Savitri

Retold by J.F.
Bierlein
 Origin
• Hindu
• Aryan (India)
• Vedic
 Theme
• The main idea or central message
in a literary work
• Some stories have more than one
theme
• If there is more than one theme,
most often they are interrelated or
consistent with one another
 Theme
• Infer theme
• Look at how the author resolves the plot
• Characters respond to conflict in a
certain way
• Their actions have consequences
• What happens as a result of their actions
are clues to theme
 Savitri
• Interrelated themes
• Can be inferred from the
consequences of the main character’s
actions
• Theme can be determined from the
lessons that the characters learn
• Oldest Vedic Myths
 Savitri
• Main character
• A human woman and princess
• Great wisdom and virtue
 Yama
• The lord of the dead
• The first human who died
• Rules kingdom of light below earth
• This is a place of rejoicing for those who
have achieved salvation by living a good life
• No living person is allowed to pass the
gates of Yama’s realm
 Hinduism
• Teaches that people achieve
salvation in stages
• At each stage, a person becomes
less concerned with the material
world
• More aware of spiritual matters
 Three Paths
• Devotion- daily worship of a
personal god and sacrifice
• Knowledge- practice study and
meditation
• Duty- do what is right without
regard to personal gain
After Reading
•Discussion
Questions
 What things are really an
“illusion” to Savitri?
• Philosophical ideas, spiritual things,
knowledge, love, helping the poor
• What does this say about what the
Vedic culture valued?
• They valued the mind and spirit
over material things.
Why did Savitri decide to marry
the blind king’s son Satyavant
who lost his kingdom to an
usurper?
• Satayavant lived among the sadhus until
the throne was restored-lived as a holy
hermit, could rule wisely, and understand
the plight (difficult situation) of the poor
• Lived a life of poverty-could see past the
illusions and judge people fairly
What was the problem Savitri
faced by marrying Satyavant?
• He was ordained (decided
beforehand by an
authority) by the gods to
die within a year of
marriage
Why doesn’t Savitri’s father want
her to marry Satyavant?
• Doesn’t want to see his
daughter widowed so
young
• May not produce an heir
 How does Savitri react?
• Persuades her father to
give his blessing
• Feels it is better to be
married for love for a year
than not at all
 Describe Savitri’s wedding.
• Not luxurious
• Married in the style of the holy
hermits
• Luxury was only an illusion
(deception, trick, delusion, false
impression)…of what?
 Does Savitri tell her husband
about his foretold death?
• No

• Where do they live?

• On the edge of the deepest, darkest
forest in the world
How does Satyavant die?
• In the woods, the animals sense
his death
• He dies of a stroke while cutting
down a tree
 What does Yama look like? How
does he get Satyavant’s soul?
• Dark blue skin
• Red eyes
• Often thought of as Heartless and cruel, but
can be compassionate
• The Lord of the Dead
• Takes the souls of the sick to free them of
misery
• Took his cord and ripped out his soul from his
body
 Describe how the culture
views death.
• the gods decide when it
is time to die
• It’s out of human
control
 How does Yama react at first to
Savitri’s love for husband and
courage?
• Offers her one wish to restore the
kingdom of Satyavant’s kingdom.

• Does she turn back?

• No
 How does Savitri find the loop
hole in entering Yama’s gates?
• No man has ever entered
• She declares she is not a man
but a woman
 Love
• Love is stronger than
death
• Love is the power that
Yama cannot defy
 What happens to
Satyavant?
• Yama restores his life
• Yama restores his father’s
kingdom-king’s eyesight restored
• Satyavant thinks he had a dream
that Yama took his soul away
and Savitri’s love saved him
How did the royals, Satyavant and
Savitri raise their family?
• In poverty, humility, honesty
and wisdom
• Simple life
• Later when Satyavant’s father
died, they ruled with equity
(fairness)
 What happened when Savitri
and Satyavant died?
• Yama greeted them as old friends
• There for a visit
• They would go to the highest
heaven
• They had over one hundred
descendants
 Themes
• Many interrelated themes
• Can be inferred by Savitri’s actions and
consequences
• Marry for love and rewarded with
happiness
• Be courageous rewarded with a wish
• An unselfish choice (wish) brings happiness
 Themes
• Can be determined by the lessons that the
characters learn
• Love is stronger than death
• Those who follow the three paths to
salvation without personal gain are
rewarded
• The more righteous the behavior, the
greater the reward