Once upon a time, in the Naishirnya Tirtha, eighty-eight thousand sages, including the Saunakas, questioned Lord Sūta, saying, "O Lord! In this Kali Yuga, how can those without Vedic knowledge attain devotion to the Lord? And how will they attain liberation? O most excellent sage, please tell us of a penance that can bring merit and desired results in a short time."
We desire to hear such a narrative. Sūta, the knower of all scriptures, said, "O revered ones among the Vaishnavas! You have inquired about the welfare of beings, so I will tell you about a virtuous vow that was asked of Lord Lakshminārāyaṇa by Nārada Muni. Please listen attentively."
Once upon a time, the yogi king Nārada, desiring the welfare of others, traveled to the mortal realm. There, he observed numerous humans born in various forms, afflicted by sorrows stemming from their actions. Seeing their suffering, Nārada contemplated how to bring an end to human misery. With this contemplation, he went to Vaikuntha. There, he began to praise Lord Nārāyaṇa, the Lord of the Devas, who held the conch, discus, mace, and lotus in his hands, adorned with a garland around his neck.
Praising Him, Nārada said: "O Lord! You are possessed of immense power, beyond the reach of mind and speech. You have no beginning, middle, or end. O Creator of the universe in your formless essence, remover of the sorrows of devotees, my salutations to You."
Hearing Nārada's praise, Lord Vishnu said: "O most excellent sage! What is on your mind? What brings you here? Speak without hesitation." To this, Nārada Muni replied, "In the mortal realm, countless humans, born in various forms, are suffering greatly due to their actions. O Lord, if you have compassion on me, please tell me how these humans can overcome their suffering with minimal effort."
Lord Hari said, "O Nārada, your query for the well-being of humans is truly noble. I shall tell you of a practice that releases one from attachment. There is a rare and excellent vow, bestowed with merit, in both the celestial and mortal realms. Today, out of love, I shall reveal it to you."
By properly performing this vow of Lord Sathyānārāyaṇa, a person will enjoy worldly happiness and attain liberation after death.
Hearing Lord Hari's words, Nārada asked, "What is the fruit of this vow? What is its procedure? Who performed this vow? On which day should it be performed? Please explain everything in detail."
Lord Hari replied, "This vow, dispelling sorrow and bestowing victory everywhere, should be performed by humans with devotion and reverence. In the evening, perform the worship of Lord Sathyānārāyaṇa with piety, along with Brahmins and relatives. With devotion, offer offerings of naivedya, banana, ghee, milk, and wheat flour. If wheat flour is not available, use satti flour, sugar, jaggery, and all edible items combined, to prepare the offering. "
Offer food to the Brahmins and relatives, and then partake in the meal yourself. Immerse yourselves in the devotion of the Lord through chanting and hymns. By performing this vow of Lord Sathyānārāyaṇa in this manner, all desires of the person will be fulfilled without a doubt.
This is the simple path to liberation in the mortal realm during this Kali Yuga.
॥ End of the first chapter of the Sathyānārāyaṇa Vrat Katha ॥
Śrīmann Nārāyaṇa-Nārāyaṇa-Nārāyaṇa.
Bhaja mana Nārāyaṇa-Nārāyaṇa-Nārāyaṇa.
Victory to Lord Sathyānārāyaṇa!
