Satyanarayana Katha - Tritiya Adhyay

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. Sadhu 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.

॥ Iti Shri Satyanarayana Vrat Katha Tritiya Adhyay Sampurna ॥