Chapter 1 · Savitri's Birth and the Choice of Satyavan
Once in the land of Madra there ruled a supremely wise king named Ashwapati. For the sake of obtaining a child, he and his wife duly observed a vow and worship of the goddess Savitri, and received the boon of a daughter. By the fruit of this worship, a daughter endowed with every virtue, Savitri, was born to them. When Savitri came of age for marriage, the king told her to choose her own husband, and sent her out with his attendants to make her choice. One day the great sage Narada had come to King Ashwapati's court, just when Savitri returned having chosen her husband. She bowed respectfully to Narada. When Narada asked her, Savitri said, 'I have chosen as my husband Satyavan, the only obedient son of King Dyumatsena, whose kingdom has been taken from him, and who now wanders blind in the forests with his wife.'
Then Narada, having calculated the positions of Satyavan and Savitri's stars and seen their past, present, and future, said to the king, 'O King! Your daughter has undoubtedly chosen a most worthy husband. Satyavan is virtuous and righteous. He is worthy of Savitri in every way, but there is one grave flaw. He is short-lived, and when Savitri turns twelve years of age, he will die.' Hearing this prophecy of Narada's, the king told his daughter to find some other husband. To this Savitri said, 'Father! Noble daughters choose their husband only once in life. I too have accepted Satyavan as my husband with my whole heart, and now, whether his life be short or long, I can give no other a place in my heart. Father, noble daughters choose their husband only once. A king gives his word only once, a scholar makes his vow only once, and the giving away of a daughter too is done only once. Come what may, Satyavan alone shall be my husband.' Hearing Savitri's such firm words, King Ashwapati had her married to Satyavan. Savitri had already learnt from Narada the time of her husband's death. Savitri began living in the forest, serving her husband and her parents-in-law.
Chapter 2 · Life in the Forest and Satyavan's Death
Time went by, and Savitri turned twelve years old. Narada's words troubled her more with each passing day. At last, when by Narada's account only three days remained before her husband's death, she began to fast. On the fixed date Narada had spoken of, she performed the worship of the ancestors. As on every day, Satyavan set out that day too to cut wood, and Savitri, taking leave of her parents-in-law, went with him into the forest.
In the forest, Satyavan brought Savitri some sweet fruit, and himself climbed a tree to cut wood. As soon as he climbed the tree, an unbearable pain arose in Satyavan's head. He came down from the tree. Savitri laid him beneath the nearby banyan tree and took his head into her lap. Savitri's heart was trembling. Just then she saw Yamraj approaching from the south. Yamraj and his messenger Dharmaraj set off with Satyavan's soul, and Savitri too walked behind them. Yamraj, seeing Savitri following, told her to go back. But Savitri said, 'O Yamraj! The worth of a wife's wifehood lies in this alone, that she follow her husband like his shadow. To follow behind one's husband is a woman's very duty. By the power of my devotion to my husband, and by your grace, none can stop my path, this is my dignity. It does not become you to say anything against this.'
Chapter 3 · The Dialogue with Yama and the Boons
Pleased by Savitri's righteous words, Yamraj told her to ask for any boon except her husband's life. Savitri asked Yamraj for the restoration of her parents-in-law's lost eyesight and for their long life. Yamraj said 'so be it' and moved on. Still, Savitri did not give up following Yamraj. Yamraj again told her to go back. To this Savitri said, 'O Dharmaraj! I have no trouble in walking behind my husband. A woman's life has no worth without her husband. How can we, husband and wife, go on separate paths? To follow my husband is my duty.' Seeing the steadfastness of Savitri's devotion to her husband, Yamraj told her to ask for a boon once more. Savitri asked for the recovery of her parents-in-law's lost kingdom, and for herself to be the sister of a hundred brothers. Yamraj again said 'so be it' and moved on. But Savitri was still following behind Yamraj. Yamraj told her once more to turn back, but Savitri remained unshaken in her resolve.
Then Yamraj said, 'O goddess! If you still have any wish in your heart, speak it. Whatever you ask for, you shall receive.' To this Savitri said, 'If you are truly pleased with me and wish to grant a boon with a true heart, then grant me the boon of becoming the mother of a hundred sons.' Yamraj said 'so be it' and moved on. Yamraj then turned back and said to Savitri, 'Go no further now. I have already granted you the boon you asked for, so why are you still following me?' Savitri said, 'Dharmaraj! You have indeed granted me the boon of being the mother of a hundred sons, but can I give birth to a child without my husband? My husband must be restored to me, only then shall I be able to fulfil your boon.' Hearing Savitri's devotion to righteousness, her devotion to her husband, and her wise words, Yamraj freed Satyavan's soul. Having granted Savitri the boon, Yamraj vanished.
