e a king, mourning because he was childless, spent many
years fasting and praying in hopes that offspring would be granted
him. One day the goddess of the sun rose out of his sacrificial fire
to promise him a daughter, more beauteous than any maiden ever seen
before. The king rejoiced, and, when this child was born, every one
declared little Savitri the prettiest maiden ever seen. As she grew up
she became more and more beautiful, until all the surrounding kings
longed to marry her, but dared not propose. Seeing this, her father
conferred upon her the right to select her own spouse, and the
princess began to travel from court to court inspecting all the
marriageable princes. One day, in the course of these wanderings, she
paused beneath a banyan tree, where a blind old hermit had taken up
his abode. He was just telling the princess that he dwelt there with
his wife and son, when a young man appeared, bringing wood for the
sacrifice. This youth was Satyavan, his son, who was duly astonished
to behold a lovely princess.

On returning home, Savitri informed her father her choice was made,
for she had decided to marry the hermit's son! This news appalled the
king, because the prime minister assured him Satyavan--although son of
a banished king--was doomed to die at the end of the year.

Knowing the unenviable lot of a Hindu widow, the king implored Savitri
to choose another mate, but the girl refused, insisting she would
rather live one year with Satyavan than spend a long life with any one
else!

But Savitri replied:
"Once falls a heritage; once a maid yields
Her maidenhood; once doth a father say,
'Choose, I abide thy choice.' These three things done,
Are done forever. Be my prince to live
A year, or many years; be he so great
As Narada hath said, or less than this;
Once have I chosen him, and choose not twice:
My heart resolved, my mouth hath spoken it,
My hand shall execute;--this is my mind!"
--_Edwin Arnold._

So the marriage took place, and, because the hermit and his son had
vowed to remain in the jungle until reinstated in their realm, the
princess dwelt in their humble hut, laying aside her princely garments
and wearing the rough clothes hermits affect.

In spite of poverty, this little family dwelt happily beneath the huge
banyan tree, the princess rigidly keeping the secret that her husband
had but a year to live. Time passed all too