श्री सत्यनारायण व्रत कथा

Mahamuni Rishi Vyasa ji said, "Long time ago, in Naimisharanya Tirtha, eighty-eight thousand sages of Shaunakadika asked Puranastheta Shri Sutaji, "O Suta ji! In this Kaliyuga, how will people without knowledge of Vedas get devotion to God and how will they be saved? Oh great sage! Tell me any such fast or penance, by doing which one can attain virtue in a short time and also get the desired results. We very much desire to hear such a story."

On this question, Shri Suta ji, an expert in the scriptures, said, "O Vaishnavas, most respected ones! You all have asked about the welfare of living beings. Now I will tell you about the great fast which the great sage Narada ji asked from Lord Shri Lakshminarayan and Lord Lakshminarayan had told the sage Narad ji, all of you should listen to this story carefully.

Muninatha Suno Yaha Satyakatha Saba Kalahi Hoya Mahasukhadayi। Tapa Hare, Bhava Dura Kare, Saba Kaja Sare Sukha Ki Adhikai॥ Ati Sankata Men Duhkha Dura Karai Saba Thaura Kuthaura Men Hota Sahai। Prabhu Nama Charita Gunagana Kie Bina Kaise Mahakali Papa Nasai॥

Narada, the great sage, while roaming in all the worlds for the welfare of others, once reached the Mrityuloka. Here, seeing almost all the human beings born in many births suffering from many troubles as per their Karma, he thought that by doing which effort, the sufferings of the living beings would definitely be relieved. With this thought in his mind, Shri Narada went to Vishnu Loka.

There they saw Lord Narayana, the white-complexioned and four-armed deity, who had Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma in his hands and was wearing a Vanmala and started praising him. Narada ji said, "O Lord! You are extremely powerful, even the mind and speech can't reach you, you also have no beginning, middle and end. You are the one who destroys the sufferings of the devotees due to the formless form of creation. I bow to you. I have full respect."

Hearing such a prayer from Narada ji, Lord Vishnu said, "O Yogiraj! What is in your mind? For what purpose have you come here? Say without hesitation."

Then Narada Muni, the best of sages, said, "In the mortal world, all the human beings, who have been born in many births, are suffering due to various kinds of sufferings due to their own deeds. O Lord! If you have mercy on me, then tell me that those How can all the sufferings of human beings be eliminated with just a little effort?

Lord Vishnu said, "O Narad! You have asked this very good question for the welfare of human beings. By observing the fast which frees man from attachment, I tell you that fast, listen, you who donates great virtues, will go to heaven. And today I tell you that by observing this fast of Lord Shri Satyanarayana, a person attains salvation after death by enjoying all kinds of happiness on this earth. Hearing such words, Narada Muni said, "O Lord! What is the rule of that fast? What is a fruit? Who has observed this fast before and on which day should this fast be observed? Please explain to me in detail."

Lord Vishnu said, "O Narada! This fast which removes all the sorrows and pain, and all types of diseases is going to give victory in all the places. On any day, one should faithfully and devotionally worship Lord Shri Satyanarayana with his friends, family and Brahmins in the evening. Take Naivedya, banana fruit, Ghee, Sugar or wheat flour (in the absence of wheat, you can also take all these with devotion). Offer food to Lord Satyanarayana and then spend the night remembering Lord Satyanarayana. If you fast, your wishes will definitely be fulfilled, especially in Kaliyuga, this is the only way to achieve great virtue in less time and less money."

The great saint Suta ji said, "O sages! I tell you all the history of those who observed this fast in ancient times, listen carefully." A very poor Brahmin lived in the very beautiful city of Kashipur. He remained sad all the time, distraught with hunger and thirst. Seeing him sad, Lord Vishnu, who loved Brahmins, one day disguised himself as an old Brahmin and went to the poor Brahmin and asked with great respect, "O Brahmin! Why do you roam around the earth feeling sad every moment? O great Brahmin! Tell me your pain, I want to listen." That Brahmin, surrounded by troubles, said, "I am a poor Brahmin, roaming around the earth in search of alms. O Lord! If you know any way to get rid of this, please tell me."

