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Satyanarayan Vrat Katha: Text, Transliteration and Meaning

Katha · 25 verses · original in Sanskrit

About Satyanarayan Vrat Katha

In the Bhavishya Purana, Suta tells Shaunaka and the other sages the story of the Satyanarayana vow. At Narada's request Vishnu reveals the vow; Shatananda, a poor brahmin of Kashi, and Chandrachuda, a king who has lost his kingdom, keep it and prosper. The merchant Sadhu promises worship in return for a child but forgets, and is imprisoned with his son-in-law; the worship of his wife Lilavati and daughter Kalavati frees him, but when the prasada is neglected the son-in-law's boat sinks, and he returns once the prasada is eaten. The popular Satyanarayan katha booklet usually follows a different text printed under the name of the Skanda Purana (Reva Khanda); this is the Bhavishya Purana text, so some names and events differ from the booklet. The main verses of the story are given here.

Text: Bhavishya Purana (Pratisarga Parva, Khanda 2, ch. 24–29) (Puranic)

Meanings and summaries are editorial, written for this library from the cited edition.

Text and meaning

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.24.1

एकदा नैमिषारण्ये ऋषयः शौनकादयः ।। पृच्छन्ति विनयेनैव सूतं पौराणिकं खलु ।। १ ।।

ekadā naimiṣāraṇye ṛṣayaḥ śaunakādayaḥ || pṛcchanti vinayenaiva sūtaṃ paurāṇikaṃ khalu || 1 ||

Once, in the Naimisha forest, Shaunaka and the other sages humbly questioned Suta, the teller of the Puranas.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 24, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74736, Pratisarga Parva 2.24.1

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.24.7

एकदा नारदो योगी परानुग्रहवांच्छया ।। पर्यटन्विविधाँल्लोकान्मर्त्यलोकमुपागमत् ।। ७ ।।

ekadā nārado yogī parānugrahavāṃcchayā || paryaṭanvividhām̐llokānmartyalokamupāgamat || 7 ||

Once the yogi Narada, wishing to help others, wandered through many worlds and came to the world of mortals.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 24, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74736, Pratisarga Parva 2.24.7

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.24.9

केनोपायेन चैतेषां दुःखनाशो भवेद्ध्रुवम्।। इति सञ्चिंत्य मनसा विष्णुलोकं गतस्तदा ।। ९ ।।

kenopāyena caiteṣāṃ duḥkhanāśo bhaveddhruvam|| iti sañciṃtya manasā viṣṇulokaṃ gatastadā || 9 ||

"By what means can their sorrow surely be ended?" Thinking this, he went to Vishnu's realm.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 24, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74736, Pratisarga Parva 2.24.9

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.25.2

काशीपुरीति विख्याता तत्रासीद्ब्राह्मणो वरः ।। दीनो गृहाश्रमी नित्यं भिक्षुः पुत्रकलत्रवान् ।। २ ।।

kāśīpurīti vikhyātā tatrāsīdbrāhmaṇo varaḥ || dīno gṛhāśramī nityaṃ bhikṣuḥ putrakalatravān || 2 ||

In the famous city of Kashi lived a worthy brahmin, a poor householder with a wife and children, who always lived by begging.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 25, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74738, Pratisarga Parva 2.25.2

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.25.3

शतानंद इति ख्यातो विष्णुव्रतपरायणः ।। एकदा पथि भिक्षार्थं गच्छतस्तस्य श्रीपतिः ।। ३ ।।

śatānaṃda iti khyāto viṣṇuvrataparāyaṇaḥ || ekadā pathi bhikṣārthaṃ gacchatastasya śrīpatiḥ || 3 ||

He was known as Shatananda and was devoted to Vishnu's vows. Once, as he walked along the road to beg, the Lord of Shri...

