DIALOGUE WITH DEATH

 

DIALOGUE WITH DEATH 

Princess Savitri stood slender, beautiful but resolute before her father. On her face was the look of stubborn- ness which he knew so well but always felt helpless against. "You said I could choose my husband myself," she reminded him. "You did say so, don't you remember, Father? And now it seems you want to go back on your word." Before the King could defend himself, the sage Narada smoothly intervened to prevent a domestic quarrel. "My child," he said, "your father is not going back on his promise. He was only asking me about Satyavan, the man you want to marry. And while I was talking to him he said, 'Let me send for Savitri, I want her to hear what you are saying'." "And what were you saying?" enquired Savitri.

Savitri knew she had to be very, very careful with Narada. Because, though she was clever, Narada was even cleverer. He was friend, adviser and ambassador to gods and mortals alike. Everything he did was for the eventual good of everyone. But whatever the final outcome, the immediate effect of his actions was often disagreeable. For Narada was cunning as a fox and could trip up the wisest of men. Savitri had learnt to have a healthy respect for him. "Satyavan whom you love," began Narada, "is a prince of noble descent and a worthy young man. His name means one who speaks nothing but the truth, and he deserves it well. He is intelligent and courageous, and a devoted son to an old blind father who was deposed by a treacherous relative. But though he was born to inherit a throne, he is living in the forest and working as a woodcutter." "I know all this," said Savitri. "Perhaps you know a great deal more?" probed Narada. "That depends on what else you know," countered Savitri. Narada smiled. "This chit of a girl," he thought, "thinks she can outwit me. "I know one other fact which you do not know," said the sage. "I was just telling your father about it." "Is it the fact that Satyavan is a condemned man?" asked Savitri quietly. "That he is fated to die exactly a year from today?" The courage with which the young girl said these words shook her two listeners. "And you still want to marry him?" exclaimed her father, his voice trembling.

t her thoughtfully. "Did you meet his parents? "Yes," replied Savitri. "His mother who is deeply religious told me. The Brahmins who drew up Satyavan's horoscope when he was born had warned her. But Satyavan is ignorant of it, only his parents know. They have kept it a secret all these years and it has weighed heavily on them." "Tell me, Savitri," said Narada, a note of respect creep- ing into his voice, "are you sure you realise what is ahead of you if you marry Satyavan?" "Yes," said Savitri unhesitatingly. "You are not afraid?" "Unhappy, yes," replied Savitri gravely, "but afraid, no. You see, I believe that life and death are determined by more than the mere positions of stars and planets calculated by professional Brahmins. Human beings influence one another's lives. If I marry Satyavan my destiny will affect his and who knows what may happen and what can be prevented from happening?" "Let there be no further objection to this marriage, Aswapati," said Narada rising. "You can arrange for the betrothal of your daughter at once." He smiled as Savitri rose and came to take leave of him. "I am only a brahma- chari, little Princess, but my prayers and blessings are with you. May your courage shield and protect Satyavan all "How did you discover this?" asked Narada, looking As they watched the slender-waisted Princess leave them, King Aswapati sighed. "She should have been a boy," he said. "She is far too clever and nimble-witted for A woman. Her quick mind is going to be a liability to her."

"We must not be old-fashioned about these things, Aswapati," Narada chided him. "Women nced to have a mind of their own as much as men do. In any case, Savitri will undoubtedly find it useful in adapting herself to live in a forest with a woodcutter-husband, a blind father-in-law and a deeply religious mother-in-law." But Narada's fears were misplaced. Savitri's marriage to Satyavan was so happy that to her the forest seemed more comfortable than a palace. She was certainly freer. She awoke every morning to the sound of birds twittering in the trees and cows calling to their calves. The love that her parents-in-law showered on her made the separation from her own parents casier to bear. She learnt from them the discipline of prayer and penance. She thus grew from a girl into a woman in an atmosphere of wisdom, happiness and freedom. But though she concealed it well, and so did her parents- in-law, Satyavan's impending doom cast a shadow over their lives. The day of destiny, when it finally dawned, was just like any other day. Birds twittered in the trees and cows called to their young. Satyavan's father and mother, their faces full of despair, went about their chores. From time to time they bent their cyes on their only son with such longing that Savitri, unable to look, turned her own away. Saviu herself went about her tasks in a complete daze.

