Book VI—The Book of Fate

Canto 1

The Word of Fate

But a black tiger stood on the stealthy way

And Narad saw him from his home in Vaikunţha

And hastened that be known to Savitri

Year is the body and calm Satyavan,

When fly away twelve birds of time, shall die.

In the earthly soil was cast the occult seed,

An imponderable wonderful, bright.

No human mind would comprehend its working,

No heart’s passion halt the advancing doom,

And truer yet became Savitri’s resolve.

If love came from the old creation to die,

The new shall take birth in the glory of death.

But the incontingent love has to presently face the worldly odds, the bane of mortality. But complex is the web of Destiny, and there is also the higher involvement. Narad has taken upon himself an onerous task. Savitri has come to know Love; but she must also know Death. To timely impart that knowledge, he hastens to Aswapati’s palace and makes known about the impending doom. He comes down from his paradisal home, singing five songs that culminate in the glory and marvel about to be born on earth. He is warmly received. Savitri discloses her meeting with Satyavan; but alas! it has also something ominous in it. Narad skirts the matter in the beginning; but is persuaded to divulge the truth, to reveal which he had actually come. In the sequel he, as if, tightens the grip of adverse fate by speaking out Satyavan’s death one year after the illustrious marriage. However, for Savitri’s mother Malawi this is altogether unacceptable. She pleads to Savitri, in the way of human pragmatism, to make another choice. But Savitri is firm in her resolve, maintaining that it was her soul’s decision and none can reverse it.

Canto 2

The Way of Fate and the Problem of Pain

Falsehood is the sorrow of the supreme,

And not for nothing was this creation made,

And not for failure the sacrifice performed.

Least this world, but pain is the deep illusion

And when the price is paid it turns into joy.

But only the great in soul can bear its stroke,

Walk through death, as through the door of the sun.

Savitri must wage the battle for god,

And meet the stark force in the flame of her will.

Her way to the high runs through the bosom of night,

And when is kindled the fire in trance of sleep

She can house victory’s power and the challenge face.

The emotion-charged mother, Malawi, questions the way the heavenly powers toy with the human lot. She wonders how at all grief and pain should find a place in good God’s creation. Or could it be that some disastrous power managed to mar his beautiful work? She seems to be miffed by destiny, and is reacting sharply. But Narad reveals the sense of mystery that lies behind it, mystery incomprehensible to human mind. It is pain that shapes the fiery spirit, ultimately to triumph over all obstacles. In any case, it was man’s soul that had longed for adventure, and he should not complain about it. It saw the possibility of a new creation emerging out of Inconscience and Ignorance and opted to participate in it. Narad asserts that Savitri’s will is fully in accord with that original wisdom, and she must be left to live in it. He recommends the marriage. Satyavan’s death is the spirit’s exceptional prospect and the sage effectively tells that such an opportunity should not be squandered away. God-given is her might and she needs no other help to carry out her work. She as the incarnate Shakti must meet Death in order to transform him.