Longer friendship with the holy purifies the mortal birth,
Lasting union with the holy is the bright sky on the earth!
Union with the pure and holy is immortal heavenly life,
For Eternal Law divides not loving man and faithful wife!”
“Blesséd are thy words,” said Yama, “blesséd is thy pious thought,
With a higher purer wisdom are thy holy lessons fraught,
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,
“Once more for my husband's father be my supplication made,
Lost his kingdom, in the forest dwells the monarch faint and weak,
Grant him back his wealth and kingdom, Yama, in thy mercy speak!”
“Loving daughter!” Yama answered, “wealth and kingdom I bestow,
Turn, Savitri, living mortal may not with King Yama go!”
Still Savitri, meek and faithful, followed her departed lord,
Yama still with higher wisdom listened to her saintly word,
And the Sable King was vanquished, and he turned on her again,
And his words fell on Savitri like the cooling summer rain,
“Noble woman, speak thy wishes, name thy boon and purpose high,
What the pious mortal asketh gods in heaven may not deny!”