您可以在百度里搜索“National Epics 艾草文学(www.321553.xyz)”查找最新章节！

　　SELECTIONS FROM THE MAHÂ-BHÂRATA.

　　SÂVITRI, OR LOVE AND DEATH.

　　The beautiful princess Sâvitri of her own choice wedded the prince Satyavan, son of a blind and exiled king, although she knew that he was doomed by the gods to die within a year. When the year was almost gone, she sat for several days beneath a great tree, abstaining from food and drink, and imploring the gods to save him from death. On the fateful day she accompanied him to the forest to gather the sacred wood for the evening sacrifice. As he struck the tree with the axe he reeled in pain, and exclaiming, "I cannot work!" fell fainting.

　　Thereon that noble lady, hastening near.

　　Stayed him that would have fallen, with quick arms;

　　And, sitting on the earth, laid her lord's head

　　Tenderly in her lap. So bent she, mute,

　　Fanning his face, and thinking 't was the day—

　　The hour—which Narad named—the sure fixed date

　　Of dreadful end—when, lo! before her rose

　　A shade majestic. Red his garments were,

　　His body vast and dark; like fiery suns

　　The eyes which burned beneath his forehead-cloth;

　　Armed was he with a noose, awful of mien.

　　This Form tremendous stood by Satyavan,

　　Fixing its gaze upon him. At the sight

　　The fearful Princess started to her feet.

　　Heedfully laying on the grass his head,

　　Up started she, with beating heart, and joined

　　Her palms for supplication, and spake thus

　　In accents tremulous: "Thou seem'st some God;

　　Thy mien is more than mortal; make me know

　　What god thou art, and what thy purpose here."

　　And Yama said (the dreadful god of death):

　　"Thou art a faithful wife, O Sâvitrî,

　　True to thy vows, pious, and dutiful;

　　Therefore I answer thee. Yama I am!

　　This Prince thy lord lieth at point to die;

　　Him will I straightway bind and bear from life;

　　This is my office, and for this I come."

　　Then Sâvitrî spake sadly: "It is taught

　　Thy messengers are sent to fetch the dying;

　　Why is it, Mightiest, thou art come thyself?"

　　In pity of her love, the Pityless

　　Answered—the King of all the Dead replied:

　　"This was a Prince unparalleled, thy lord;

　　Virtuous as fair, a sea of goodly gifts,

　　Not to be summoned by a meaner voice

　　Than Yama's own: therefore is Yama come."

　　With that the gloomy God fitted his noose

　　And forced forth from the Prince the soul of him—

　　Subtile, a thumb in length—which being reft,

　　Breath stayed, blood stopped, the body's grace was gone,

　　And all life's warmth to stony coldness turned.

　　Then, binding it, the Silent Presence bore

　　Satyavan's soul away toward the South.

　　But Sâvitrî the Princess followed him;

　　Being so bold in wifely purity,

　　So holy by her love; and so upheld,

　　She followed him.

　　Presently Yama turned.

　　"Go back," "h he. "Pay for him funeral dues.

　　Enough, O Sâvitrî, is wrought for love;

　　Go back! Too far already hast thou come."

　　Then Sâvitrî made answer: "I must go

　　Where my lord goes, or where my lord is borne;

　　Naught other is my duty. Nay, I think,

　　By reason of my vows, my services,

　　Done to the Gurus, and my faultless love,

　　Grant but thy grace, I shall unhindered go.

　　The sages teach that to walk seven steps

　　One with another, maketh good men friends;

　　Beseech thee, let me say a verse to thee:—

　　"Be master of thyself, if thou wilt be

　　Servant of Duty. Such as thou shall see

　　Not self-subduing, do no deeds of good

　　In youth or age, in household or in wood.

　　But wise men know that virtue is best bliss,

　　And all by some one way may reach to this.

　　It needs not men should pass through orders four

　　To come to knowledge: doing right is more

　　Than any learning; therefore sages say

　　Best and most excellent is Virtue's way."

　　Spake Yama then: "Return! yet I am moved

　　By those soft words; justly their accents fell,

　　And sweet and reasonable was their sense.

　　See now, thou faultless one. Except this life

　　I bear away, ask any boon from me;

　　It shall not be denied."

　　Sâvitrî said:

　　"Let, then, the King, my husband's father, have

　　His eyesight back, and be his strength restored,

　　And let him live anew, strong as the sun."

　　"I give this gift," Yama replied. "Thy wish,

　　Blameless, shall be fulfilled. But now go back;

　　Already art thou wearied, and our road

　　Is hard and long. Turn back, lest thou, too, die."

　　The Princess answered: "Weary am I not,

　　So I walk near my lord. Where he is borne,

　　Thither wend I. Most mighty of the Gods,

　　I follow wheresoe'er thou takest him.

　　A verse is writ on this, if thou wouldst hear:—

　　"There is naught better than to be

　　With noble souls in company:

　　There is naught better than to wend

　　With good friends faithful to the end.

　　This is the love whose fruit is sweet,

　　Therefore to bide within is meet."

　　Spake Yama, smiling: "Beautiful! thy words

　　Delight me; they are excellent, and teach

　　Wisdom unto the wise, singing soft truth.

　　Look, now! Except the life of Satyavan,

　　Ask yet another—any—boon from me."