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 25, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74738, Pratisarga Parva 2.25.3

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.25.4

विनीतस्यातिशांतस्य स बभूवाक्षिगोचरः ।। वृद्धब्राह्मणवेषेण पप्रच्छ ब्राह्मणं हरिः ।। क्व यासीति द्विजश्रेष्ठ वृत्तिः कामेन कथ्यताम् ।। ४ ।।

vinītasyātiśāṃtasya sa babhūvākṣigocaraḥ || vṛddhabrāhmaṇaveṣeṇa papraccha brāhmaṇaṃ hariḥ || kva yāsīti dvijaśreṣṭha vṛttiḥ kāmena kathyatām || 4 ||

...appeared before that humble, gentle man. In the guise of an old brahmin, Hari asked him: "Where are you going, best of brahmins? Tell me how you live."

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 25, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74738, Pratisarga Parva 2.25.4

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.25.7

ममोपदेशतो विप्र सत्यनारायणं भज ।। दारिद्र्यशोकशमनं संतापहरणं हरेः ।। चरणं शरणं याहि मोक्षदं पद्मलोचनम् ।। ।। ७ ।।

mamopadeśato vipra satyanārāyaṇaṃ bhaja || dāridryaśokaśamanaṃ saṃtāpaharaṇaṃ hareḥ || caraṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ yāhi mokṣadaṃ padmalocanam || || 7 ||

"Brahmin, on my advice worship Satyanarayana. Take refuge at the feet of lotus-eyed Hari, which end poverty and grief, take away distress and grant liberation."

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 25, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74738, Pratisarga Parva 2.25.7

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.25.36

विना देहीति वचनं लब्धा च विपुलं धनम् ।। कौतुकायासमनसा जगाम निजमालयम् ।। ३६।।

vinā dehīti vacanaṃ labdhā ca vipulaṃ dhanam || kautukāyāsamanasā jagāma nijamālayam || 36||

Without having to say "give", he received great wealth, and went home full of wonder.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 25, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74738, Pratisarga Parva 2.25.36

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.25.39

भक्त्या तुतोष भगवान्सत्यनारायणः स्वयम् ।। कामं दित्सुः प्रादुरासीत्कथांते भक्तवत्सलः ।। ३९ ।।

bhaktyā tutoṣa bhagavānsatyanārāyaṇaḥ svayam || kāmaṃ ditsuḥ prādurāsītkathāṃte bhaktavatsalaḥ || 39 ||

Lord Satyanarayana himself was pleased by his devotion, and the Lord who loves his devotees appeared at the end of the story, wishing to grant his desire.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 25, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74738, Pratisarga Parva 2.25.39

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.26.1

राजासीद्धार्मिकः कश्चित्केदारमणिपूरके ।। चन्द्रचूड इति ख्यातः प्रजापालनतत्परः ।।१।।

rājāsīddhārmikaḥ kaścitkedāramaṇipūrake || candracūḍa iti khyātaḥ prajāpālanatatparaḥ ||1||

In Kedara-Manipura there was a righteous king named Chandrachuda, devoted to caring for his people.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 26, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74740, Pratisarga Parva 2.26.1

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.26.11

द्विजराज नमस्तुभ्यं सदानंद महामते ।। भ्रष्टराज्यं च मां ज्ञात्वा कृपया मां समुद्धर ।। ११ ।।

dvijarāja namastubhyaṃ sadānaṃda mahāmate || bhraṣṭarājyaṃ ca māṃ jñātvā kṛpayā māṃ samuddhara || 11 ||

(The king said:) "Salutations to you, Sadananda, wise and best of brahmins. Knowing that I have lost my kingdom, kindly raise me up."