Lord Vishnu, taking the form of an old Brahmin, then said, "O Brahmin! Lord Satyanarayan is the one who gives the desired results, that is why you should worship him properly, by doing which man becomes free from all sorrows." After telling the complete rules of fasting to the poor Brahmin, Lord Satyanarayana took the form of an old Brahmin and disappeared.

Deciding that I will definitely observe the fast as told by the old Brahmin, following all the rules and regulations, the poor Brahmin went home. But that night the Brahmin could not sleep.

The next day he woke up early and decided to observe a fast for Lord Satyanarayana and went to beg for alms. That day he got more money in alms, with which he bought all the puja items and after coming home, he observed the fast of Lord Shri Satyanarayana with his relatives. By doing this, that poor Brahmin got freed from all the troubles and became very rich. From that time Brahmin started fasting every month. Whoever observes the fast of Lord Satyanarayana with devotion as per the scriptures, will be freed from all troubles and will attain salvation. Whoever observes the fast of Lord Shri Satyanarayana will be freed from all troubles. In this way, I told you this fast which was said by Lord Satyanarayana to Naradaji. Oh great Brahmins! Now what else do you want to hear, tell me?"

Then the sages said, "O Munishwara! We all want to hear who in the world has observed this fast after hearing from this Vipra.

Hearing this from the sages, Shri Suta ji said, "O sages! Listen to the story of every living being who has observed this fast. Once, he along with his rich Brahmin brothers and relatives, was worshiping Lord Satyanarayana at his home as per the scriptures. At that time an old man selling wood came there and went to the Brahmin's house. The woodcutter, distraught with thirst, saw Vipra fasting. He forgot his thirst. He greeted Vipra and asked, "O Brahmin! Who are you worshipping? What is the result of observing this fast? Please let me know."

Then the Brahmin said, "This is the fast of Lord Satyanarayan, who fulfills all the desires. It is by his grace that wealth and prosperity have come to me. The woodcutter became very happy after knowing about this fast from the Brahmin. After taking the nectar of Lord's feet and having food, he went to his home.

And the next day the woodcutter resolved in his mind that, "Today, I will observe the best fast of Lord Satyanarayana with the money I get from selling wood in the village." With this thought in his mind, the woodcutter took the bundle of wood on his head and went to a beautiful city where rich people lived. That day he got four times the price of that wood as compared to the previous days. Then the old woodcutter became very happy and came to his home with ripe bananas, sugar, honey, ghee, milk, curd and wheat floor etc., all the ingredients for the fast of Lord Satyanarayan. Then he called his friends and relatives and worshiped God and observed a fast with all the rituals. Because of that fast, the old woodcutter became rich and after enjoying all the pleasures of the world, he went to Vaikuntha.

Shri Sutaji said, "O great sages! Now I will tell you a further story. In ancient times, there was a great knowledgeable king named Ulkamukha. He was a Jitendriya and a truthful speaker. He used to go to temples every day and relieve the suffering of the poor by giving them money. His wife has a very beautiful face like a lotus, and she was very pure and Sadhvi by nature. One day, Ulkamukha and his wife was observing the fast of Lord Shri Satyanarayana on the banks of river Bhadrashila. At the same a Vaishya named Sadhu stopped his boat on the river-bank and after seeing the king fasting, he humbly asked, "O king! What are you doing this? I wish to learn. Please explain this to me also. Maharaja Ulkamukha said, "O Sadhu Vaishya! I, along with my relatives, am fasting and worshiping Lord Satyanarayana for getting a son. Hearing the words of the king, the Vaishya named Sadhu respectfully said, "O king! Please tell me its complete procedure also. I will also observe this fast as per your request. I also don't have any children. I believe that by observing this noble fast, I too will definitely have a child."

After listening to the king about all the rules of the fast and retiring from business, the Vaishya returned home happily. He told his wife about the fast to get a child and vowed, "When I have a child, I will observe this fast." Vaishya also said these words to his wife Lilavati. One day his wife Lilavati became pregnant by the grace of Lord Satyanarayana. In the tenth month she gave birth to a very beautiful girl. Day by day the girl started growing like the moon of Shukla Paksha grows. He named the girl Kalavati. Then Lilavati reminded her husband in sweet words that he had resolved to observe the fast of God, now he should complete it. Sage Vaishya said, "O dear! I will observe this fast on the marriage of Kalavati." Thus, giving assurance to his wife, he went abroad to do business.

