Shri Satyanarayan Vrat Katha - Fourth Chapter: A Story of Faith and Consequences
The sage Suta said: The merchant, after performing auspicious rituals, began his journey back to his city. A short distance from his home, a mendicant, embodying Shri Satyanarayan, accosted him, asking, "O holy man, what is within your vessel?" The merchant, chuckling, replied, "O mendicant, why do you ask? Do you desire wealth? My boat is filled with leaves and branches." Hearing these harsh words, the deity said, "May your words prove true!" and departed. He walked some distance and sat by the sea shore. After the mendicant's departure, the merchant, having finished his daily ablutions, noticed his boat rising unusually. He saw only leaves and branches, and at this sight, fainted, falling to the ground.
Upon regaining consciousness, the merchant was consumed by grief. His son-in-law suggested that this was a curse by the mendicant, and that they should seek his forgiveness. Following this counsel, the merchant approached the mendicant, bowing deeply in profound devotion and saying, "Forgive me for the untruthful words I spoke. Forgive my folly." He wept profusely. The mendicant, embodying the Lord, replied, "O merchant's son, repeated suffering has befallen you due to my will. You have turned away from my worship." The merchant responded, "O Lord! Even the gods, like Brahma, cannot fully perceive your divine form, how can I, a mere mortal, understand it? Please be gracious. I shall now worship you to the best of my ability. Protect me, and restore the boat, filled with riches as before."
Moved by the merchant's devout words, the Lord blessed him according to his wishes and vanished. When the father-in-law and son-in-law returned to the boat, they found it overflowing with riches. They then worshipped Lord Satyanarayan, along with their companions, and prepared to return to the city, sending a messenger ahead to inform the household.
The messenger greeted the merchant's wife, Lilavati, and conveyed the joyous news that her husband and son-in-law were approaching the city. Filled with happiness, Lilavati performed a worship to the Lord and instructed her daughter, Kalavati, to complete her household duties diligently before joining her. Hearing this, Kalavati immediately left the offerings to join her husband.
Displeased by Kalavati's neglect of the offerings, Lord Satyanarayan, in his divine wrath, caused the boat, along with the merchant, to sink into the water. Kalavati, upon failing to locate her husband, fell to the ground in despair and grief.
Beholding the submerged boat and the distressed daughter, the merchant, overwhelmed with sorrow, cried out, "O Lord, forgive my family and me for our transgressions."
Touched by the merchant's heartfelt plea, Lord Satyanarayan spoke from the heavens: "O merchant, your daughter disregarded my offerings, causing her husband's disappearance. Should she return home and partake of the offerings, he shall be restored." Hearing this divine message, Kalavati, upon returning home, consumed the offerings. Immediately, she rejoined her husband.
Thereafter, the merchant, along with his friends, performed a proper worship to Lord Satyanarayan. He enjoyed worldly pleasures and ultimately attained the heavens.
Thus concludes the fourth chapter of the Shri Satyanarayan Vrat Katha.
Om Nārāyaṇa, Nārāyaṇa, Nārāyaṇa.
May Lord Satyanarayan be praised.
