Then to pass our days in penance; last to fix our thoughts above;
But the final goal of virtue, it is Truth and deathless Love!”
“True and holy are thy precepts,” listening Yama made reply,
“And they fill my heart with gladness and with pious purpose high,
I would bless thee, fair Savitri, but the dead come not to life,
Ask for other boon and blessing, faithful, true and virtuous wife!”
“Since you so permit me, Yama,” so the good Savitri said,
“For my husband's banished father let my dearest suit be made,
Sightless in the darksome forest dwells the monarch faint and weak,
Grant him sight and grant him vigour, Yama, in thy mercy speak!”
“Duteous daughter,” Yama answered, “be thy pious wishes given,
And his eyes shall be restoréd to the cheerful light of heaven,
Turn, Savitri, faint and weary, follow not in fruitless woe,
And no farther living creature may with monarch Yama go!”
“Faint nor weary is Savitri,” so the noble princess said,
“Since she waits upon her husband, gracious Monarch of the dead,
What befalls the wedded husband still befalls the faithful wife,
Where he leads she ever follows, be it death or be it life!
And our sacred writ ordaineth and our pious rishis sing,
Transient meeting with the holy doth its countless blessings bring,