Savitri and Satyavan

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Savitri and Satyavan, also called Sāvitrī-Upākhyāna and Pativrata-mahatmya Parva, is an episode from the Indian epic Mahabharata, appearing in the Vana Parva (The Book of the Forest). It tells the story of Princess Savitri, who, through her intelligence and devotion, overcomes a divine prophecy foretelling her husband Satyavan's early death. This episode is a significant literary and religious text in Hindu tradition, emphasizing themes of the power of speech, the tensions between dharma and moksha, and Vedic symbolism associated with the goddess Savitri and the Gayatri Mantra. Scholars dispute whether the story emphasizes marital fidelity or personal autonomy. Scholars have additionally compared it to several stories from other cultures, such as of Alcestis, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Laodamia and Protesilaus. This story has been adapted many times. The most famous is an English-language epic poem by Sri Aurobindo, Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol, which uses the story to expound on his philosophy...

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