Savitri

The legendary myth of Savitri - named after the sun god Savitr to whom King Ashwapati and his wife repeatedly offer penance for want of a child - occurs as a tale in the Mahabharata told, by Markandeya.

Intimidated by her beauty, her wit, her fierce skill in every known form of art and learning, Savitri's father bids her to go out and find a husband herself. Savitri returns in triumph - Satyavan, the exiled prince of Shalva, son to the blind King Dumyatsena is who she will wed.

Sage Narada forewarns that the boy has but a year to live and yet Savitri calls him the husband of her heart. The duo marry amidst prayers, protests and tears. And yet a prophecy will never deny itself it's meal. Soon enough Yama - the lord of death himself draws his noose tight against Satyavan who lies lifeless.

But Savitri wins her husband back. Why does the god of death bless her and give her back that most precious of gifts? The life of a loved one? What would we, all of us, not do, to be blessed with such a powerful boon ourselves?

The question is what would something like that, take?