The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of Ancient India and is regarded as an important source of information on Hinduism. The narrative poem Savitri by Sri Aurobindo is an excerpt from the Mahabharata that tells the story of Savitri and Satyavan. Savitri, a gorgeous woman, uses her devotion and dedication to her husband Satyavan to convince Yama, the god of death, not to take her husband's life when he is fated to die. Savitri's devotion to her husband even in death exemplifies the Hindu ideal of a wife's devotion to her spouse.

1. Savitri,Excerpt fromthe
Mahabharata 1
Republic of the Philippines
SULTAN KUDARAT STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
EJC Montilla, Tacurong City
_____________________________________________________________
SURVEY OF AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE
ENG 311
Savitri,
Excerpt from the Mahabharata
Sarmiento,Rizzan J.

2. Savitri,Excerpt fromthe
Mahabharata 2
BSED English III
PRE-DISCUSSION
• What is Mahabharata?
• Who is the author of the narrative poem-Savitri?
• What is the story of Savitri an excerpt from the Mahabharata all about?
• What is the connection of this narrative poem that influence Indian culture and
beliefs?
WHAT TO EXPECT?
• Discuss the story of Savitri an excerpt from the Mahabharata;
• Explain the influence of this literary piece into Indian culture; and
• Appreciate the literature of India from the narrative poem Savitri, excerpt from
Mahabharata.
LESSON OUTLINE
Mahabharata
• Mahâ-means great, and Bhârata-means the descendants of Bharata
• Mahabharata means Great India, or the story of the great descendants of Bharata.
• The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of Ancient India.
• Longest epic of the world. With more than 74,000 passages and 1.8 million words
words in total.
• The Mahabharata is an important source of information on the development of
Hinduism between 400BCE and 200 CE and is regarded by Hindus as both a text
about dharma and a history.
LESSON: Savitri, Excerpt from the Mahabharata
(Indian literature)

3. Savitri,Excerpt fromthe
Mahabharata 3
Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950)
 developed certain specific spiritual practices that afforded him experiences in
the interior spaces of the soul.
 A writer that possess critical thinking on the foundations of Indian culture and
history to philosophical writings on the meaning of spiritual being and the
poetics of spiritual transformation.
 His narrative poem Savitri- running into 12 books and 49 cantos.
 Taking off from a small anecdote in the Mahabharata, this poem is cast as a
legend and a symbol —A legend told in the Mahabharata and the entire text is
an unfolding of the image of aesthetic transformation in symbolic terms.
Who is Savitri?
• Savitri, goddess in Hindu mythology, the daughter of the solar deity Savitr and the
wife of the creator god Brahma.
• In the context of Mahabharata story, Savitri a gorgeous woman and recounts how
Savitri used the power of her dedicationto her husband Satyavan to prevent Yama,
the god of the dead, from taking him when he was fated to die. She became the
epitome of the faithful wife.
Characters
• Savitri- a daughter of King Aswapati gaved by the goddess Savitri and named
after her. A gorgeous and devoted woman.
• Satyavan- son of King Dyumatsena and husband of Savitri that will live only for
one year.
• King Aswapati- could no conceive a male heir, honoring goddess Savitri and
therefore gave her a beautiful daughter who the King named “Savitri” after the
goddess.
• King Dyumatsena- was a blind man and lost his kingdom. The father of Satyavan.
• Narada Muni- divine messenger
• Yama- the god of death

4. Savitri,Excerpt fromthe
Mahabharata 4
The Story
The sequence of events:
• The story begins in King Aswapati, who was virtuous and lived what could be
considered a perfect dharmic style.
• Despite this, Aswapati could not conceive a male heir, As a king he need to have
a child that he will pass the throne.
• King Aswapati was visited by the goddess Savitri, who is also called Gayatri. Savitri
could not granted him a son, but instead granted him daughter.
• Who the King named her daughter “Savitri” also after the goddess.
• Savitri grew up to become a beautiful woman, and because of her intimidating
beauty none would hesitate to marry her.
• King Aswapati sent her off in search of a husband, as none in their land would
marry her.
• Savitri, tell about King Dyumatsena a Kyshatriya King, was a wise, virtous king
but grew blind and thus his Kingdom was overthrown by an old enemy.
• Meanwhile, Savitri met the King Dyumatsena’s only son Satyavan.
• Savitri fall inloved to Satyavan and chose him as the one she would Marry.
• Her father does not object this most unsuitable husband and Savitri leaves the
luxuries of the palace. And they leaves in the edge of the forest and Satyavan
earns a living as a woodcutter.
• Then, Narada Muni the divine messenger appeared and warned her that Satyavan
will live only from one year from the day they marry. But still Savitri pursue her
loved and they get married.
• Savitri knows of his husband death, therefore she always do dharma and when
only three days remaining that her husband would die, she gave up eating,
sleeping and passed all her time in prayer.
• One day Savitri and Satyavan went out in the woods to pick fruits and cut down
tree branches.

