The Story of Savitri - Part 9 of 31

(Continued...)

Narada then said, 'he hath one only defect that hath overwhelmed all his virtues.

That defect is incapable of being conquered by even the greatest efforts. He hath only one detect, and no other.

Within a year from this day, Satyavan, endued with a short life will cast off his body !'

Hearing these words of the sage, the king said, 'Come, O Savitri, go thou and choose another for thy lord, O baautiful damsel !

That one great defect (in this youth) existeth, covering all his merits.

The illustrious Narada honoured by even the gods, sayeth, that Satyavan will have to cast off his body within a year, his days being numbered !'

At these words of her father, Savitri said, 'The death can fall but once ; a daughter can be given away but once ; and once only can a person say, I give away !

These three things can take place only once.

Indeed, with a life short or long, possessed of virtues or bereft of them, I have, for once, selected my husband.

Twice I shall not select.

 (Continued...)