The Avatar’s Ordeal (SVH 44) Book 7 Canto 1

Savitri Book Seven: The Book of Yoga, Canto I: The Joy of Union; the Ordeal of the Foreknowledge of Death and the Heart’s Grief and Pain.

In this canto, Narad the divine sage comes to Aswapati’s palace as Savitri returns from her quest. The fate of Savitri and Satyavan is at once revealed before his subtle vision. After some hesitation, he reveals to Savitri’s mother, the queen, that Satyavan has only one more year to live. The queen is disturbed by the decree of fate and asks Savitri to return and reverse her choice. But Savitri prefers to stand by the choice she has made in a moment of the soul, even if it seems to be erroneous to the pragmatic mind, rather than follow the dictates of the practical reason. She remains firm upon her choice leaving the queen quite helpless before the fast-approaching gloom that draws upon her dearest daughter’s fate.