ithout union with my husband. Therefore, among other
boons, I ask for this, may this Satyavan be restored to life! Deprived
of my husband, I am as one dead! Without my husband, I do not wish for
happiness. Without my husband, I do not wish for heaven itself. Without
my husband, I do not wish for prosperity. Without my husband, I cannot
make up my mind to live! Thou thyself hast bestowed on me the boon,
namely, of a century of sons; yet thou takest away my husband! I ask for
this boon, 'May Satyavan be restored to life,' for by that thy words
will be made true."'

"Markandeya continued, 'Thereupon saying,--_So be it_,--Vivaswat's son,
Yama, the dispenser of justice, untied his noose, and with cheerful
heart said these words to Savitri, "Thus, O auspicious and chaste lady,
is thy husband freed by me! Thou wilt be able to take him back free from
disease. And he will attain to success! And along with thee, he will
attain a life of four hundred years. And celebrating sacrifices with due
rites, he will achieve great fame in this world. And upon thee Satyavan
will also beget a century of sons. And these Kshatriyas with their sons
and grandsons will all be kings, and will always be famous in connection
with thy name. And thy father also will beget a hundred sons on thy
mother Malavi. And under the name of the _Malavas_, thy Kshatriya
brothers, resembling the celestials, will be widely known along with
their sons and daughters!" And having bestowed these boons on Savitri
and having thus made her desist, Yama departed for his abode. Savitri,
after Yama had gone away, went back to the spot where her husband's
ash-coloured corpse lay, and seeing her lord on the ground, she
approached him, and taking hold of him, she placed his head on her lap
and herself sat down on the ground. Then Satyavan regained his
consciousness, and affectionately eyeing Savitri again and again, like
one come home after a sojourn in a strange land, he addressed her thus,
"Alas, I have slept long! Wherefore didst thou not awake me? And where
is that same sable person that was dragging me away?" At these words of
his, Savitri said, "Thou hast, O bull among men, slept long on my lap!
That restrainer of creatures, the worshipful Yama, had gone away. Thou
art refreshed, O blessed one, and sleep hath forsaken thee, O son of a
king! If thou art able, rise thou up! Behold, the night is deep!"'

"Markandeya continued, 'Having regained consciousness, Satyavan rose up