English
Satyanarayan Katha: Sadhu the Merchant
Source: Shri Satyanarayan Vrat Katha (traditionally attributed to the Skanda Purana, Reva Khanda), chapters 3–4
In the city of Ratnapur lived a wealthy merchant named Sadhu. He had everything except a child.
One day, as he set out by boat on business, he saw on the riverbank King Ulkamukha and his queen worshipping Lord Satyanarayan with great devotion.
Sadhu asked, “Your Majesty, what is this vrat, and what does it bring?” The king said, “This is the vrat of Lord Satyanarayan. It fulfils one's wishes. I am keeping it in the hope of a child.”
Sadhu too made a vow: “If I am blessed with a child, I too will keep the vrat of Lord Satyanarayan.” In time his wife Lilavati gave birth to a beautiful daughter, who was named Kalavati.
Lilavati reminded her husband of his promise. Sadhu said, “We'll do it at Kalavati's wedding.” Kalavati grew up and was married to a worthy merchant's son from Kanchanapur, but Sadhu forgot the vrat once again.
Then Sadhu went with his son-in-law to trade in Ratnasarapur, the city of King Chandraketu. There thieves stole the king's treasure and, finding themselves chased, threw it down right where Sadhu and his son-in-law were staying. The guards took them for thieves and seized them, and the king threw them into prison.
Back home there was a theft as well. Lilavati and Kalavati were reduced to want. One day the hungry Kalavati came to a brahmana's house and saw that the katha of Lord Satyanarayan was being held there…
Kalavati listened to the katha, took the prasad and came home to tell her mother everything. Lilavati remembered her husband's forgotten promise. Mother and daughter kept the vrat of Lord Satyanarayan with devotion and prayed for husband and son-in-law to come home.
That very night the Lord said to King Chandraketu in a dream, “O king, the two merchants are innocent. Release them.” In the morning the king freed them both, asked their forgiveness, and sent them off with honour and great wealth.
Sadhu set off for home with his boat full of riches. On the way Lord Satyanarayan came to test him in the guise of a staff-bearing sannyasi and asked, “What is in your boat?”
Proud of his wealth and wanting to avoid giving the sannyasi anything, Sadhu lied, “Only creepers and leaves.” The sannyasi said, “So be it,” and went away. When Sadhu looked at the boat, it really was full of creepers and leaves instead of wealth!
Sadhu nearly fainted. His son-in-law said, “This is that sannyasi's doing. Let us go and seek his refuge.” Sadhu ran and fell at the sannyasi's feet: “Lord, I lied. Forgive me.”
The sannyasi said, “Again and again you promised to keep my vrat and forgot.” Weeping, Sadhu admitted his fault and firmly resolved to keep the vrat. The Lord was pleased, and the boat filled with wealth again. Sadhu worshipped Lord Satyanarayan right there.
The boat reached the city and Lilavati sent word. At that moment Kalavati was performing the Satyanarayan puja. In her eagerness to see her husband she ran off without taking the prasad. At once her husband vanished into the water along with the boat.
Everyone began to weep. Then a voice from the sky said, “Kalavati has come away leaving the prasad. Let her go back and take it, and she will have her husband.” Kalavati went back and took the prasad with devotion, and her husband reappeared along with the boat.
From then on Sadhu kept the vrat of Lord Satyanarayan with his family on every Purnima and Sankranti, and lived a happy life.
What this story teaches
The Lord's very name is Truth. Keeping one's word, speaking the truth and honouring the prasad: this is what the story teaches.
The Satyanarayan vrat and katha are traditionally performed on Purnima, and on any auspicious occasion. The puja uses a canopy of banana leaves, panchamrit, tulsi, and prasad of panjiri or sheera made in measures of one and a quarter, and everyone takes prasad after hearing all five chapters of the katha. The katha is traditionally attributed to the Reva Khanda of the Skanda Purana, though it is not found in every recension of that Purana. Some names in the story vary slightly between versions.
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