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

譯者: Camila Lin 審譯者: Amanda Zhu

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

薩維特里是摩德拉國的公主，

她仁慈、傑出，並如同她名字 來源的太陽神那般聰穎。

as the Sun God she was named for.

Her grace was known throughout the land,

她的名號傳遍各地，

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

許多有權有勢的王子與富有的商人，

都蜂擁至她父親的宮殿向她求親。

to seek her hand in marriage.

But upon witnessing her blinding splendor in person,

但在親眼看見她那炫目的風采後，

the men lost their nerve.

這些男人都退縮了。

Unimpressed with these suitors,

對這些追求者不屑一顧的公主，

the princess determined to find a husband herself.

決定自己尋找一個丈夫。

Mounting her golden chariot, she travelled through rolling deserts,

她坐上她黃金的馬車， 穿過風沙瀰漫的沙漠，

glittering cities and snow-capped mountains—

經過壯麗的城市， 以及白雪皚皚的山頭，

rejecting many men along the way.

一路上拒絕了許多男人。

Eventually, Savitri ventured deep into the jungle,

最後，薩維特里深入叢林，

where she met a young man chopping wood.

在那兒遇見一個正在砍柴的年輕人。

他的名字叫做薩蒂亞萬，和她一樣， 他也愛著這片寧靜的森林，

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

but the princess saw he was not at peace.

但公主發現，他的心緒並不寧靜。

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

在數個小時的對談後， 薩蒂亞萬將自己的窘境告訴了她。

His parents had once been wealthy rulers,

他的父母曾經是富有的統治者，

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

直到他的父親被弄瞎， 還被一場暴力的政變推翻。

Now Satyavan worked tirelessly to support their meager new life.

現在薩蒂亞萬必須不眠不休地工作， 才能讓他們勉強餬口。

His determination and devotion moved the princess.

他的決心和奉獻精神感動了公主。

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

在他們深情對望的時候，

她知道她終於找到了自己的另一半。

Savitri rushed home to tell her father the good news,

薩維特里急忙趕回家， 告訴父親這個好消息，

only to find him conversing with Narada

卻發現他正在和納拉達交談。

a traveling sage and wisest messenger of the Gods.

納拉達是個旅行各地的賢者， 也是眾神最具智慧的信使。

At first her father was thrilled to learn of Satyavan,

一開始，她的父親聽到 薩蒂亞萬的消息時相當興奮，

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

但納拉達卻揭露了一個不幸的預言：

她的未婚夫只剩一年可活。

Savitri’s blood ran cold.

薩維特里不寒而慄。

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

她等了這麼久才找到自己的伴侶， 卻已注定要失去他？

The princess would not accept these terms.

公主不願接受這一事實。

She swore before Narada, her family,

她在納拉達、家人與 太陽神薩維特面前發誓，

and Savitr himself that she would never marry another.

她永遠不會另結伴侶。

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

薩蒂亞萬是她唯一的真愛， 而且他們的命運會永遠交纏。

Moved by her powerful words,

被公主如此熱烈的言語所感動，

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

這位賢者要她遵循一種 古老宗教的生活方式。

With regular prayer, periods of fasting,

定期的祈禱，定期的齋戒，

and preparation of special herbs and plants,

並準備好特殊的香草與植物，

she might be able to prolong Satyavan’s life.

這樣一來，她或許就能 延長薩蒂亞萬的壽命。

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

在簡單的婚禮結束後， 這對夫妻回到叢林，

in keeping with the sage’s instructions.

照著賢者的教誨生活。

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

這種謙遜的生活方式 和她奢華的成長過程天差地別，

but they were happy in each other’s company.

但他們因彼此的陪伴而感到幸福。

A year passed, and the fated day arrived.

一年過去，命運之日到來。

On their first anniversary, the sun grew horribly hot,

在他們的第一個結婚紀念日， 太陽變得非常炙熱，

and Satyavan’s brow began to burn,

薩蒂亞萬的額頭發起高熱，

Savitri barely had time to drag him into the shade,

他很快就死了，使得薩維特里 不及在他屍體冰冷僵硬前

before he grew still and cold.

將他拖進樹蔭下。

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

在淚水模糊的視線之中， 公主看見了遠方有個巨大的身影。

This was Yamraj, the God of Death,

那是死神亞瑪拉傑，

前來護送薩蒂亞萬的靈魂進入下一世。

come to escort Satyavan’s soul to the afterlife.

But Savitri was not giving up yet.

但薩維特里還不想放棄。

She followed the god for hours in the beating sun.

她在烈日下跟隨死神數個小時，

Yamraj thundered at the princess to leave him in peace.

亞瑪拉傑對公主咆嘯，要她離開，

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

但就算腳掌流血不止，喉嚨乾渴， 薩維特里也不願回頭。

Eventually, Yamraj paused.

最後，亞瑪拉傑停下了腳步。

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

作為她堅持的獎賞， 他會實現她一個願望，

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

但她不能要求讓她丈夫復活。

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

薩維特里想也不想地要求 神讓她公公重見光明。

The wish was granted, and Yamraj rode on.

願望實現了，亞瑪拉傑繼續往前。

But still Savitri’s footsteps echoed behind him.

但薩維特里的腳步仍然緊追在後。

Exasperated, the God granted her a second wish.

惱怒的神給了她第二個願望。

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

這一次，她要求薩蒂亞萬得回王國。

Again the wish was granted,

這次願望也實現了，

and Yamraj began his descent into his subterranean kingdom.

亞瑪拉傑開始往下走， 進入他的地底王國。

But when he glanced back,

但當他回頭，

he was astounded to see the bedraggled princess stumbling along.

震驚地發現灰頭土臉的公主 竟還踏著蹣跚的腳步跟在後頭。

He’d never seen such devotion to the dead,

他從未見過有人對死者如此犧牲奉獻，

and he honored her dedication with one final wish.

因此他以最後一個願望榮耀她的犧牲。

Savitri wished to be the mother of many children.

薩維特里希望自己 能成為許多孩子的母親。

The God agreed, and waved to dismiss her.

神應允了，揮手摒退她。

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

但公主只是重複了一次 她一年前發過的誓：

her fate was forever entwined with Satyavan.

她的命運永遠與薩蒂亞萬交織。

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

如果亞瑪拉傑不把丈夫還給她， 她要怎麼生下許多孩子？

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

聽見這個狡猾的問題， 神溫和下來，知道自己輸了。

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

帶著亞瑪拉傑的祝福與尊敬， 薩蒂亞萬被還給薩維特里，

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

兩人走回生者之國，

united in a love that not even death could destroy.

在連死亡也無法分離的愛中結合。