Shani Pradosha Vrat Katha

Gargacharya said - "O Mahamate! You have described all the Pradosha fasts for the pleasure of Lord Shiva. Now please describe the glory of Shani Pradosha Vrata."

Sutaji said - "O Rishivar! Surely you have unparalleled love for the lotus feet of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Therefore, I describe the method of Shani Trayodashi Vrata before you, listen carefully.

According to the ancient story, a poor Brahmin lived with his wife in a village. One day, distressed by his poverty and misery, the Brahmin's wife reached Sage Shandilya and bowing to him, she said - 'O Muniraj! I am very sad, both my sons are in your refuge. My elder son's name is Dharma who is a prince and the younger son's name is Shuchivrat. Extreme poverty resides in our lives. We are surrounded by various types of troubles. O Rishivar! Only you can remove our sorrow and troubles. Please show us some way to attain a good life.'

Hearing the compassionate prayer of that woman, Sage Shandilya said - 'O daughter! To remove your sorrows, you should faithfully observe the Pradosha fast of Lord Shiva.' The Brahmin's wife decided to observe the Pradosha fast along with her sons. After some time, the day of Pradosha came, then all three took a vow to fast. One day Shuchivrat went to a pond to bathe and found a golden pitcher filled with wealth on the way. He brought that pitcher home and said to his mother - 'Mother! Look, I have found this wealth on the way.' The mother praised the glory of Lord Shiva after seeing the wealth. The mother called Prince Dharma and said - 'Son! By the grace of Lord Shiva, your younger brother has found this wealth on the way, so considering it as the Lord's Prasad, both of you divide it half and half.'

Hearing the mother's words, Prince Dharma, remembering Shri Shiva-Parvati, said - 'Mother! This wealth belongs to your son only, I have no right over it. When Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati give me something, I will accept it.' Saying this, that prince got absorbed in his Shiva-worship as usual.

One day both the brothers were wandering in the province. On the way they saw many Gandharva girls playing. Seeing them, Shuchivrat did not go in the direction of the girls and sat down at the same place. But Prince Dharma reached among those Gandharva girls alone. One of them, a very beautiful Gandharva girl, was fascinated by the prince's beauty and going near him, said to her friends - 'O friends! There is another forest near this forest in which various types of beautiful flowers have bloomed, that scene is very enchanting, you all go and enjoy its beauty, there is a lot of pain in my feet, I will rest here for a while.'

Hearing this, all the friends went towards that forest and that alone Gandharva girl started looking at that prince. The prince also started looking at her with a lustful sight, being mesmerized by that girl's beauty. The girl asked him - 'Who are you? What is your name? Whose son are you and where do you live?'

The prince said - 'I am the son of Vidarbha King, you also introduce yourself.' The girl said - 'I am the daughter of Bidravik Gandharva, my name is Anshumati. I have known your desire. Your heart has been fascinated by me. Vidhata has created the provision for the union of both of us.' Saying this much, that Gandharva girl put her pearl necklace on the prince.

The prince said hesitantly - 'Darling! I accept your love proposal, but I am living a life in extreme poverty.' As soon as she heard this, that girl said - 'Dear one! Do not worry, I know the solution to your problem, you go home now, soon your troubles are going to end.'

Saying this, that girl went near her friends. After that, the prince also came home and told this whole case to his brother Shuchivrat. On the third day of this sequence of events, Prince Dharma along with his brother Shuchivrat reached the same forest again. After some time, the Gandharvaraj arrived there with his daughter.

Gandharvaraj said - 'I went to Kailash mountain to visit Lord Shiva. Shiva ji told me that, O Gandharvaraj! There is a prince named Dharmagupta who has currently become extremely poor and needy, his enemies have expelled him from the state. He is my exclusive devotee, you help him in getting the state again. Therefore, by the order of Bholenath, I have appeared here. I have also brought my daughter, she is interested in marrying you. You accept her, I will help you in being established on the royal throne again.'

After that, Prince Dharmagupta married that Gandharva girl. Gandharvaraj provided invaluable wealth etc. in his daughter's marriage, receiving which Prince Dharma became very happy. Thereafter, with the help of his father-in-law, he also got his state back and started spending a good life while ruling happily. The prince made the Brahmin's son his prime minister.

Just as the time of the prince and the Brahmin boy changed by the Brahmin woman's observance of the Pradosha fast, in the same way, Lord Shiva provides happiness and prosperity to his other devotees too. That is why the Pradosha fast has great glory in the creation.

॥Iti Shri Shani Pradosha Vrat Katha Sampurnah॥