In Hindu mythology, Satyavan was the husband of the devoted Savitri.
The story of Savitri and Satyavan appears in the Mahabharata, where it is told to Yudhishthira as an example of exceptional marital devotion and determination. Savitri chooses Satyavan as her husband even after learning that he is destined to die within a year. She marries him and lives with his parents in the forest.
When Satyavan dies, Savitri follows Yama, the god of death, who carries away his life. Through calm reasoning, moral insight, and carefully chosen requests, she wins Yama’s favor. Her final request is framed so that restoring Satyavan’s life becomes necessary for it to be fulfilled. Yama then returns Satyavan to life.
Satyavan is sometimes mistaken for other husbands in Hindu sacred narratives, such as Ruru, who also appears in a story involving the recovery of a loved one. Savitri’s story is distinct because her debate with Yama and her steadfastness are its central features.