Savitri – A Legend and a Symbol by Sri Aurobindo
Introduction
Mahabharata has a lot of branch stories that are interconnected. They eventually culminate in the battlefield of Kurukshetra a blood-filled war between kith and kin who were determined to kill each other.
This popular and revered epic poem by Ved Vyasa did not end with a ‘they lived happily ever after.’ Both sides had to face loss of lives in the war. The main point of the epic’s take away for me was, the fights amongst family and its clan do not end in a pretty picture.
Pandu’s sons tried to understand it; but then, ignorance covered the minds of all those that were involved. The Gita recited in the battlefield was not comprehended completely by anyone other than the Lord Himself. Yet, in ignorance did others reside unawares till their imminent downfall.
Lord Krishna does not stand in judgement of the events, people, circumstance, or lack of the right attitude; but then, he was a sane voice guiding the Pandavas as a good, wise, and an able friend.
During their Vana Parva the Pandavas meet Sage Markandeya who narrated the story of Satyavan and Savitri. The defeated brothers in the game of gamble were now exiled to the forest and the final year to be spent incognito.
Understandably, they were troubled, concerned, and worried, while Yudhisthira as the eldest felt that his choices were wrong and now in this wilderness the brothers and their wife Drupadi are in search for a wise voice to provide them the right path.
During their forest dwelling they meet the wise Rishi Markandeya. The rishi tutors them in the right way, he verifies and strengthens the power of right decisions. Yudhisthira who was disheartened and dejected by his humiliating game of dice with his cousins learns from the sage’s advice filled story.
When Yudhisthira questioned the sage, if he knew anyone who was equal to or above his and his brothers’ faithful wife Draupadi. The Rishi answers the question with the story of Satyavan and Savitri. In this story lies the truth behind the right way to live a blemish-free life and to fight for what we genuinely believe in our life even if it is with the Lord of Death, (God Yama!)
The core belief of Savitri took her throughout the hard conversation with the Lord of Death (God Yama). The story on the peripheral seems like a plain narration but the import that it was intended for needs more in-depth understanding of the purpose of human life on earth.
Pandavas listened to the narrated story with attention. As they lived through the sage’s narration of the entire life struggle of Satyavan and Savitri, they understood deeper meaning lying within each debate between Savitri and Lord Yama.
Post-listening to the story, they realized that the characters are symbols for various spiritual elements required in the progress of an individual soul to attain godhead!
This story of princess Savitri and Prince Satyavan brings out many sided-views to the forefront. In its treatment by Sri Aurobindo it gains new importance in a seeker’s spiritual life.
Itinerant Storyteller 