Life After Death by Deepak Chopra

Author:Deepak Chopra
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781407024004
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

10

SURVIVING THE STORM

SAVITRI TRUSTED RAMANA, but as the hours grew long, once again she began to worry about the time. Her mind was filled with a vision of Satyavan’s strong body turned cold and lifeless with a glance from Yama. I would lose everything, she thought.

Ramana turned to her. “Does that make you afraid, to lose everything?” He seemed to have no trouble reading her thoughts.

“Of course,” Savitri said miserably.

Ramana pointed up ahead. Alongside the path was a rustic shrine that someone had erected in the forest. The pine boughs of the altar sheltered an image of Vishnu. Knowing that Vishnu was the aspect of God that sustains life, she quickly ran ahead, gathering some wildflowers to offer at the altar. This must be a sign, she thought. Ramana hung back, as with bowed head Savitri begged Vishnu to help her. I will do anything, she implored.

When she raised her eyes, the god Vishnu was actually standing before her. Savitri was awestruck. “You will do anything for me if I save your husband?” he asked. Fervently Savitri said yes. “Then go to the river and fetch me a drink of water,” said Vishnu.

Savitri ran off to do as she was bade. Ramana was nowhere to be seen, but she remembered passing the river and knew it was close by. Kneeling beside it, she wondered what she could carry water in when her eye caught sight of someone else along the bank. It was Satyavan! Overjoyed, Savitri ran to him, bursting into tears. Satyavan embraced her and asked what was wrong.

In between sobs Savitri told him the danger he was in. “Then we shall not return home at all,” Satyavan declared. He took Savitri tenderly by the hand. They walked along the river until they spied a boatman tied up to shore.

The boatman greeted them cordially and said that he had been out fishing. He pointed to an island in the middle of the river. “That’s my home,” he said. Quickly Satyavan made a bargain with the boatman to become his helper. He and Savitri were carried to the island, where they began a new life.

Savitri became sublimely happy, for after a few days it was apparent that Yama had not pursued them. Her husband learned to be a fisherman, and together they lived in peace on the island. Years passed. They had two children, which were the joy of their hearts. Then one night a great storm crashed down on the island. The winds howled, and the river rose higher than it ever had. By morning everything had been washed away. Savitri had been saved by tying herself to a tree with a rope. At sunrise, she saw that Satyavan, their house, and their children had been swept away into the river.

She managed to find a boat and rowed to shore, but Savitri was so devastated that all she could do was lie on the sand moaning. Suddenly she felt a shadow looming over her. She looked up to see Lord Vishnu.

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