The Story of Sāvitrī in theMahābhārata: a Lineal Interpretation

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a new interpretation of the story of Sāvitrī as presented in theMahābhārata. Sāvitrī is viewed as an intendedputrikā, or lineal daughter, for her father, and the death of her husband and the misfortunes of her father-in-law are explained as corollaries of this circumstance; but at the last minute Sāvitrī switches her allegiance to her husband and his line, becoming apativratārather than aputrikā. Following a prompt in theMahābhāratatext, the paper concludes with an exploration, on the Sāvitrī model, of Draupadī's relationship to the Pāṇḍava line. The death of the Draupadeyas and the resuscitation of Parikṣit are viewed in terms of a symbolic switch from theputrikāto thepativratāmode of operation.

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