As Satyavan got ready to go to the forest to cut wood, Savitri also rose. "I am coming with you today, if I may," she said. "Why, Savitri?" asked Satyavan. "The sun is hot these days. And you have the habit of wandering off and getting lost." "Today I shall sit and watch you," said Savitri attempt- ing a convincing smile. "Let her go with you, my son," said Satyavan's mother suddenly. "Are you trying to get rid of your daughter-in-law for the morning, Mother?" asked Satyavan with a twinkle in his eye. "I am trying to teach my son to pamper his young wife," retorted his mother. "It is not as if the poor girl has much fun here."

"Pamper her, must I?" teased Satyavan. "A trip to the forest is a poor substitute for a diamond-and-ruby necklace which I would like to give her." "A diamond-and-ruby necklace?" asked Savitri smiling brilliantly while her heart slowly broke inside her. "I will settle for the trip to the forest today, but the diamond-and- ruby necklace is a promise, remember. I shall claim it one day." Laughing and promising extravagant gifts to cach other like irresponsible children, Savitri and Satyavan set ff for the forest. When Satyavan took leave of his parents, their hands and eyes lingered on him a trifle longer than usual, but Savitri pretended not to notice, lest the tears close to her eyes overflow and attract attention. "I neced all my courage and discipline today," she kept reminding herself, "and the prayers and blessings of friends and Brahmins, and of Narada. It is now up to me. When they were deep in the forest, Satyavan carefully selected the tree he was going to cut and began to hack at the sturdy trunk. Savitri sat close by watching out for snakes and wild animals through whom she expected death to strike her beloved husband. But nothing so dramatic occurred. A tiger did not sneak up from behind the long grass or a cobra strike from the undergrowth! One moment Satyavan was swinging his axe, and the next he was holding his head and stumbling towards his wife. "Such a terrible pain in my head," he mumbled and fell on the ground unconscious. Savitri put his head on her lap and looked around for help. Not a soul was in sight. Stunned by Satyavan's

collapse, Savitri sat as if turn- ed to stone. Then, suddenly, obscuring the sun, a shadow fell across her face. A dark stranger, a dark shadow rather, stood before her. He bent down and a great dark hand came to rest on Satyavan's throat for a moment. Savitri looked up but the shadow was already moving away.

"Wait!" called Savitri run- ning after it. "Please wait, I wish to speak to you." The shadow halted. Savitri moved closer and stared into a face so serene and so dignified that all her fears immediately vanished and she felt calm and reassured. "Forgive my asking," she said shyly, "but are you the God of Death?"  "Yes." "I have heard a lot about you," Savitri continued, "and yet there is so much more I wish to know. May I ask if you 

life?" personally come to collect every "No, I come only for special people," replied Death, walking on. "If Satyavan was so special," said Savitri quietly, "why collect his life when he was so young and guiltless of any wrong?" "Death is not a punishment." Savitri quickened her footsteps to keep up with the dark stranger. "If it is not a punishment," she persisted, "who decides when a life is to end? It seems unjust to decide it at birth, and illogical too." "It is not easy to understand." The shadow stopped. "Why don't you go back, Savitri? Why are you following 44 me?" "I am not following you," said Savitri. "I am following my husband." "He is no longer your husband."

"I believe that love extends beyond life," Savitri said softly, "We say that when a man and a woman fall in love it is a recognition. You only recognise a person you have known before. I recognised Satyavan the first time I met him. So we must have known each other before. When could this have been except in some unknown time before my birth or his? That is why I cannot leave him now. We have been too long together. If you take him, you must take me too." Yama, the God of Death, laughed softly. "You are extremely stubborn. Your logic amuses me. Is there any- thing you wish for-except, of course, the life of Satyavan? I would like to grant it to you." Savitri thought over the suggestion. "Well," she said at last, "you know that Satyavan's father was overthrown by treachery. I think that wrong should be righted. I hope you agree with me." "Agreed," said Yama at once and strode away briskly. But when he looked back some time later, there was Savitri right behind him, her feet cut and bleeding from the thorns and stones along the path. "You walk too fast for me," she said smiling brightly. "What exactly do you want, Savitri?" asked Yama staring at her. "If it is Satyavan's life, you may as well give up at once because that is out of the question. Yama never goes back on his word nor returns a life." "Oh, is that so?" asked Savitri nodding her head thoughtfully. "How interesting! But then you must be very certain that what you are doing is right, mustn't you?" "Right and wrong have nothing to do with it."