Chapter 4 · Satyavan's Revival and the Return Home
Savitri reached the same banyan tree beneath which Satyavan's body lay. As soon as Savitri bowed and completed her circumambulation of the banyan tree, Satyavan's dead body came back to life. The two of them, overjoyed, set off toward home. Savitri, full of joy, went with her husband to her parents-in-law. Their eyesight had returned. Their ministers had already found them. Dyumatsena had once again taken up his royal throne.
Meanwhile, King Ashwapati became the father of a hundred sons, and Savitri became the sister of a hundred brothers. By Yamraj's boon, Savitri became the mother of a hundred sons. In this way, by upholding her devotion to her husband, Savitri brought welfare to both her husband's family and her father's family. Satyavan and Savitri long enjoyed royal happiness, and in all four directions the glory of Savitri's devotion to her husband resounded.
How to Read Shri Vat Savitri Vrat Katha
The Vat Savitri vow is observed in North India on the Krishna Paksha Amavasya of the month of Jyeshtha (in some regions, on the Shukla Paksha Purnima of Jyeshtha instead). On this day, married women bathe in the morning, set up images of Brahma, Savitri, and Satyavan beneath a vat (banyan) tree, worship the tree with water, flowers, raw cotton thread, soaked gram, jaggery and the like, wind raw thread around its trunk while circling it, and then hear the Vat Savitri Katha. After the worship, a gift is offered to the mother-in-law in exchange for her blessing, and alms are given to brahmins.
About Shri Vat Savitri Vrat Katha
The Vat Savitri Vrat Katha is the story of Savitri and Satyavan, told across four chapters. In the first chapter, Savitri is born through King Ashwapati's penance, chooses Satyavan as her husband, and marries him despite Narada's prophecy. In the second, Satyavan dies an untimely death in the forest, and Yamraj comes to take his soul. In the third, Savitri, through the strength of her devotion to her husband, wins one boon after another from Yamraj, and finally wins back Satyavan's life. In the fourth, Satyavan is revived and returns home, and both families are blessed with welfare.
This vow is observed especially by married women, alongside the worship of the banyan tree, for their husband's long life, prosperity, and unbroken marital fortune. This page presents the full text of all four chapters in plain Hindi, with adjustable text size and print support.
The Vat Savitri Vrat Katha has no named author. It originates from the Pativrata-Mahatmya episode of the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, and circulates both orally and in print alongside the Savitri vow. The text presented here is a faithful transcription of the Vat Savitri Vrat Katha as printed in a published Hindi vrat-katha collection booklet, with only clear printing errors corrected and no change made to the story itself. In this source, Satyavan's death is tied to Savitri turning twelve years of age; some other well-known versions instead place it one year after the marriage. Since this story has no single ancient printed original, other editions may differ in this detail and in wording. This vow is observed mostly in North India on Jyeshtha Amavasya, while in some regions the same vow is kept instead on Jyeshtha Purnima.
Frequently asked questions
How many chapters does the Vat Savitri Vrat Katha have?
It has four chapters in total, traditionally read or heard together as one complete text.
When is the Vat Savitri Vrat observed?
This vow is observed mainly in North India on the Krishna Paksha Amavasya of Jyeshtha, while in some regions the same vow is kept on the Shukla Paksha Purnima of Jyeshtha instead.
Why is the banyan tree worshipped in the Vat Savitri Vrat?
According to the story, it was beneath this very banyan tree that Savitri won her husband Satyavan's life back from Yamraj, which is why the tree is worshipped on this day as a symbol of long life and unbroken marital fortune.
What boons did Savitri ask Yamraj for?
As the story's third chapter tells, Savitri asked in turn for her parents-in-law's lost eyesight and long life, their lost kingdom, the boon of being the sister of a hundred brothers, and the boon of becoming the mother of a hundred sons, and finally won back the life of her husband Satyavan.
Which text is the Vat Savitri Vrat Katha drawn from?
This story originates from the Pativrata-Mahatmya episode within the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, which glorifies Savitri's devotion to her husband.