Serving and satisfying one's husband may be hard work at times. Sometimes there is conflict, but controlling the mind and senses despite trouble, along with the basic austerities we perform on the path of bhakti, brings great power, including mystic power. One example is Savitri. She was able to see and speak with Yamaraja, death personified, because of her devotion to her husband and by the acquired merit of her austerities.
Before marrying her husband, she had been forewarned by great sage Narada that Satyavan, the man she had chosen, would die a sudden death in the near future. Despite this knowledge, however, she had already fixed her mind upon him, the lord of her heart, who was truthful, intelligent, courageous, generous, devoted to God and the brahmins, dedicated to his friends, sense controlled and devoid of hatred. Thus she declared "Death comes only once! A daughter is given away only once! And a person can say once only, 'I am giving this away.' Only once can any of these events occur. Similarly, whether my husband has a life that is short or long, virtuous or fallen, I'll only choose my husband once, and I've done so."
Sure enough, not long after her marriage, her husband became ill while gathering wood in a forest and then suddenly fell to the ground. Savitri was present, resting her husband's head upon her lap, expecting the worst.
"Why have you personally come to take my husband instead of your regular servants?" she asked, when she saw a glowing personality come forward to slip a noose around her husband's neck and pull his soul from his body.
Yamaraja answered, "Because of his excellent achievements and virtue."
As the superintendent of death dragged her husband, Satyavan, southward, Savitri followed. Yamaraja told her to return home and perform her husband's funeral. But Savitri replied, "I'll follow my husband anywhere and everywhere. This is the eternal tradition. I am enabled to do this as a result of my austerities, respect for my superiors, faithful adherence to my vows, love for my husband and also your kindness."
Then to Yamaraja she made the following appeal, "It is said that one who walks seven steps with another person become friends. Now that we have walked this far together, please consider what I have to say. One who has no control over his destiny, who lacks spiritual knowledge, has acquired no merit even if he has passed through the four orders of spiritual life. Spiritual merit consists of spiritual knowledge. Acquiring such is greater than passing through all four order of life. If one follows strictly the duties of just one of these orders he attains spiritual merit, making the other orders unnecessary."
Yamaraja said, "Your knowledgeable and reasonable speech is very pleasing to me. I will grant you a blessing- except your husband's life."
Savitri related to him how some time ago her father-in-law had lost his eyesight and kingdom. She requested the restoration of his sight and to become powerful once again.
Yamaraja replied, "So be it. You appear weary from walking so very far. Go home now."
But Savitri insisted, "I am not weary in my husband's company, and his fate is also mine. Wherever you take him, I wish to also go. Lord Yama, even one conversation with virtuous persons is very desirable, what to speak of a friendship with them. A relationship with such a person is always productive. Thus, one should always strive for such association."
"Your words are rich and satisfying to my heart," said Yamaraja, "increasing the wisdom of even the wise. Ask me for another blessing- except your husband's life."
She asked that he restore her learned and brilliant father-in-law's kingdom which had been taken away by his enemies, and thus he may regain his duties as king.
Yamaraja turned to Savirtri and said, "So be it. Don't follow me anymore."
But Savitri addressed Yamaraja sincerely, "Impartially you control and carry away all beings, thus you are named Yama- the lord of justice or death. Kindly consider further my words:
"The constant responsibility of the virtuous is to never harm anyone in word, thought or deed. Instead we should love them and give them what they deserve. Without my husband, I am as good as dead. Please consider my words, for unlike ordinary persons who are devoid of both devotion and grace, a virtuous person is kind, even to an enemy who asks for shelter."
Yamaraja replied, "Mataji, your words quench the thirst of the thirsty. Thus you may ask a third blessing - except your husband's life."
Savitri prayed for her own father, Ashwapati, who had no sons, to father a hundred sons with his wife Malavi to perpetuate their family line.
Yamaraja spoke in return, "So be it. Now please stop following me. You have gone far enough."
But devoted Savitri replied, "By walking near my husband, I have not noticed how far we have walked. I would like to continue. Please consider further what I have to say:
"You are the son of the Vishvawata, the mighty sun god. You give justice to all, thus you are called the Lord of Justice. One does not have the same confidence even in one's own self as they have confidence in a virtuous person. Thus everyone desires their association. People depend especially on the virtuous because it is virtue alone that inspires confidence to living beings."
"O chaste lady, I've not heard anyone speak to me this way. Your words delight me greatly. Therefore, ask for another blessing- except Satyavan's life. Then return home."
Savitri asked the powerful lord of the underworld that she may become the mother of one hundred brave, powerful, and skillful sons who would continue her family line."
"Granted," Yamaraja compassionately replied. "Now stop following me and go home".
"Goodness is always the practice of the virtuous", she respectfully continued. "When the virtuous associate with each other it is always productive. Neither person jeopardizes the other. The truth of the virtuous moves the sun along its daily course. The earth is maintained by their austerities, and the past and future depend on it. The virtuous always feel cheerful in the company of the virtuous. They help others without expecting any reward. Thus serving the virtuous is never a waste of time. It never hurts one's interest and dignity, because by serving the virtuous, they often become the protectors of everyone."
Yamaraja looked at Savirtri and said, "The more you speak such sweet, significant words that please the mind, the more my respect grows for you. Ask me, therefore, for a great blessing."
Savitri appealed to Yamaraja to consider that if he did not return her husband, Satyavan, his last boon to her could not be fulfilled. Thus she asked that he revive her husband, so that she may have her one hundred worthy sons to rule and protect others and his fourth boon would prove true.
Yamaraja was in dilemma. He had no choice but to return her husband. Thus Satyavan was saved.
In closing, there is another story a little similar worth adding:
The Äditya Puräna, Märkandeya Puräna and Padma Puräna tell about a brähmana who was suffering from leprosy but had a very chaste and faithful wife. He desired to enjoy the company of a prostitute, and therefore his wife went to her and became her maidservant, just to draw her attention for his service. When the prostitute agreed to associate with him, the wife brought her the leprotic husband. When that leper, the sinful son of a brähmana, saw the chastity of his wife, he finally abandoned his sinful intentions. While coming home, however, he touched the body of Märkandeya Rsi, who thus cursed him to die at sunrise. Because of her chastity, the woman was very powerful. Therefore when she heard about the curse, she vowed to stop the sunrise. Because of her strong determination to serve her husband, the three deities—namely Brahmä, Visnu and Mahesvara—were very happy, and they gave her the benediction that her husband would be cured and brought back to life." -CC Antya 20.57p
(line drawing from www.jamboree.freedom-in-education.co.uk/image)