like Yayati, and beautiful like the Moon.  And in beauty of person he is like either of the twin Aswins.  And with senses under control, he is meek, and brave, and truthful!  And with passion in subjection he is devoted to his friends, and free from malice and modest and patient.  Indeed, briefly speaking, they that are possessed of great ascetic merit and are of exalted character say that he is always correct in his conduct and that honour is firmly seated on his brow.”  Hearing this, Aswapati said, “O reverend sage, thou tellest me that he is possessed of every virtue!  Do thou now tell me his defects if, indeed, he hath any!” Narada then said, “He hath one only defect that hath overwhelmed all his virtues.  That defect is incapable of being conquered by even the greatest efforts.  He hath only one defect, and no other.  Within a year from this day, Satyavan, endued with a short life will cast off his body!” Hearing these words of the sage, the king said, “Come, O Savitri, go thou and choose another for thy lord, O beautiful damsel!  That one great defect (in this youth) existeth, covering all his merits.  The illustrious Narada honoured by even the gods, sayeth, that Satyavan will have to cast off his body within a year, his days being numbered!” At these words of her father, Savitri said, “The death can fall but once; a daughter can be given away but one; and once only can a person say, I give away!  These three things can take place only once.  Indeed, with a life short or long, possessed of virtues or bereft of them, I have, for once, selected my husband.  Twice I shall not select.  Having first settled a thing mentally, it is expressed in words, and then it is carried out into practice.  Of this my mind is an example!” Narada then said, “O best of men, the heart of thy daughter Savitri wavereth not!  It is not possible by any means to make her swerve from this path of virtue!  In no other person are those virtues that dwell in Satyavan.  The bestowal of thy daughter, therefore, is approved by me!” The king said, “What thou hast said, O illustrious one, should never be disobeyed, for thy words are true!  And I shall act as thou hast said, since thou art my preceptor!” Narada said, “May the bestowal of thy daughter Savitri be attended with peace!  I shall now depart.  Blessed be all of ye!"’

“Markandeya continued, ’Having said this, Narada rose up into the sky and went to heaven.  On the other hand, the king began to make preparations for his daughter’s wedding!’”

SECTION CCLXLIII

“Markandeya said, ’Having pondered over these words (of Narada) about his daughter’s marriage, the king began to make arrangements about the nuptials.  And summoning all the old Brahmanas, and Ritwijas together with the priests, he set out with his daughter on an auspicious day.  And arriving at the asylum of Dyumatsena in the sacred forest, the king approached the royal sage on foot,