Markandeya Tells the Story of King Ashvapati and Savitri

Markandeya said: O king, Yudhishthira. Hear about the great fortune of a lady born in a high lineage. The princess Savitri obtained everything. There was a king in the land of Madra. His name was Ashvapati. He had dharma in his soul and was devoted to brahmanas. He was truthful, forgiving, generous in giving, and skilled in sacrifice. He had conquered his senses. The citizens loved him. The inhabitants of the countryside loved him. He was engaged in the welfare of all beings. But he had no offspring. And he was advancing in years. So he resorted to severe rites. When it was time to eat, he restricted his food. He became a brahmachari (celibate) and conquered his senses. He offered a hundred thousand oblations to the goddess Savitri. He ate in limited quantities and skipped every sixth meal. He lived with these rules for eighteen years. When eighteen years were over, Savitri was pleased. She arose from the agnihotra (sacrificial fire) and showed herself to the king. "O king," she said. "I am satisfied with your brahmacharya, purity, self-control, rituals, and your wholehearted devotion. Ask for whatever boon you desire. But do not make the mistake of disregarding dharma." Ashvapati replied: "I am desirous of dharma and have observed these rites because I desire offspring. O goddess! May I have many sons who extend my lineage. The brahmanas have told me that obtaining offspring is the supreme dharma." Savitri said: "O king! Knowing of your intentions in advance, I have already spoken about your objective of obtaining sons to the grandfather — the self-creating one. Through his favours, an energetic daughter will soon be born to you. You need not make any reply to this." The king acknowledged her words and requested that this might occur soon. When Savitri had disappeared, he returned to his house and lived happily, protecting his subjects according to dharma. Some time passed. The king, regulated in his vows, impregnated the womb of his eldest queen, who was devoted to dharma. The embryo grew like the lord of the stars in the sky during shuklapaksha (the bright fortnight of the moon). At the right time, she gave birth to a daughter who had eyes like a lotus. The king happily performed the rites for her. Because she had been given by Savitri when oblations with the savitri mantra had been rendered, the brahmanas and her father gave her the name Savitri. The king's daughter grew like Shri (goddess of prosperity) personified. In due course, she became a maiden — slender waist, broad hips, like a golden image. People thought they had obtained a celestial maiden. Her eyes were like lotus petals, blazing in their energy. On seeing that energy, no one dared to marry her. On an auspicious day, having washed her hair and fasted, she approached the gods and offered oblations into the fire, accompanied by recitations from brahmanas. When this was over, she took the remaining flowers and went to her father. Bowing at his feet, she first offered the remnants to him. Then she stood by his side with her hands joined in salutation. The king saw that his daughter had grown up and looked like a goddess. He was unhappy that no one had wished to marry her yet. "O daughter," he said. "The time to give you away has arrived. But no one is asking me. Therefore, you yourself look for a husband, with qualities that are like your own. If you desire a man, tell me about him. Marry whom you wish. After deliberations, I will give you away. I have heard what brahmanas have recited from the sacred texts: 'A father who does not give his daughter away is condemned. A husband who does not cohabit at the right time is condemned. A son who does not protect his mother when her husband is dead is condemned.' Swiftly go and look for a husband. Act in a way so that we are not condemned by the gods." Thus addressing his daughter, he assigned aged ministers to her for the arrangements and asked her to go. Having learnt of her father's instructions, the intelligent one bowed bashfully at his feet and departed without any hesitation. She was seated on a golden chariot and surrounded by the aged advisers. She went to the beautiful hermitages of the rajarshis (royal sages). She showed her homage at the feet of the revered elders who were there. She visited all the forests, one after another. At all the tirthas (sacred pilgrimage sites), the king's daughter gave away riches to the foremost among brahmanas and went from one region to another.