...and
so begins the last story of Yama...
Satyavan: The Loved Soul
My friend! I am so happy to see you again. Today, sadly, is the last adventure that I have for you. I must get back to focusing on my job. Therefore, I have decided to let you see one of the most surprising soul collection journeys of my life. One thing I must ask of you though- you cannot make fun of me. Deal?
Ok, let us go. This is a really dense forest. I am going to put this coat over you. It is an invisibility cloak. This way you can stay next to me the whole time so you don't have to startle Satyavan's soul when I go to retrieve it. First, let me give you some background on his soul.
Satyavan is the son of a king and queen who had lost their entire kingdom. This young prince, although poor, loved his mother and father very much. The king and queen were so depressed because of ther huge loss. Yet Satyavan's love for his parents comforted them and made their lives worth living.
One day, Satyavan was out gathering wood for a fire, when a beautiful princess showed up in his forest. She was surrounded by many men. Satyavan and his family were worried, for they did not know what was going to happen. However the princess, Savitri, quickly explained that she was not their to harm them, but there to marry their son. She had seen his genuine love for his mother and father, and sensed an instant connection with him upon first sight. The parents and Satyavan agreed.
Savitri's father was hesitant when hearing the news of his daughter desiring to marry a poor young prince. He found out everything he could about this prince, and found nothing but good things. Just before he consented to the marriage, however, a saint told him a horrible message - Satyavan was cursed to die in exactly one year. Savitri's father told her the news, but she knew she loved him very much and insisted on continuing with the marriage, even if it would only last one year.
That first year with Savitri and Satyavan was like a fairytale. They were in love, and spent every day they could together in the forest. They knew their love was real and true. The year was finally up, and that is what brings us here, my friend. Now let's watch them. Satyavan is getting very tired, and weak. Savitri knows it. She tells him to come lay his head on her lap. She wants to be with her husband until his very last minute of life. He takes in his last breath.
Listen as I retrieve his soul...
My dear Savitri, it is time for me to take your husband's soul with me to heaven. I am sorry this is how it has to be. I know you two had real, true love that is hard to find. "Yama, I respect you with everything I have, but I do love him and cannot let him go now. He is too young. We have so much life left to live together. Either take me with him or let him stay here with me. I would rather give up my life, then live on earth without him. He is the love of my life." My dear Savitri, I cannot, for it is his time, and not yours. But I will grant you anything else which you desire.
Savitri's face brightened like a child's on Christmas morning. "Okay, Yama, I want to have wonderful, wonderful sons. Sons whose hearts are genuine like their father's." Savitri, I would love to do that for you, your wish is granted. "Aha! Lord Yama, how can I have sons without a husband?! You must give him back to me." O my gosh, I can not believe it. You tricked me! I knew you were smart and cunning. I knew love could do anything. However, I had no idea that love could trick me, the god of death, into giving back a soul. However my dear Savitri, you have done it. I have no choice, for a god cannot go back on his word. Here is your dear husband's soul back. Have a good life, my dear Savitri.
Come, my soul collection friend. This journey is over. We are leaving empty-handed. I told you not to laugh at me! Although it is my job to take souls, I am actually glad. I feel at peace about leaving Satyavan's soul with his wife. He was such a comforting son to his parents, and a loving husband to his wife. He will raise amazing sons who will do great things. This time, I am glad that we left empty-handed. I hope you had fun on our journeys. I sure did enjoy the company. It is now time for me to go back to the heavens. Live a life full of happiness and no regrets, my friend. Someday, we will meet again, someday. Goodbye for now!!
Beautiful Forest
Cyril Hou
Author's Note: I decided to retell Satyavan's death for my last story because it was so different than many of the other death stories we have read so far. I thought it was a good story to show how Yama does have a heart for those who are affected by the souls he takes. He has a heart for the living as well as the dead. Although he was going to take Satyavan's soul to heaven, Savitri still could not handle the thought of having to live the rest of her life without him. I thought by showing how Yama wanted to make any wish of hers come true (except the wish of getting her husband back) would portray not only the god of death in Yama but also the god of justice in him too. After granting Savitri's smart wish, he realized there was no way he could take back his promise. The only way to grant Savitri's wish was to give her back her husband. Yama lost this battle of wits. However, I wanted to portray that Yama was actually okay with this loss. He knew that Satyavan's life was a short one. He knew that he was a good guy and deserved to live a longer life with his wife. I wanted to end this storybook on a good note. To have it portray Yama in a good light. I thought this story was a perfect way to do that.
