Savitri and Satyavan

Dadi: "Guddu, if you knew someone you loved was going to die in exactly one year, what would you do?"

Guddu: "I'd be devastated! I don't know if I could handle it."

Dadi: "Tonight I'll tell you about Savitri - a princess who knew her husband would die in one year and married him anyway. Her love was so powerful that she defeated Death itself."

Guddu: "She defeated Death? Tell me everything!"

Dadi: "Savitri was a princess, beautiful and wise. Her father told her to choose her own husband. She traveled across kingdoms and finally found Satyavan - a prince living in exile in the forest because his blind father had lost his kingdom."

Guddu: "She chose someone living in the forest?"

Dadi: "His goodness shone through his poverty. But when she announced her choice, the sage Narada delivered devastating news: "Satyavan is wonderful - intelligent, righteous, brave. But he is fated to die exactly one year from today.""

Guddu: "Oh no! What did she do?"

Dadi: "Her father begged her to choose someone else. But Savitri refused. "Whether he lives long or short, I have chosen my husband once. I will not choose again.""

Guddu: "She married him knowing he would die?"

Dadi: "Yes. They married and lived happily in the forest. Savitri counted every day, never forgetting Narada's words. Three days before the fated day, she began a severe fast - standing day and night without food or water."

Guddu: "Why would she fast?"

Dadi: "To prepare her spirit for what was coming. On the final morning, when Satyavan took his axe to gather wood, Savitri insisted on coming with him."

Guddu: "Did she tell him why?"

Dadi: "No. She didn't want to burden him with fear. They walked into the beautiful forest together. He showed her rivers and flowers. She watched him, knowing this might be their last day."

Guddu: "That's heartbreaking."

Dadi: "While cutting wood, Satyavan suddenly felt terrible pain in his head. He collapsed and laid his head on Savitri's lap. Shortly after, he stopped breathing."

Guddu: "He died in her arms?"

Dadi: "Then Yama appeared - the Lord of Death himself, dark-skinned and dressed in red, carrying a noose. He extracted Satyavan's soul and began walking south."

Guddu: "What did Savitri do?"

Dadi: "She followed. Yama told her to go back, to perform the funeral rites. But she kept walking behind him."

Guddu: "She followed Death?"

Dadi: "Step by step. And as she walked, she spoke words of such wisdom that Yama was impressed. She spoke about duty, about friendship with the righteous, about noble conduct."

Guddu: "What happened?"

Dadi: "Yama was so moved that he offered her boons - any wishes except the return of her husband's life. First, she asked for her blind father-in-law's sight. Granted. Then for his lost kingdom. Granted. Then for her own father to have a hundred sons. Granted."

Guddu: "Clever wishes!"

Dadi: "Then she asked for a hundred sons of her own, with Satyavan."

Guddu: "But Satyavan was dead!"

Dadi: "Exactly! Yama had promised to grant her wish. How could she have sons with Satyavan if Satyavan was dead? Yama realized he had been outwitted by a devoted wife!"

Guddu: "She trapped him with his own promise!"

Dadi: "Smiling at her wisdom, Yama released Satyavan's soul and blessed her. "Your devotion has conquered me. May you both live long and happy lives.""

Guddu: "She literally defeated Death!"

Dadi: "When she returned to Satyavan's body, he woke up as if from sleep. He had no memory of dying. They returned to the hermitage, where the blind king could suddenly see. Soon, messengers arrived saying the usurper who stole the kingdom had died. Everything Savitri had wished for came true."

Guddu: "All because she wouldn't give up!"

Dadi: "Her love was stronger than Death. Her wisdom outmatched the Lord of the Underworld. Her devotion earned rewards beyond imagination."

Guddu: "What can I learn from this?"

Dadi: "Many things, beta. That true love doesn't run from difficulty - it walks toward it. That wisdom combined with devotion can overcome any obstacle. That keeping your commitments, no matter how hard, brings unexpected blessings."

Guddu: "And that even Death can be defeated?"

Dadi: "When faced with pure love and clever wisdom, yes. Savitri's name means "relating to the sun" - and she was like the sun, bringing light even to the darkest realm. May her story inspire you to love deeply, think wisely, and never give up on those you care about."