marks that his wife Savitri beareth and all of which indicate immunity from widowhood, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth!’ And Varadwaja said, ’Having regard to the ascetic merit, self-restraint, and conduct of his wife Savitri, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’  And Dalbhya said, ’Since thou hast regained thy sight, and since Savitri hath gone away after completion of the vow, without taking any food, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’  And Apastamba said, ’From the manner in which the voices of birds and wild animals are being heard through the stillness of the atmosphere on all sides, and from the fact also of thy having regained the use of thy eyes, indicating thy usefulness for earthly purposes once more, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’  And Dhauma said, ’As thy son is graced with every virtue, and as he is the beloved of all, and as he is possessed of marks betokening a long life, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’

“Markandeya continued, ’Thus cheered by those ascetics of truthful speech, Dyumatsena pondering over those points, attained a little ease.  A little while after, Savitri with her husband Satyavan reached the hermitage during the night and entered it with a glad heart.  The Brahmanas then said, ’Beholding this meeting with thy son, and thy restoration to eye-sight, we all wish thee well, O lord of earth.  Thy meeting with thy son, the sight of thy daughter-in-law, and thy restoration to sight—­constitute a threefold prosperity which thou hast gained.  What we all have said must come to pass:  there can be no doubt of this.  Henceforth thou shalt rapidly grow in prosperity.’  Then, O Pritha’s son, the twice-born ones lighted a fire and sat themselves down before king Dyumatsena.  And Saivya, and Satyavan, and Savitri who stood apart, their hearts free from grief, sat down with the permission of them all.  Then, O Partha, seated with the monarch those dwellers of the woods, actuated by curiosity, asked the king’s son, saying, ’Why didst thou not, O illustrious one, come back earlier with thy wife?  Why hast thou come so late in the night?  What obstacle prevented thee!  We do not know, O son of a king, why thou hast caused such alarm to us, and to thy father and mother.  It behoveth thee to tell us all about this,’ Thereupon, Satyavan said, ’With the permission of my father, I went to the woods with Savitri.  There, as I was hewing wood in the forest, I felt a pain in my head.  And in consequence of the pain, I fell into a deep sleep.—­This is all that I remember.  I had never slept so long before I have come so late at night, in order that ye might not grieve (on my account).  There is no other reason for this.’  Gautama then said, ’Thou knowest not then the cause of thy father’s sudden restoration to sight.  It, therefore, behoveth Savitri to relate it.  I wish to hear it (from thee), for surely thou art conversant with the mysteries of good and evil.  And, O Savitri, I know thee to be like the goddess