In the Hindu mythology the story of Savitri and Satyavan is well-known as is mentioned in `The Book of the Forest` of the epic Mahabharata.

The legendary story of Savitri and Satyavan is broadly narrated by Markandeya, ancient Rishi or sage. When Yudhisthira asks Markandeya whether there has ever been a woman whose dedication and loyalty matched with Draupadi`s virtues. Then Markandeya replied to Yudhisthira by narrating this tale.

Aswapati, the childless king of Madura, lead a virtuous life of austerity for many years and offered many oblations to Goddess Savitri. Finally the Goddess Savitri appeared to him and blessed him with a daughter. The daughter of Aswapati was born and named Savitri in honor of the Goddess.

Savitri grew up to age of marriage but no man asks for her hand, so her father tells her to find a husband on her own choice. Savitri sets out on a pilgrimage for finding a groom for herself. Savitri finds Satyavan; he was the son of a blind king named Dyumatsena. Satyavan was living in exile as a forest-dweller after being deprived from the throne.

Savitri returns to Aswapati after finding Satyavan as her groom. There she found her father conversing with Narada who declares that Savitri has made a bad choice. Narada said to him that Satyavan was perfect in every way but was destined to die one year from that day.

Aswapati asked Savitri not to marry Satyavan but to choose another suitable husband for her. Savitri was determined; she insisted that she will choose her husband but once. After Narada announces his agreement with Savitri, Asvapati agrees. This is Savitri`s first conflict with a powerful male figure, her father, the king. Savitri`s argument rests on the authority of her mind. She says to him that she will stick to what she had said and do as per her wishes. Then Savitri overcomes all the worldly power by pleasing and devoting to the spiritual authority of her family`s guru and her own interior self.

Both Savitri and Satyavan were married, and she went to dwell in the forest. Just after the marriage, Savitri dresses herself as a hermit and lives in perfect obedience and respects her in-laws and husband. She goes beyond all expectations of normal behavior.

As the story proceeds it is related, three days before the anticipated death of Satyavan, Savitri takes a vow of fast and meditation. Satyavan`s blind father tells her not to be so harsh with self-punishment. But Savitri replies that she has taken an oath to perform these austerities.

The morning of Satyavan`s forecasted death, Savitri asks for Dyumatsena`s permission to accompany her husband into the forest. As she has never asked for anything during the entire year, Dyumatsena grants her wish.

While Satyavan was splitting wood then he suddenly becomes weak and lays his head in Savitri`s lap. Yama, Lord of death comes himself to claim the soul of Satyavan. Savitri follows Yama as he carries the soul away. Yama tries to convince her to return back but she offers successive formulas of knowledge and intelligence. At first Savitri praises obedience to the Law, then companionship with the strict, then Yama himself for his just rule, then Yama as King of the Law, and finally righteous conduct with no expectation of return. Yama was overwhelmed with every speech of Savitri and offers her any boon excluding the life of Satyavan. Savitri cleverly asks first for eyesight and a return to the throne for her father-in-law Dyumatsena, then sons for her father, and then sons for herself and Satyavan. Finally Savitri chooses Satyavan`s life. This is final and most dramatic conflict of Savitri with the powerful Yama. Yama clearly occupies the position of strength, but Savitri manages to overcome even death. Savitri`s challenge lies in appealing to the Law, above even Yama.

Savitri stands in front of Satyavan`s body and he awakens as if he had been in a deep sleep. Savitri along with her husband Satyavan returned to their parents. In the meantime Dyumatsena, the blind king recovers his eyesight and searches with his wife for Satyavan and Savitri. Satyavan and Savitri returns to the hermitage. Satyavan after returning also did not knew what had happened and then Savitri relays the story to her parents, in-law, husband, and other holy men. As they praise her, Dyumatsena`s ministers arrive with news of the death of his usurper. Then the king along with his family members returns to his kingdom and they live happily ever after.