Kalavati got the opportunity to grow in her ancestral home. On his return, when the sage saw his grown-up daughter playing with her friends in the city, he became worried about her marriage, then he called a messenger and asked him to find a suitable groom for his daughter. The messenger reached Kanchan Nagara after receiving the permission of a Vaishya named Sadhu and after taking care, brought a suitable merchant son for the Vaishya's daughter. Sahdu Vaishya along with his relatives happily married his daughter to that eligible boy. Unfortunately, he forgot to observe the fast of Lord Satyanarayana even at the time of marriage. Lord Satyanarayana became very angry at this and cursed the Vaishya that he would suffer severe pain.

Thereafter, Vaishya, skilled in his work, along with his son-in-law, went to Ratnasarpura city located near the sea, with a fleet of boats to do business. Ratnasarpura was ruled by a king named Chandraketu. Both father-in-law and son-in-law started doing business in the city of King Chandraketu. One day, a thief inspired by the Maya i.e. the great illusion of Lord Satyanarayana was running away after stealing the money of King Chandraketu. Seeing the king's messengers coming quickly after him, the thief got scared and silently kept the king's money in the Vaishya's boat, where his father-in-law and son-in-law were staying and ran away. When the messengers saw the king's money lying with the merchant, they considered the father-in-law and son-in-law to be thieves. They tied up both the father-in-law and son-in-law and took them away and approaching the king, said, "We have caught these two thieves who stole your money, please see and give orders."

Then the king, without listening to the Vaishya, ordered him to be put in jail. Thus, on the orders of the king, he was imprisoned, and all his wealth was also taken away. Due to the curse of Lord Satyanarayana, that Vaishya's wife Lilavati and daughter Kalavati also became very sad at home. Thieves stole all his money. Deeply distressed by mental and physical pain, hunger and thirst, Kalavati went to a Brahmin's house hoping for food. He saw the Brahmin observing the fast of Lord Satyanarayana in a proper manner. She listened to the story and took the Prasada with devotion and came home at night. Mother asked Kalavati, "O daughter! Where have you been till now, I was very worried about you."

Hearing mother's words, Kalavati said, "O mother! I have seen the fast of Lord Satyanarayana in a Brahmin's house and I also wish to observe that excellent virtuous fast."

After listening to the girl's words, the mother prepared to worship Lord Satyanarayan. She along with her friends and siblings worshipped and fasted Lord Satyanarayana and asked for a boon, "May my husband and son-in-law return home soon." She also prayed, "O Lord! If we have committed any mistake, please forgive the sins of all of us." Lord Satyanarayana was pleased with this fast. He appeared to King Chandraketu in his dream and said, "O King! The two Vaishyas whom you have kept in jail are innocent, release them in the morning. Return all their wealth that you have acquired, otherwise I will destroy your kingdom, wealth, sons etc." Saying such words to the king, Lord Satyanarayana disappeared from that place.

Later in the morning, King Chandraketu narrated his dream to everyone in the court and ordered the soldiers to free the two Vaishyas from captivity and bring them to the court. Both greeted the king as soon as they arrived. The king said in gentle words, "O noble ones! You have suffered such a difficult fate due to ignorance. Now you have no fear, you are free." After this, the king made him wear new clothes and ornaments and returned double the money he had taken from him and bid him farewell with respect. Both the Vaishyas left for their home.

Sutaji further said, "The Vaishya started his journey and went to his city. When he proceeded a little distance, Shri Satyanarayana Bhagwan dressed as a Dandi Swami asked him to test him, "O Vaishya! What's in your boat? The arrogant merchant said laughingly, Hey "Dandi! Why do you ask? Do you wish to acquire wealth? My boat is filled with Bael leaves.

Hearing such words of the Vaishya, Shri Satyanarayana Bhagwan dressed as a Dandi said, "May your words be true!" Saying this, he left from there and went some distance away and sat on the seashore.

