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Savitri and Satyavan: The legend of the princess who outwitted Death - Iseult Gillespie

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Princess Savitri was benevolent, brilliant, and bright. Her grace was known throughout the land, and many princes and merchants flocked to her family’s palace to seek her hand in marriage. But upon witnessing her blinding splendor in person, the men lost their nerve. Unimpressed with these suitors, she determined to find a husband herself. Iseult Gillespie tells the tale of Savitri and Satyavan.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Iseult Gillespie
  • Director Jagriti Khirwar, Raghav Arumugam
  • Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Sound Designer Spencer Ward
  • Music Salil Bhayani
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Joseph Isaac
  • See more creators
Additional Resources for you to Explore
The tale of Savitri and Satyavan is one of the most romantic and well-known in India. You can read another version, and access many other luscious tales, in Madhur Jaffrey’s Seasons of Splendour. The oldest known version of Savitri’s moving story appear in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic written in Sanskrit. You can see the original Sanskrit version and a translation here.

Savitri and Satyavan appear in the eighteenth parva, or book, of the Mahabharata, which is called the Vana Parva (“Book of the Forest”. It contains tales of self-discovery and adventure that occur in the forest. For a full text version of the Vana Parva, visit this site.

The tale has been reimagined in numerous forms, including poetry, children’s books, opera, and art. For paintings of Savitri begging Yamraj for the return of her husband, see here and here. In 1940, the Indian philosopher and poet Sri Aurobindo created an epic poem based on the story and themes of Savitri. For background on this work and to access the full version, visit this site.

The story of Savitri also contains several iconic cultural and religious figures. Narada, the prophet who foretells Satyavan’s untimely death, is a famous sage, travelling musician, and messenger of the Gods. Narada refers to many different persons, who reappear to offer wise aphorisms and advice. Yamraj or Yama, the God of death, is also an important spiritual figure. He is considered the first god to die, and presides over the south (or regions of the dead) as well as the dead’s final resting place under the earth. Learn more about him here.

Although Savitri is not a goddess, her story has inspired an important festival observed by Hindu women. On Vat Savitri, married Hindu women fast and pray for the long lives of their husbands. “Vat” is the Sanskrit word for the Banyan tree – or the tree that shaded Savitri and Satyavan as she cradled her dying husband in her arms.



TED-Ed
Lesson Creator
New York, NY
How did Savitri trick Yamraj? And why do you think he finally granted her true wish?
07/01/2020
Avatar for Alexis Ko
Alexis Ko • COMPLETED LESSON

Savitri tricked Yamraj, by using her final wish to become the mother of many children. However, she took a vow a year earlier, stating that she would never marry someone else. Savitri won't be able to have children if she wouldn't marry again and Satyavan was dead. I believe Yamraj granted her final wish, because he respected Savitri's cleverness.

01/12/2021
Avatar for 민욱 김
민욱 김 • COMPLETED LESSON

Savitri tricked Yamraj by asking to be a mother of many children when she said that shed wouldn't marry anyone else. Yamraj respected Savitri because she didn't give up to make her husband alive and she was clever.

01/16/2021
Avatar for NingNing Yang
NingNing Yang • COMPLETED LESSON

Savitri tricked Yamraj by using her last wish to be the mother of many children, and then asked Yamraj how she could be the mother of many children when Satyavan was not with her.

I think he granted her a true wish because he respected her determination and love for Sayavan.

01/17/2021
Avatar for Alaina Boyer
Alaina Boyer • COMPLETED LESSON

she said she would never marry again so how will she make babies so she can live until she has many children

01/25/2021
Avatar for Alaina Boyer
Alaina Boyer • COMPLETED LESSON

sorry it's so short but i don't like typing

01/25/2021 • 
IN RESPONSE TO  Show the comment
Avatar for matalyn bolton
matalyn bolton • COMPLETED LESSON

She tricked him by following him no matter what. He saw how eager she was.

01/26/2021
Avatar for Amber howard
Amber howard • COMPLETED LESSON

she tricked him by saying she wanted many children and wouldn't marry know one else and if she didn't marry she wouldn't have kids so yarmaj granted the last and final wish

01/28/2021
Avatar for Yuanel Nazario Lastra
Yuanel Nazario Lastra • LESSON IN PROGRESS

by making him mad so he would give her wish to make every thing back to normal

01/28/2021
Avatar for Nataly Olivo-Diaz
Nataly Olivo-Diaz • LESSON IN PROGRESS

She tricked Yamraj by telling him she wants many children or she said she wants to be to mother of all children. He granted her true wish because she wanted her true love back.

01/29/2021
Avatar for Mohamed Diallo
Mohamed Diallo • COMPLETED LESSON

Savirtir tricked Yamraj by using her last wish to wish for many children of her own. But she toook a vow never to have another husband , So she would not be able to hvae children if her husband was dead. I think Yamraj granted her final because he respected her cleverness and her strength

01/30/2021
Avatar for Lucy Jung
Lucy Jung • COMPLETED LESSON

She asked if she could be a mother to many children. She vowed that she would never marry another man, so Yamraj had no choice but to grant her wish, with Satyavan coming back to life.

01/30/2021
Avatar for Jiny Choi
Jiny Choi • COMPLETED LESSON

Savitri tricked Yamaj by telling that her final wish is to be a mother with many children. Yamaj thought and released her husband. Why? it's because Savatri needs her husband to be a mother with many children. Also he granted her wish because he honored her dedication.

02/08/2021
Avatar for Sophia White
Sophia White • COMPLETED LESSON

Savitri tricked Yamraj by asking for her third wish to be that she could be a mother to many children. But then she asked Yamraj how she could have any children without her husband. So due to her dedication and persistence, Yamraj let Savitri have Satyavan.

02/18/2021
Avatar for Victoria Kordus
Victoria Kordus • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Savitri tricked Yamraj by wishing to be the mother of many children and she couldn't be the mother of many children without a husband.

03/05/2021
Avatar for Lily choi
Lily choi • COMPLETED LESSON

Her's last wish must need to husband, and, the Savitri said she never marry another person. So, the Yamraj must give husband to the Savitri. I think he finally granted her true wish. Because, he give the Satyavan to her.

05/01/2021
Avatar for hallo ciao
hallo ciao • LESSON IN PROGRESS

Savitri fouled Yamraj

05/27/2021
Avatar for Zhara Hussain
Zhara Hussain • COMPLETED LESSON

She tricked him by saying her last wish was to become a mother of many children. But in order to do that, she will need Satvayan.

08/18/2021

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Iseult Gillespie
  • Director Jagriti Khirwar, Raghav Arumugam
  • Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Sound Designer Spencer Ward
  • Music Salil Bhayani
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Joseph Isaac
  • See more creators