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 26, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74740, Pratisarga Parva 2.26.11

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.26.21

पौर्णमास्यां विधानेन मासिमासि नृपोत्तमः।। अपूजयत्सत्यदेवं प्रेमभक्तिसमन्वितः।।२१।।

paurṇamāsyāṃ vidhānena māsimāsi nṛpottamaḥ|| apūjayatsatyadevaṃ premabhaktisamanvitaḥ||21||

Every month, on the full moon, that excellent king duly worshipped Satyadeva with love and devotion.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 26, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74740, Pratisarga Parva 2.26.21

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.28.3

अथ रत्नपुरस्थायी साधुर्लक्षपतिर्वणिक् ।। धनैरापूर्य तरणीः सह गच्छन्नदीतटे ।। ३ ।।

atha ratnapurasthāyī sādhurlakṣapatirvaṇik || dhanairāpūrya taraṇīḥ saha gacchannadītaṭe || 3 ||

Then Sadhu, a wealthy merchant of Ratnapura, was travelling along the river with boats full of riches.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 28, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74744, Pratisarga Parva 2.28.3

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.28.14

पुत्रं वा यदि वा कन्यां लभेयं त्वत्प्रसादतः ।। पताकां कांचनीं कृत्वा पूजयिष्ये कृपानिधिम् ।। १४ ।।

putraṃ vā yadi vā kanyāṃ labheyaṃ tvatprasādataḥ || patākāṃ kāṃcanīṃ kṛtvā pūjayiṣye kṛpānidhim || 14 ||

(He prayed:) "If by your grace I am given a son or a daughter, I will make a golden banner and worship the Lord, the treasure of compassion."

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 28, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74744, Pratisarga Parva 2.28.14

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.28.20

विप्रानाहूय वेदज्ञान्कारयामास मंगलम् ।। लेखयित्वा जन्मपत्रीं नाम चक्रे कलावतीम् ।। 3.2.28.२० ।।

viprānāhūya vedajñānkārayāmāsa maṃgalam || lekhayitvā janmapatrīṃ nāma cakre kalāvatīm || 3.2.28.20 ||

He called brahmins learned in the Vedas to perform the blessings, had her birth chart written, and named the girl Kalavati.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 28, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74744, Pratisarga Parva 2.28.20

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.28.30

कुर्वन्क्रयं विक्रयं च चिरं तस्थौ महामनाः ।। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा न कृतं सत्यसेवनम् ।। 3.2.28.३० ।।

kurvankrayaṃ vikrayaṃ ca ciraṃ tasthau mahāmanāḥ || karmaṇā manasā vācā na kṛtaṃ satyasevanam || 3.2.28.30 ||

Buying and selling, he stayed there a long time, but in deed, mind or word he did not serve Satyadeva.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 28, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74744, Pratisarga Parva 2.28.30

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.29.8

अथैकस्मिन्दिने कन्या भोजनाच्छादनं विना ।। गता विप्रगृहेऽपश्यत्सत्यनारायणार्चनम् ।। ८ ।।

athaikasmindine kanyā bhojanācchādanaṃ vinā || gatā vipragṛhe'paśyatsatyanārāyaṇārcanam || 8 ||

One day the girl, without food or clothing, went to a brahmin's house and saw the worship of Satyanarayana.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 29, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74746, Pratisarga Parva 2.29.8

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.29.19

उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ राजेन्द्र तौ साधू परिमोचय ।। अपराधं विना बद्धौ नो चेच्छं न भवेत्तव ।। १९ ।।

uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha rājendra tau sādhū parimocaya || aparādhaṃ vinā baddhau no cecchaṃ na bhavettava || 19 ||

(The Lord said to the king in a dream:) "Rise, O king, and release those two good men; they are bound without any crime, or it will not go well with you."

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 29, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74746, Pratisarga Parva 2.29.19

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.29.36

इत्युक्तस्तापसः प्राह तथास्त्विति वचः क्षणात् ।। धनमंतर्दधे साधोर्लतापत्रावशेषितम् ।। ३६ ।।

ityuktastāpasaḥ prāha tathāstviti vacaḥ kṣaṇāt || dhanamaṃtardadhe sādhorlatāpatrāvaśeṣitam || 36 ||

(The merchant had told an ascetic that his boats held only creepers and leaves.) Hearing this, the ascetic said, "So be it", and in a moment the merchant's wealth vanished; only creepers and leaves were left.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 29, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74746, Pratisarga Parva 2.29.36