　　Sâvitrî said: "Let, then, the pious King,

　　My husband's father, who hath lost his throne,

　　Have back the Raj; and let him rule his realm

　　In happy righteousness. This boon I ask."

　　"He shall have back the throne," Yama replied,

　　"And he shall reign in righteousness: these things

　　Will surely fall. But thou, gaining thy wish,

　　Return anon; so shalt thou 'scape sore ill."

　　"Ah, awful God! who hold'st the world in leash,"

　　The Princess said, "restraining evil men,

　　And leading good men—even unconscious—there,

　　Where they attain, hear yet those famous words:—

　　"The constant virtues of the good are tenderness and love

　　To all that lives—in earth, air, sea—great, small—below, above;

　　Compassionate of heart, they keep a gentle thought for each,

　　Kind in their actions, mild in will, and pitiful of speech;

　　Who pitieth not, he hath not faith; full many an one so lives,

　　But when an enemy seeks help, a good man gladly gives."

　　"As water to the thirsty," Yama said,

　　"Princess, thy words melodious are to me.

　　Except the life of Satyavan, thy lord,

　　Ask one boon yet again, for I will grant."

　　Answer made Sâvitrî: "The King, my sire,

　　Hath no male child. Let him see many sons

　　Begotten of his body, who may keep

　　The royal line long regnant. This I ask."

　　"So shall it be," the Lord of Death replied;

　　"A hundred fair preservers of his race

　　Thy sire shall boast. But this wish being won,

　　Return, dear Princess; thou hast come too far."

　　"It is not far for me," "h Sâvitrî,

　　"Since I am near my husband; nay, my heart

　　Is set to go as far as to the end;

　　But hear these other verses, if thou wilt:—

　　"By that sunlit name thou bearest,

　　Thou, Vaivaswata! art dearest;

　　Those that as their Lord proclaim thee,

　　King of Righteousness do name thee:

　　Better than themselves the wise

　　Trust the righteous. Each relies

　　Most upon the good, and makes

　　Friendship with them. Friendship takes

　　Fear from hearts; yet friends betray,

　　In good men we may trust alway."

　　"Sweet lady," Yama said, "never were words

　　Spoke better; never truer heard by ear;

　　Lo! I am pleased with thee. Except this soul,

　　Ask one gift yet again, and get thee home."

　　"I ask thee then," quickly the Princess cried,

　　"Sons, many sons, born of my body; boys;

　　Satyavan's children; lovely, valiant, strong;

　　Continuers of their line. Grant this, kind God."

　　"I grant it," Yama answered; "thou shalt bear

　　These sons thy heart desireth, valiant, strong.

　　Therefore go back, that years be given thee.

　　Too long a path thou treadest, dark and rough."

　　But sweeter than before, the Princess sang:—

　　"In paths of peace and virtue

　　Always the good remain;

　　And sorrow shall not stay with them,

　　Nor long access of pain;

　　At meeting or at parting

　　Joys to their bosom strike;

　　For good to good is friendly,

　　And virtue loves her like.

　　The great sun goes his journey

　　By their strong truth impelled;

　　By their pure lives and penances

　　Is earth itself upheld;

　　Of all which live and shall live

　　Upon its hills and fields,

　　Pure hearts are the protectors,

　　For virtue saves and shields.

　　"Never are noble spirits

　　Poor while their like survive;

　　True love has gems to render,

　　And virtue wealth to give.

　　Never is lost or wasted

　　The goodness of the good;

　　Never against a mercy,

　　Against a right, it stood;

　　And seeing this, that virtue

　　Is always friend to all,

　　The virtuous and true-hearted,

　　Men their protectors call."

　　"Line for line, Princess, as thou sangest so,"

　　"h Yama, "all that lovely praise of good,

　　Grateful to hallowed minds, lofty in sound,

　　And couched in dulcet numbers—word by word—

　　Dearer thou grew'st to me. O thou great heart,

　　Perfect and firm! ask any boon from me,—

　　Ask an incomparable boon!"

　　She cried

　　Swiftly, no longer stayed: "Not Heaven I crave,

　　Nor heavenly joys, nor bliss incomparable,

　　Hard to be granted, even by thee; but him,

　　My sweet lord's life, without which I am dead;

　　Give me that gift of gifts! I will not take

　　Aught less without him,—not one boon—no praise,

　　No splendors, no rewards,—not even those sons

　　Whom thou didst promise. Ah, thou wilt not now

　　Bear hence the father of them and my hope!

　　Make thy free word good; give me Satyavan

　　Alive once more."

　　And thereupon the God—

　　The Lord of Justice, high Vaivaswata—

　　Loosened the noose and freed the Prince's soul,

　　And gave it to the lady, saying this,

　　With eyes grown tender: "See, thou sweetest queen

　　Of women, brightest jewel of thy kind!

　　Here is thy husband. He shall live and reign

　　Side by side with thee, saved by thee,—in peace

　　And fame and wealth, and health, many long years,

　　For pious sacrifices world-renowned.

　　Boys shalt thou bear to him, as I did grant,—

　　Kshatriya kings, fathers of kings to be,

　　Sustainers of thy line. Also thy sire

　　Shall see his name upheld by sons of sons,

　　Like the immortals, valiant, Mâlavas."

　　ARNOLD: Indian Idylls. National Epics