'"
SECTION CCLXLIV
"Markandeya said, 'At length, O king, after a long time had passed away,
the hour that had been appointed for the death of Satyavan arrived. And
as the words that had been spoken by Narada were ever present in the
mind of Savitri, she had counted the days as they passed. And having
ascertained that her husband would die on the fourth day following, the
damsel fasted day and night, observing the _Triratra_ vow. And hearing
of her vow, the king became exceedingly sorrowful and rising up soothed
Savitri and said these words, "This vow that thou hast begun to observe,
O daughter of a king, is exceedingly hard; for it is extremely difficult
to fast for three nights together!" And hearing these words, Savitri
said, "Thou needst not be sorry, O father! This vow I shall be able to
observe! I have for certain undertaken this task with perseverance; and
perseverance is the cause of the successful observance of vows." And
having listened to her, Dyumatsena said, "I can by no means say unto
thee, _Do thou break thy vow_. One like me should, on the contrary,
say,--_Do thou complete thy vow!_" And having said this to her, the
high-minded Dyumatsena stopped. And Savitri continuing to fast began to
look (lean) like a wooden doll. And, O bull of the Bharata race,
thinking that her husband would die on the morrow, the woe-stricken
Savitri, observing a fast, spent that night in extreme anguish. And when
the Sun had risen about a couple of hand Savitri thinking within
herself--_To-day is that day_, finished her morning rites, and offered
oblations to the flaming fire.
Pages:
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580