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.29.48

सत्यरूपं सत्यसंधं सत्यनारायणं हरिम् ।। यत्सत्यत्वेन जगतस्तं सत्यं त्वां नमाम्यहम् ।। ४८ ।।

satyarūpaṃ satyasaṃdhaṃ satyanārāyaṇaṃ harim || yatsatyatvena jagatastaṃ satyaṃ tvāṃ namāmyaham || 48 ||

(The merchant prayed:) "Hari Satyanarayana, whose form is truth, who is true to his word, through whose truth the world is real: to you, the Truth, I bow."

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 29, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74746, Pratisarga Parva 2.29.48

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.29.58

कलावती त्ववज्ञाय प्रसादं सत्वरा ययौ ।। पातुं पतिमुखांभोजं चकोरीव दिनात्यये ।। ५८ ।।

kalāvatī tvavajñāya prasādaṃ satvarā yayau || pātuṃ patimukhāṃbhojaṃ cakorīva dinātyaye || 58 ||

But Kalavati, disregarding the prasada, hurried off to drink in the sight of her husband's lotus face, like a chakori bird at the close of day.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 29, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74746, Pratisarga Parva 2.29.58

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.29.59

अवज्ञानात्प्रसादस्य नौकाशंखपतेरथ ।। निमग्ना जलमध्ये तु जामात्रा सह तत्क्षणात् ।। ५९ ।।

avajñānātprasādasya naukāśaṃkhapateratha || nimagnā jalamadhye tu jāmātrā saha tatkṣaṇāt || 59 ||

Because the prasada was disregarded, Shankhapati's boat sank at that very moment, with the son-in-law in it.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 29, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74746, Pratisarga Parva 2.29.59

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.29.65

साधो कलावती क्षिप्रं मत्प्रसादं हि भोजयेत् ।। तत्पश्चादिह संप्राप्य पतिं प्राप्स्यति मा शुचः ।। ६५ ।।

sādho kalāvatī kṣipraṃ matprasādaṃ hi bhojayet || tatpaścādiha saṃprāpya patiṃ prāpsyati mā śucaḥ || 65 ||

(A voice from the sky said:) "Sadhu, let Kalavati quickly eat my prasada; after that she will come here and find her husband. Do not grieve."

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 29, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74746, Pratisarga Parva 2.29.65

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.29.66

इत्याकाशे वचः श्रुत्वा विस्मिता तच्चकार सा ।। नारायणस्य कृपया पतिं प्राप्ता कलावती ।। ६६ ।।

ityākāśe vacaḥ śrutvā vismitā taccakāra sā || nārāyaṇasya kṛpayā patiṃ prāptā kalāvatī || 66 ||

Hearing these words from the sky, Kalavati in wonder did as she was told, and by Narayana's grace she found her husband again.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 29, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74746, Pratisarga Parva 2.29.66

Bhavishya Purana 3.2.29.69

इतिहासमिमं भक्त्या शृणुयाद्यो हि मानवः ।। सोऽपि विष्णुप्रियतरः कामसिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् ।। ।। ६९ ।।

itihāsamimaṃ bhaktyā śṛṇuyādyo hi mānavaḥ || so'pi viṣṇupriyataraḥ kāmasiddhimavāpnuyāt || || 69 ||

Whoever listens to this account with devotion becomes very dear to Vishnu and sees his wishes fulfilled.

Source: Bhavishya Purana 3 (Pratisarga Parva), Khanda 2 ch. 29, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 74746, Pratisarga Parva 2.29.69

Sources and licence

The selected verses are copied character for character from the source pages, including number forms such as "3.2.28.20". The source names the brahmin "Shatananda" in chapter 25 and "Sadananda" in chapters 26–27. No verse is taken from chapter 27 (the Bhils' story). The worship procedure is in the separate text "Satyanarayan Puja". IAST is generated by a fixed rule.

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