Thereupon his disciple said, ‘The words that have fallen from the lips of my preceptor can never be false. Therefore, Satyavan surely liveth.’ And the Rishi said, ‘Considering the auspicious marks that his wife Savitri beareth and all of which indicate immunity from widowhood, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth!’ And Varadwaja said, ‘Having regard to the ascetic merit, self-restraint, and conduct of his wife Savitri, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’ And Dalbhya said, ‘Since thou hast regained thy sight, and since Savitri hath gone away after completion of the vow, without taking any food, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’ And Apastamba said, ‘From the manner in which the voices of birds and wild animals are being heard through the stillness of the atmosphere on all sides, and from the fact also of thy having regained the use of thy eyes, indicating thy usefulness for earthly purposes once more, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’ And Dhauma said, ‘As thy son is graced with every virtue, and as he is the beloved of all, and as he is possessed of marks betokening a long life, there can be no doubt that Satyavan liveth.’Mbh 3.296.1b · Mahabharata · VANA PARVA
Mbh 3.296.1b
Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Themes in this passage
DoubtMarriageChildrenDharmaLovePeaceSelf-ControlSpeech
Doubt in other traditions
The same theme, as Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hellenism address it.
They alone ask leave of thee who believe not in Allah and the Last Day, and whose hearts feel doubt, so in their doubt they waver.Quran 9:45 · Quran · Repentance
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.Matthew 28:17 · Bible · Matthew
If a man is tossed about by doubts, full of strong passions, and yearning only for what is delightful, his thirst will grow more and more, and he will indeed make his fetters strong.Dhp 24.349 · Dhammapada · Thirst
Then thus Minerva:—“Brave Tydides, hear! Not Mars himself, nor aught immortal, fear. Full on the god impel thy foaming horse: Pallas commands, and Pallas lends thee force. Rash, furious, blind, from these to those he flies, And every side of wavering combat tries; Large promise makes, and breaks the promise made: Now gives the Grecians, now the Trojans aid.”[159]Iliad 5.88 · Iliad · 5
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