In the Mahabharata, we come across two very interesting stories: in one, the husband saves his wife's life; in the other, the wife saves her husband's life. The first story is of Ruru and Priyamvada. Ruru's beautiful wife, Priyamvada, died at an early age. Distraught, Ruru performed penance and invoked Yama, the god of death, and begged Yama to resurrect his wife. After Ruru's great persistence, Yama decided to negotiate. Yama conveyed that if Ruru would give him half his life, he would give that half to Priyamvada. Thus, they could live together for a few more years. Ruru agreed to give half his life to his wife. Priyamvada was restored back to life and both returned to the land of the living and lived many years together until it was time for both to die.

The second is the story of Savitri and Satyavan. Savitri, a princess, fell in love with a woodcutter called Satyavan, who was doomed to die a year after marriage. At the appointed hour, Yama claimed his life. Savitri followed Yama, saying that life held no meaning without her husband and, therefore, it was better to follow him to the land of the dead. Yama refused and asked her to return and find life on her own. Savitri persisted to the point that Yama got exasperated and offered her a boon, any boon except the life of her husband. So, Savitri asked for children by Satyavan. Yama acquiesced. Savitri then wondered how she could bear the children of her husband, as he was already dead. Yama burst out laughing at the intelligence of Savitri and allowed her to take her husband back to the land of living.