5. Savitri,Excerpt fromthe
Mahabharata 5
• After, Satyavan began to feel weak, he is overcome with fatigue and falls asleep
in the lap of her wife. Savitri knows that this is the moment of his death.
• The next moment Yama, the god of the death appeared to Savitri and take
Satyavan’s soul.
• Savitri refuses to leave her husband and follows the god of death.
• She spoke to Yama of Satyavan’s virtues and he was impressed by her words and
her devotion and granted her a boon.
• Yama said “I will give you two boons; you can ask for anything except the life of
Satyavan”.
• First she asks that her father-in-law sight be restored, gives strength and then she
asks that his kingdom be returned to him. Second that she be the mother of a
hundred sons.
• Without thinking, Yama granted her two boons.
• At this Savitri asked Yama to return her husband because without him, she could
not have any sons.
• Then suddenly Satyavan give back to life.
• When Savitri and Satyavan returned, they found Dyumatsena’s eyesight and
strength had returned, and he ascended once againto his rightful place at the head
of kingdom.
• Savitri and Satyavan had many children, and all as well.
The End
The Message and its connection to Hindu way of life.
• Savitri’s devotion to her husband isthe key theme of this literary piece. Even before
they are married, Savitri were really devoted even on the impending death of
Satyavan.
 This is especially significant due to inauspicious status of widows in the Hindu
tradition, and prohibition of remarriage.
• She also shows devotion towards her husband’s family. Her request of Yama to
return her father-in-law’s sight, strength, and kingdom exemplify this ideal.
 Who in the Hindu tradition essentially becomes her new primary family.
• Lastly her devotion to Satyavan even in death is impressive. She didn’t; hesitate
to follows Yama and grants her divine boons, eventually giving the life of her
husband back.

6. Savitri,Excerpt fromthe
Mahabharata 6
 The ideal of pativrata “ascetic dedicationto the woman’s husband”. It is the highest
vrata, or ascetic observance that Hindu women follow.
 The pativrata is closely related to sakti, spiritual power, and the husband was
dependent on this spiritual power for his survival and strength.
• The story of Savitri, exemplifies this, as Savitri’s devotion is very closely tied to her
husband strength and survival, literally bringing him back to life.
SUMMARY
The Mahabharata is an important source of information on the development of
Hinduism between 400BCE and 200 CE and is regarded by Hindus as both a text about
dharma and a history.The excerpt from the Mahabharata which is the narrative poem that
tells a story about Savitri and Satyavan was written by Sri Aurobindo in a 12 books and
49 cantos. The narrative poem talks about the legend and a symbol. A legend told in the
Mahabharata and the entire text is an unfolding of the image of aesthetic transformation
in symbolic terms which the spiritual being.
In the context of Mahabharata story, Savitri a gorgeous woman, recounts how she
used the power of dedication to her husband Satyavan to prevent Yama, the god of the
dead, from taking him when he was fated to die. She became the epitome of the faithful
wife. Savitri’s devotion to her husband is the key theme of the literary piece. Since even
before they are married, Savitri were really devoted even on the impending death of her
husband. She also shows devotion towards her husband’s family. Her request of Yama
to return her father-in-law’s sight, strength, and kingdom exemplify this ideal. Lastly her
devotion to Satyavan even in death is impressive. She didn’t; hesitate to follows Yama
and grants her divine boons, eventually giving the life of her husband back.
The story of Savitri and Satyavan, by Sri Aurobindo implies a legend told in
Mahabharata and a symbol of spiritual being it exemplifies the Hindu ideals of a wife’s
devotion to her husband. Savitri marries the man she chooses regardless of his
approaching death, and refuses to let him go. When her husband was going to die, it is
her devotion and strength of character that brings him back to life. She epitomizes the
ideal of pativrata, and is an example of how the Hindu epics teach how one should live
with simple moral principles.

7. Savitri,Excerpt fromthe
Mahabharata 7
ASSESSMENT
Part I Multiple Choice
Answer the following questions and write the letter provided before the number.
__1. Is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of Ancient India?
a.Mahabharata b.Bharata c. Hinduism d.Pativrata
__2.Who is the author of the narrative poem Savitri an excerpt from the Mahabharata?
a.Sir Aurbindo b.Sri Arobindo c. Sir Aurbendo d. Sri Aurobindo
__3. According to the author the narrative poem implies as?
a.happiness and love b.legend and symbol c.hope and suffering
d.spirit and power
__4. Who is the main character of the story considered as the faithful wife to her husband?
a.Savitri b.Satyavan c. Narada d.Yama
__5 Who is the divine messenger in the story?
a. God Brahma b.Yama c.deity Savitr d.Narada Muni
Part II. Enumeration
1.List down the characters and give their roles in the story.

8. Savitri,Excerpt fromthe
Mahabharata 8
Part III. Essay. Give at least one paragraph explanation.
1. In your own understanding, explain the moral values of the story?
2. How do this piece reflects into the real life situation?
3. When you will get married, give your reason as being devoted to your spouse.
Part IV. Performance
Choose your own group, dividing the class into 5 groups and do a drama/role play about
the story. Be creative as you can used props or costumes.
Attached the rubric.

9. Savitri,Excerpt fromthe
Mahabharata 9
The rubrics presented were adapted from samples provided in the Rubistar section of the 4teachers.org
site provided by Advanced Learning Technologies in Education Consortia (ALTEC), hosted by the
University of Kansas, http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php.
Note: Doesn’t applicable if there is no face to face interaction.
References:
Assessment rubrics. (2008).
http://www.druged.ednet.ns.ca/Supplement/Appendices/Rubrics/Rubrics.html
Ballesterol,K.(n.d.).The Mahabharata
https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/kristineballesterol/mahabharata-
31810941?fbclid=IwAR0FW1upMqQ5aXovMFYDWKsNIzjLMYdKfG--
7nWd2dgWvcPcvI7TwL9Jtfc
Britannica.(n.d.). Savitri.https://www.britannica.com/topic/Savitri
Hill, T. (2017). Savitri and satyavana.www.mahavidya.ca/2017/12/29/savitri-and-
satyavan/
Sattar, A.(2017). History and culture.https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-
culture/the-story-of-savitri-sathyavan/article19414814.ece
Sivaramakrishnan M. (2019, August 15). Sri Aurobindo’s savitri and the mantra.
The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/sri-
aurobindos-savitri-and-the-mantra-5904291/