Tricking Death Itself - Orpheus & Eurydice vs Satyavan & Savirtri

 Orpheus was one of the most talented musicians of ancient Greece, who was very devoted to his wife

Eurydice. One day, Eurydice died after accidentally slipping into a pit of vipers(vipers naturally make their homes in pits and live together? I never knew that!), which promptly bit and killed her. Orpheus, in great despair, traveled the world with his lyre, which he was so lauded for it was said that while Hermes had created it, only Orpheus had truly perfected it, and began to play. He played music so mournful and desolate that every being recognized his sorrow and grief. Everybody, from mortals to gods suggested that he visit the underworld, realm of Hades, and visit Eurydice. He did as such and despite the underworld's natural evils, Orpheus descended downwards through the ancient equivalent of hell to the palace of Hades and Persephone themselves, where he played his music, and told a tale of sorrow and regret and mourning, so powerful in its emotion and expression that they agreed to let him bring the shade of Eurydice back up to the land of the mortals, something unheard of and with great ramifications, with the caveat that he could not look at his wife until both had stepped back into the realm of mortals(gods always add caveats in these stories, huh). They ascended upwards as stated, but when Orpheus stepped into the mortal world, he immediately looked backward(naughty, naughy, Orpheus), forgetting that both must have ascended to the mortal world, sending Eurydice back to the underworld.

(Caption) Orpheus bringing Eurydice up to the mortal world

Satyavan was a very fine man in ancient India but was cursed such that after marriage, he would die in one year. Still, he met the woman Savitri, who loved him very much, and decided to accept the curse, and married her. Savitri began to fast three days before Satyavan's death, and when Satyavan finally died, she sat with him. Yama, the god of death, waited for Satyavan's soul, but his servants kept saying that his wife, Savitri, had performed penance by fasting, wishing for her husband's soul. Yama, pleased, came himself and told Savtiri that she could ask for anything, with the caveat(see what I did there) that she could not ask for her husband's life back. She thought for some time, carefully pondering what she could ask for, and decided that she should ask that 100 kids be born to her and Satyavan(100 kids! Who in their right mind would ever want 100 kids!). Yama noticed that by granting this wish, he would have to bring Satyavan back to life. However, he did not get mad at Savitri for trying to trick him and granted her one more wish, but this time forgetting to add the caveat that Satyavan could not be brought back to life. Savitri immediately asked for Satyavan to be brought back to life, and because Yama was a god and beholden to his words, he had to agree and give back Satyavan.

(Caption) Satrivi conversing with Yama with the body of Satyavan nearby.

So, apparently, people can cheat death by playing an instrument well and not eating for a day or two! That doesn't seem all that bad to be honest with you, right? In both stories, somebody very dedicated to their wife/husband appeased gods and got their loved ones back. So basically, we cheat death by doing what politicians do for votes. Not very reassuring to be honest.