Sages & Others
Savitri
सावित्री
The Wife Who Followed Death
Who was Savitri?
Savitri (सावित्री): The Wife Who Followed Death, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. Daughter of King Aswapati of Madra, born of the goddess Savitri's boon after eighteen years of his oblations, and so charged with splendour that no suitor dared ask for her.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | सावित्री |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Wife Who Followed Death |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | resolute, eloquent, devoted, fearless |
| Notable relationships | Petitioner: Yama, Forewarned by: Narada, Subject of his tale: Markandeya |
| Featured in | 5 stories |
About Savitri
Daughter of King Aswapati of Madra, born of the goddess Savitri's boon after eighteen years of his oblations, and so charged with splendour that no suitor dared ask for her. She chose Satyavan, living in the forest with his blind and dethroned father, and held to the choice after Narada told her the young man had one year to live; when the year closed she kept the vow of three nights standing. Yama took her husband's soul down the southern road and she walked after him arguing, until she had won back Dyumatsena's eyes and kingdom, a hundred sons for her father, and at last Satyavan himself.
In Their Words
The heart falls but once, and mine has fallen. I shall not choose again.
Savitri
Traits
- resolute
- eloquent
- devoted
- fearless
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Savitri
5 further tales on this site name Savitri, in canonical reading order.
- The Hands Marked With CornsA night in the kitchen, and everything she had not said
- The One Who Walked Ahead of the ChariotArjuna finally asks who has been winning his battles
- Why Rudra Broke the SacrificeKrishna explains who really emptied the camp
- The Two Who Argued Over a DebtDesire and Wrath come to court in rags
- The Deer Who Asked to Be KilledA poor brahmana's sacrifice and the neighbour who begged for the knife
Character Arc
- The Choice Not WithdrawnA husband picked in full knowledge of his year
- The Three NightsA vow kept standing while the last day came on
- The Southern RoadFollowing Death on foot and talking all the way
Key Relationships
- PetitionerYama
- Forewarned byNarada
- Subject of his taleMarkandeya
Places in Savitri's Story
Drawn from the stories Savitri appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.