Satyavan: The Loved Soul
My friend! I am so happy to see you again. Today, sadly, is the last adventure that I have for you. I must get back to focusing on my job. Therefore, I have decided to let you see one of the most surprising soul collection journeys of my life. One thing I must ask of you though- you cannot make fun of me. Deal?
Ok, let us go. This is a really dense forest. I am going to put this coat over you. It is an invisibility cloak. This way you can stay next to me the whole time so you don't have to startle Satyavan's soul when I go to retrieve it. First, let me give you some background on his soul.
Satyavan is the son of a king and queen who had lost their entire kingdom. This young prince, although poor, loved his mother and father very much. The king and queen were so depressed because of ther huge loss. Yet Satyavan's love for his parents comforted them and made their lives worth living.
One day, Satyavan was out gathering wood for a fire, when a beautiful princess showed up in his forest. She was surrounded by many men. Satyavan and his family were worried, for they did not know what was going to happen. However the princess, Savitri, quickly explained that she was not their to harm them, but there to marry their son. She had seen his genuine love for his mother and father, and sensed an instant connection with him upon first sight. The parents and Satyavan agreed.
Savitri's father was hesitant when hearing the news of his daughter desiring to marry a poor young prince. He found out everything he could about this prince, and found nothing but good things. Just before he consented to the marriage, however, a saint told him a horrible message - Satyavan was cursed to die in exactly one year. Savitri's father told her the news, but she knew she loved him very much and insisted on continuing with the marriage, even if it would only last one year.
That first year with Savitri and Satyavan was like a fairytale. They were in love, and spent every day they could together in the forest. They knew their love was real and true. The year was finally up, and that is what brings us here, my friend. Now let's watch them. Satyavan is getting very tired, and weak. Savitri knows it. She tells him to come lay his head on her lap. She wants to be with her husband until his very last minute of life. He takes in his last breath.
Listen as I retrieve his soul...
My dear Savitri, it is time for me to take your husband's soul with me to heaven. I am sorry this is how it has to be. I know you two had real, true love that is hard to find. "Yama, I respect you with everything I have, but I do love him and cannot let him go now. He is too young. We have so much life left to live together. Either take me with him or let him stay here with me. I would rather give up my life, then live on earth without him. He is the love of my life." My dear Savitri, I cannot, for it is his time, and not yours. But I will grant you anything else which you desire.
Savitri's face brightened like a child's on Christmas morning. "Okay, Yama, I want to have wonderful, wonderful sons. Sons whose hearts are genuine like their father's." Savitri, I would love to do that for you, your wish is granted. "Aha! Lord Yama, how can I have sons without a husband?! You must give him back to me." O my gosh, I can not believe it. You tricked me! I knew you were smart and cunning. I knew love could do anything. However, I had no idea that love could trick me, the god of death, into giving back a soul. However my dear Savitri, you have done it. I have no choice, for a god cannot go back on his word. Here is your dear husband's soul back. Have a good life, my dear Savitri.
Come, my soul collection friend. This journey is over. We are leaving empty-handed. I told you not to laugh at me! Although it is my job to take souls, I am actually glad. I feel at peace about leaving Satyavan's soul with his wife. He was such a comforting son to his parents, and a loving husband to his wife. He will raise amazing sons who will do great things. This time, I am glad that we left empty-handed. I hope you had fun on our journeys. I sure did enjoy the company. It is now time for me to go back to the heavens. Live a life full of happiness and no regrets, my friend. Someday, we will meet again, someday. Goodbye for now!!
Beautiful Forest
Cyril Hou
Author's Note: I decided to retell Satyavan's death for my last story because it was so different than many of the other death stories we have read so far. I thought it was a good story to show how Yama does have a heart for those who are affected by the souls he takes. He has a heart for the living as well as the dead. Although he was going to take Satyavan's soul to heaven, Savitri still could not handle the thought of having to live the rest of her life without him. I thought by showing how Yama wanted to make any wish of hers come true (except the wish of getting her husband back) would portray not only the god of death in Yama but also the god of justice in him too. After granting Savitri's smart wish, he realized there was no way he could take back his promise. The only way to grant Savitri's wish was to give her back her husband. Yama lost this battle of wits. However, I wanted to portray that Yama was actually okay with this loss. He knew that Satyavan's life was a short one. He knew that he was a good guy and deserved to live a longer life with his wife. I wanted to end this storybook on a good note. To have it portray Yama in a good light. I thought this story was a perfect way to do that.
Bibliography:
Buck, William (1973).
Mahabharata