Though the story of Savitri and Satyavan is narrated in a human setting, as Sri Aurobindo reveals to us, the characters themselves are not the normal human beings nor is the love of Savitri and Satyavan portrayed here the usual ordinary human love centered around the ego-self and the satisfaction of desires. As Savitri forbids Death by stating clearly.
‘My love is not a hunger of the heart,
My love is not a craving of the flesh;
It came to me from God, to God returns.’
The story therefore is lifted from its human ground, which is the beginning, to divine heights. Savitri is no ordinary woman, but the Divine Mother in a human form to show the way to man. Satyavan too, is no ordinary man but an awakened soul that surrenders and gives himself completely to the Divine Power in Savitri with full trust and dependence. He never doubts or questions Savitri since he knows her as a divine being and has full faith that she will save him from everything. So the question of his refusal to return does not arise since such is the Divine Will in his life.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