After the departure of Dandi Maharaj, Vaishya, after getting free from his daily routine, was surprised to see the boat rising high and after seeing Bale leaves etc. in the boat, he fainted and fell on the ground. When he woke up from unconsciousness, he started mourning a lot. Then his son-in-law said, "Don't mourn. This is the curse of Dandi Maharaj, so we should take refuge in him only, he will end our sorrows." Hearing the words of his son-in-law, the Vaishya approached Dandi Bhagwan and repented with utmost devotion and said, "Forgive me for the untruthful words I had spoken to you." Saying this he became sad and started crying. Then Lord Dandi said, "O son of a merchant! Due to my orders, you have repeatedly suffered pain and suffering, you have turned away from my worship." Then the Vaishya said, "O Lord! Even gods like Brahma are unable to understand your illusion, then how can I, a fool, know. Please be happy, I will worship you to the best of my ability. Protect me and fill my boat with wealth as it was before."

Hearing his words full of devotion, Lord Satyanarayana became pleased and granted him the boon as per his wish and disappeared. Then both father-in-law and son-in-law came on the boat and saw that the boat was full of money. Then he worshiped Lord Satyanarayana as per the rituals and went to his city along with his companions. When he reached near his city, he sent a messenger to his home. The messenger went to the house of a Vaishya named Sadhu, greeted his wife and said, "Your husband has come near this city along with his group." Lilavati and her daughter Kalavati were worshiping God at that time. Hearing the messenger's words, the Sadhu's wife completed the worship of Lord Satyanarayana with great joy and said to her daughter, "I am going to see my husband, you complete the worship and come back soon." But Kalavati left the worship and offerings and went to see her husband.

Due to disobedience of worship and Prasada, Lord Satyanarayana got angry and drowned her husband in water along with the boat. Not finding her husband, Kalavati fell on the ground crying. Seeing the boat sinking and the girl crying, a Vaishya named Sadhu was moved and said, "O Lord! Forgive me or my family for whatever crime I have committed out of ignorance."

Lord Satyadev became happy after hearing such words from him. The Akashvaani i.e. a voice from the sky said, "O Vaishya! Your daughter has left my Prasada, that is why her husband has disappeared. If she goes home and returns after receiving the Prasad, she will definitely find her husband." After hearing the Akashvaani, Kalavati reached home and took the Prasada and after that she was delighted to find her husband as before and she meet her husband. After that, Sadhu Vaishya along with his friends worshiped Satyadev in the same manner. After enjoying all the pleasures of this world, he finally attained salvation.

Shri Sutaji said, "O sages! I tell you another story, you all listen carefully — there was a king named Tungadhwaj who was always concerned about the people of his kingdom. He suffered a lot by ignoring the offerings of Lord Satyanarayan. Once the king was in the forest with wild animals. After killing, he saw the cowherds worshiping Shri Satyanarayanaji with devotion, but due to pride he neither went there nor saluted Lord Satyadev. When the cowherds placed the Prasad in front of him, he left the Prasad and after reaching the city he realized that Lord Satyadev had done all this out of anger. When he came back and went near the cowherds and after worshiping him ritually and took the prasad, by the grace of Lord Satyanarayana everything became the same as before and after enjoying happiness for a long time, he attained salvation after death.

The person who observes this great and rare fast, by the grace of Lord Satyanarayana, he will have no shortage of wealth and grains. The poor become the rich and the captive become free from their bonds and become fearless. The childless gets a child and after fulfilling all his desires, he finally goes to Vaikuntha Dham.

Now also know about those who first observed this fast, now also listen to the story of their second birth.

An old Brahmin named Shatananda took birth as Sudama and attained Vaikuntha by worshiping and serving Lord Krishna. A king named Ulkamukha became King Dashratha and attained salvation by worshiping Shri Ranganath. A Vaishya named Sadhu born as the virtuous and truthful king Mordhwaja and attained Vaikuntha by cutting his son with a saw. Maharaja Tungdhwaj became Sayambhu Manu, He attained Vaikuntha Dham by inculcating many people in the devotion of God. In the next life, the woodcutter became a Nishada king named Guha (गुह), who made all his births better by serving the feet of Lord Rama.