drew the vital spark, purusha, smaller than the human thumb,
In his noose the spark he fastened, silent went his darksome way,
Left the body shorn of lustre to its rigid cold decay.
Southward went the dark-hued Yama with the youth's immortal life,
And, for woman's love abideth, followed still the faithful wife.
“Turn, Savitri,” outspake Yama, “for thy husband loved and lost,
Do the rites due unto mortals by their Fate predestined crost,
For thy wifely duty ceases, follow not in fruitless woe,
And no farther living creature may with monarch Yama go!”
“But I may not choose but follow where thou takest my husband's life,
For Eternal Law divides not loving man and faithful wife!
For my love and my affection, for a woman's sacred woe,
Grant me in thy godlike mercy farther still with him I go!
Fourfold are our human duties: first, to study holy lore;
Then to live as good householders, feed the hungry at our door;