"Really!" exclaimed Savitri. "How extraordinary! It has been dinned into my head from childhood that I must always take care to do what is right and avoid what is wrong Perhaps that applies only to mortals and not to "But death is different." "How so? It appears to me right that what applies to life should apply equally to death." "You have a way of twisting everything and making it spos seem logical." "I beg your forgiveness," said Savitri humbly, "Let me put it another way. If throughout life we take care to do what is right, it seems only fair..." "Stop!" said Yama. "If I grant you another wish, will you stop following me?" "Oh, are you going to grant me another wish?" ex- claimed Savitri clapping her hands with delight. "How very kind and generous." "Remember you are not to ask for Satyavan's life." "Of course," said Savitri casually. "Now, let me see. There was something I wanted to ask for as part of my first wish." She paused, then her brow cleared. "Oh yes, it was about my father-in-law whom you were kind enough to reinstate. He is blind. Of what use is a kingdom to a blind man? And what use "Your father-in-law's sight will be fully restored," said Yama with a smile. a blind man to a kingdom?" But before he could walk away, Savitri spoke again. "I am so glad that I remembered my father-in-law's handicap," the tenacious young woman said smiling in response,

"because if I had not, do you know what I might have requested?" "What?" "Prosperity and happiness for my father's and my father-in-law's kingdoms," she replied. "I am the only one left to succeed to both the kingdoms. But I am glad I did not ask you to grant that wish because on second thoughts, why should 1? Why should prosperity and happiness be given to these kingdoms? It is the duty of the kings to work to make their people happy and prosperous, don't you agree?" "Yes." "Kingship is a great responsibility," said Savitri solemn- ly shaking her head. "It does not merely consist in living in a palace, holding court, patronising poets and musicians, and sending out tax-collectors. The King has to ensure that the law is administered justly and see that his officials do not harass the people. He has to maintain peace with his neighbours and see that no one in his kingdom is with- out food, clothing or shelter. Above all, the King must take care to see that his people have the right of free speech and frank criticism. Why? So that he does not become a despot." "You are absolutely right," said Yama filled with admiration for her worthy views. "Traditions of justice and freedom are even better than statute-book laws." 44 chain of royal dynasties. Don't you agree?" "Yes, indeed," said Yama. "Uncertain succession "And for this you require," stated Savitri, "an unbroken leads to confusion, chaos and wars among kinsmen."

Savitri saddenly lapsed into silence. A look of utter degair descended on her face, her shoulders drooped and ar fell from time to time from her beautiful eyes. What is the matter?" asked Yama surprised. "You are so wise and all-knowing." said Savitri with a sigh. "I am sure you can guess what I am thinking." Yama frowned. Trying to guess her thoughts would de ke betting on the direction the wind would blow on a stormy day. I was thinking." said Savitri in a low voice, "here are two kingdoms which will have no ruler after me. What will happen to my father's and my father-in-law's dynasties? What confusion, chaos and wars among kinsmen-those were your exact words, were they not-will follow my death? Blood may low in the streets, cities lie desolate, the harvest remain uncut and the wails of women and children rise from every home.. Stop shouted Yama. "Such things will not be permit- ted to happen I grant you a hundred sons to ensure the continuity of your royal line." As soon as he uttered these words, a remarkable change Came over Savitri. Her face was transfigured with joy, the drooping shoulders straightened, the sighing and the tears ceased as if by magic, and the girl, beautiful and imperious, stood before Yama, every inch a princess. Tam greatly distressed," she said formally, "to be the dse of your breaking one of your traditions." "Which tradition?" asked the God of Death warily. That Yama never returns a life," said Savitri. "You ve just blessed me with a hundred sons. How can I have 

them if you take away my husband's life?" Yama took his defeat well. In fact, as they walked swiftly back to the forest, he confessed. "I should have guessed that Narada was up to something," he said, "when he suggested that I should go myself and collect Satyavan's life." Needless to say, every wish that the God of Death had granted Savitri was fulfilled. Satyavan rose as if from sleep, refreshed and cager to tell Savitri of the strange dream that

he had had of a long journey with a dark stranger. Satyavan's father regained both his eyesight and his king- dom. Savitri got her diamond-and-ruby necklace though, of course, Yama was not responsible for that gift. One day, when all the excitement of the changes in their fortunes had abated somewhat, Savitri's father, King Aswapati, took her aside and asked, "What I cannot under- stand is how you had the courage to cross swords with the God of Death." Savitri smiled gently and said, "When I first met Satyavan's mother and she told me of the horoscope drawn up by the Brahmins at her son's birth, she added that there was one Brahmin, wiser and more far-seeing than the rest, who had added a footnote to the prediction. He had said that Satyavan's death could be averted by something which was stronger than death. That is what gave me hope and courage. I had something stronger than death-love."

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