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

翻译人员: Lexi Ding 校对人员: Helen Chang

Princess Savitri of the Madra Kingdom was as benevolent, brilliant, and bright

摩达国的Savitri公主乐善好施、 才华横溢又冰雪聪明，

as the Sun God she was named for.

就像太阳神一样， 她的名字也是由此得来。

Her grace was known throughout the land,

她的风姿家喻户晓，

and many powerful princes and wealthy merchants flocked to her family’s palace

许多有钱有势的王子、富商蜂拥而至

to seek her hand in marriage.

求娶公主。

But upon witnessing her blinding splendor in person,

但当亲眼看到公主 那不可逼视的绝世风采时，

the men lost their nerve.

男人们都不知所措了。

Unimpressed with these suitors,

这些追求者们并未打动公主，

the princess determined to find a husband herself.

她决定亲自去寻找 自己未来的夫婿。

Mounting her golden chariot, she travelled through rolling deserts,

登上华丽的车架， 她越过此起彼伏的沙漠，

glittering cities and snow-capped mountains—

灯火辉煌的城池 和白雪皑皑的群山——

rejecting many men along the way.

一路上拒绝示爱者无数。

Eventually, Savitri ventured deep into the jungle,

最终，Savitri冒险 进入丛林深处，

where she met a young man chopping wood.

在那里，她看到 一个砍木头的年轻人。

他的名字叫Satyavan， 和她一样，他也热爱宁静的森林——

His name was Satyavan, and like her, he loved the tranquil forest—

but the princess saw he was not at peace.

但公主发现他内心并不平静。

After talking for hours, Satyavan told her of his plight.

聊了几个小时之后，Satyavan 向她讲述了自己的遭遇。

His parents had once been wealthy rulers,

他的父母曾是富有的统治者，

until his father was blinded and overthrown in a violent coup.

但后来父亲眼盲了， 在惨烈的政变中被推翻。

Now Satyavan worked tirelessly to support their meager new life.

现在Satyavan不知疲倦的工作， 来贴补他们贫寒的新生活。

His determination and devotion moved the princess.

他的坚韧和奉献感动了公主。

As they gazed into each other’s eyes, she knew she’d finally found an equal.

当他们凝视彼此的双眼， 公主知道她终于找到了自己的另一半。

Savitri rushed home to tell her father the good news,

Savitri风风火火地赶回家 要告诉父亲这个好消息，

only to find him conversing with Narada

但却发现他正在跟那罗陀交谈

a traveling sage and wisest messenger of the Gods.

那罗陀是一个云游的仙人， 也是众神最智慧的信使。

At first her father was thrilled to learn of Satyavan,

得知Satyavan， 起初国王十分兴奋，

but Narada revealed a tragic prophecy: her betrothed had only a year to live.

但那罗陀吐露了一个悲剧的预言： 公主的未婚夫只有一年寿命了。

Savitri’s blood ran cold.

Savitri不寒而栗。

She’d waited so long to find her partner— was she already doomed to lose him?

她花了那么久才找到的伴侣—— 难道注定要失去了吗？

The princess would not accept these terms.

公主不愿接受这样的结果。

She swore before Narada, her family,

她当着那罗陀、她的家人，

and Savitr himself that she would never marry another.

和娑维德利发誓， 她绝不改嫁他人。

Satyavan was her one true love, and their fates were entwined forever.

Satyavan是她唯一的真爱， 他们永远休戚与共。

Moved by her powerful words,

被她坚定的话语所感动，

the sage told the princess to follow an ancient spiritual regimen.

仙人告诉公主一种 古老的宗教养生法。

With regular prayer, periods of fasting,

定时祈祷，时常斋戒，

and preparation of special herbs and plants,

准备特殊的草药和植物，

she might be able to prolong Satyavan’s life.

或许可以延长 Satyavan的生命。

After a simple wedding, the couple returned to the jungle to live

一场简单的婚礼之后， 这对新婚夫妇回到了丛林生活，

in keeping with the sage’s instructions.

遵从着仙人的指示生活。

This modest existence was a far cry from her lavish upbringing,

这种贫寒的日子与她过去 奢华的生活相距甚远，

but they were happy in each other’s company.

但有彼此相伴， 两人甘之如饴。

A year passed, and the fated day arrived.

一年过去，命定的日子到来了。

On their first anniversary, the sun grew horribly hot,

他们一周年纪念日这天， 天气热得可怕，

and Satyavan’s brow began to burn,

Satyavan的眉毛烧了起来，

Savitri barely had time to drag him into the shade,

Savitri甚至没来得及 把他拖到阴凉处，

before he grew still and cold.

他就已经变得僵直冰冷了。

Through her tears, the princess saw an immense figure on the horizon.

透过朦胧的泪眼， 公主看到天边一个巨大的身影。

This was Yamraj, the God of Death,

那是死神阎摩，

他来押送Satyavan的灵魂 去往阴间。

come to escort Satyavan’s soul to the afterlife.

But Savitri was not giving up yet.

但Savitri并未放弃。

She followed the god for hours in the beating sun.

她在灼灼烈日下 跟随了死神好几个小时。

Yamraj thundered at the princess to leave him in peace.

阎摩朝公主怒吼， 要她不要再跟着。

But even as her feet bled and throat burned, Savitri would not turn back.

但即使双脚流血喉咙灼烧难忍， Savitri却绝不回头

Eventually, Yamraj paused.

终于，阎摩停了下来。

He would grant her one wish as reward for her persistence,

他同意满足她一个愿望， 奖赏她的坚持不懈，

but she couldn’t ask for her husband’s life.

但是她不能要求复活她的丈夫。

Without hesitating, Savitri asked the God to restore her father in-law’s sight.

毫不犹豫地，Savitri要求死神 令她的公公重见光明。

The wish was granted, and Yamraj rode on.

阎摩满足了她的愿望， 然后继续上路了。

But still Savitri’s footsteps echoed behind him.

但是Savitri的脚步声 仍然回响在他的身后。

Exasperated, the God granted her a second wish.

死神气急败坏， 答应再满足她一个愿望。

This time, she asked for Satyavan’s kingdom to be restored.

这次，她要求死神 重建Satyavan的王国。

Again the wish was granted,

这个愿望也被满足了，

and Yamraj began his descent into his subterranean kingdom.

阎摩也开始进入自己的地下王国。

But when he glanced back,

但他回头一看，

he was astounded to see the bedraggled princess stumbling along.

惊愕地发现公主还在后面跟着， 满身泥污，踉踉跄跄。

He’d never seen such devotion to the dead,

他从未见过这样的奉献精神，

and he honored her dedication with one final wish.

于是他用最后一个愿望 对她的奉献表示敬意。

Savitri wished to be the mother of many children.

Savitri许愿要生许多孩子。

The God agreed, and waved to dismiss her.

死神同意了，挥了挥手要她离开。

But the princess only repeated the vow she’d made one year earlier:

但是公主只是重复着 自己一年前许下的誓言：

her fate was forever entwined with Satyavan.

她的命运永远 与Satyavan休戚与共。

How could she bear many children, if Yamraj would not return her husband?

如果阎摩不复活她的丈夫， 她如何能够生下许多孩子呢？

Hearing this clever question the god relented, knowing he’d been beaten.

听到这样聪明的问题， 死神大发慈悲，承认自己被打败了。

With Yamraj’s blessing and respect, Satyavan was returned to Savitri,

带着祝福和敬意，阎摩 把Satyavan还给了Savitri，

and the two walked back to the land of the living,

这对夫妇回到了人世，

united in a love that not even death could destroy.

他们情比金坚， 连死亡都无法摧毁。