Yoga Mythology: When to Ask Death for the Right Boon
A Story of Patience, Devotion, and Determination
Long ago, in the Kingdom of Madra, King Aśvapati was childless. For many years, he prayed and gave offerings to the goddess Sāvitrī, a consort of Brahmā, the god of creation, to grant him a child. Eventually, the Goddess heard Aśvapati’s prayers and appeared to him, offering him a boon of his choosing. Of course, he asked for many sons to carry forth his lineage. Although the goddess Sāvitrī was touched, she told him he would be blessed with a child, but the child would be a girl. And after some time, Aśvapati’s wife, Mālavī, gave birth to the baby girl promised by the Goddess. The happy couple named her Sāvitrī to honor the goddess who had given them the boon of this lovely child.
Sāvitrī grew to be independent and discerning, beautiful, energetic, and intelligent.
When Sāvitrī came of age, her father told her she could choose her own husband, and so she set out in her golden chariot, with an entourage of ministers, to journey across the land to find her husband. She traveled to hermitages throughout the forests and returned home having made her choice.
Nārada's Prophecy
While Sāvitrī was away, the sage and seer Nārada had come to visit her father. Upon her arrival home she sought out her father so she could inform him of her choice, Nārada gave a prophecy: her chosen husband, Satyavān, would only live for one more year. Aśvapati implored Sāvitrī to choose another man to be her husband. But Satyavān was handsome, virtuous, wise, and courageous. She loved him and would have no other as her beloved.
Sāvitrī had chosen a prince, the son of a king who had been blinded and then exiled from his kingdom and now lived with his wife and son in the forest. After convincing her father that she was making the right choice, he gave his blessing.
Sāvitrī and Satyavān were married. Sāvitrī discarded her gold jewelry and fine clothes, and they built a life together in the home of Satyavān’s parents in the forest. She took on the responsibilities of a dutiful daughter-in-law and embraced the simple life of a forest-dweller.
They lived for almost one year in happiness, though Sāvitrī never forgot Nārada’s prophecy.
Three days before the predicted date of Satyavān’s death, Sāvitrī began a vigil and fasted.
Death Day
The day of the prediction arrived just as any other. Satyavān was headed to the forest to gather wood for the family fires. Sāvitrī asked her father-in-law for permission to go with Satyavān. She would gather fruits and herbs while Satyavān chopped wood. Permission was granted. And so, husband and wife set out into the forest together.
After some time of chopping wood and gathering fruits, Satyavān began to complain of a headache, he felt exhausted and weak, too weak to stand. He told Sāvitrī that he needed to rest. They both sat on the ground, and Satyavān put his head in her lap to sleep.
Just then, a dark figure appeared, walking directly toward them. Sāvitrī recognized this figure as Yama, the god of judgment and death. This was very unusual. Most often, Yama sent an emissary or two to collect the dead, but Satyavān was a special case. Yama wanted to carry out this task personally.
Yama carried with him a noose in one hand and a mace in the other. He used his noose to draw Satyavān’s life force from his body, and Sāvitrī felt the loss of his life. As Yama began to walk south with Satyavān’s life, Sāvitrī laid Satyavān’s head gently on the ground and followed Yama.
Death's Boons
Yama noticed Sāvitrī following him. He turned to her and told her to go back. She could go no further.
Savitri: Where my husband goes, so shall I. Also, you see, we have walked seven paces together. You and I are friends now. Companions.
Together they talked and walked on.
Periodically, Yama would tell her to stop and turn back, and each time she spoke wisely, impressing him with her intellect and wisdom. He offered her a series of boons of her choosing, but she could not ask for the return of her husband’s life.
The first boon she asked for was the return of her father-in-law’s sight. The boon was granted, and she was told to go back.
She did not.
Because of her eloquent words, a second boon was offered. Sāvitrī asked for the return of her father-in-law’s kingdom. Yama granted the boon and again told her to go back.
She did not.
A third boon was offered. Sāvitrī asked for her father-in-law and his wife to be blessed with one hundred sons to carry on his lineage, seeing that Satyavān was an only child. Again the boon was again granted and she was told to go back.
She did not.
Yama and Sāvitrī talked and walked further. Sāvitrī continued to impress Yama with her wisdom. And so, Yama granted her yet another boon. This time she asked that her parents be blessed with one hundred sons, as she was also an only child and wanted his bloodline to continue into the future.
This boon was also granted.
Still, she followed, despite Yama telling her to go back with every boon granted.
A fifth boon was offered, but Yama omitted the caveat of not asking for Satyavān’s life. Sāvitrī saw an opportunity and asked for one hundred sons with her husband, to carry on their bloodline.
Of course, the boon was granted.
And then Yama realized what she had actually requested. Granting the boon of one hundred sons could not be fulfilled without Satyavān returning to Sāvitrī with his life.
Yama: Ah, you are a wise and clever girl. You are sincerely devoted to your husband and your families. I have no choice if I am to keep my promises to you. I will release my noose from your husband’s neck and return him to you with greater strength and a life free of disease. Now, return to the forest to your husband.
This time, she did go back.
Sāvitrī returned to Satyavān’s body lying on the ground in the forest. She sat beside him and returned his head in her lap. Just then, he began to awaken as if from a deep, restful sleep. They both lived on for hundreds of years and had one hundred sons to carry on their lineage.
No Trickery Required
When death arrived to take Sāvitrī’s beloved away from her and the earth, she stood her ground and followed death. She didn’t take the death of Satyavān as the final answer. She used the opportunity of walking and conversing with Yama to understand the rules of how she could get what she really wanted. Not through trickery, but by way of wisdom, intellect, and patience.
She used the opportunity of the boons she was offered to restore her father-in-law’s sight and kingdom, to continue the lineage of her in-laws and her own father, and to continue the lineage of her and Satyavān’s family.
Sāvitrī is a powerful woman, wise and intelligent. She saw the opportunity to use her patience, devotion, and determination to save her husband from death’s noose, while also honoring her duty to her father and father-in-law and carrying forward the lineage of two powerful families.
Tuesday Irby writes the Yoga Pose Mythology series here on the TLYoga Free Resources Blog. You can also read more of Tuesday's inspiring and insightful writing when you subscribe to Tuesday's Mindful Moments on Substack.
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