श्री सत्यनारायण व्रत कथा
स्कन्द पुराण के रेवा खण्ड से श्री सत्यनारायण भगवान की पाँच अध्याय की कथा
श्री सत्यनारायण व्रत हिंदू घरों में सबसे प्रिय और सर्वाधिक किए जाने वाले पूजनों में से एक है — यह पूर्णिमा, एकादशी, अथवा गृह प्रवेश, विवाह या किसी मनोकामना की पूर्ति जैसे किसी भी शुभ व मंगल अवसर पर किया जाता है। भगवान सत्यनारायण विष्णु का ही स्वरूप हैं — 'जो स्वयं सत्य हैं।' पूजा के अंग रूप में यह कथा पाँच अध्यायों में सुनाई जाती है, और इसे श्रद्धापूर्वक सुनना व्रत करने के समान ही फलदायी कहा गया है। इसे सर्वप्रथम सूत मुनि ने नैमिषारण्य में एकत्र ऋषियों को सुनाया था।
प्रथम अध्याय — नारद का प्रश्न और व्रत की उत्पत्ति
Once, in the forest of Naimisharanya, the sage Suta arrived among eighty-eight thousand rishis. The sages, led by Shaunaka, asked him: 'By what observance can a person attain their desires and be freed from suffering in this age of Kali? Please tell us.' Suta replied that long ago Narada had asked the very same question of Lord Vishnu.
Moved by compassion for the suffering of mortals, Narada had gone to Vishnu in Vaikuntha and prayed, 'O Lord, the people of the earth are bound by sorrow and misfortune. By what simple means may they be relieved?' Vishnu answered with affection: 'There is a vrat called the Satyanarayan Vrat, rarely known on earth, which destroys sorrow and grants every wish.'
The Lord described the method: in the evening of the Purnima or on any auspicious day, having bathed and resolved, the devotee should worship Satyanarayan with devotion. The offering (prasad / sapadha bhog) is made of one and a quarter portions each of wheat semolina (sooji), sugar, ghee, milk and banana, sanctified and shared among all. Whoever performs this vrat with faith, said Vishnu, is freed from poverty and grief and attains happiness, prosperity and, in the end, liberation.
द्वितीय अध्याय — निर्धन ब्राह्मण और लकड़हारा
In the holy city of Kashi there lived a very poor Brahmin who passed his days begging for food. Seeing his distress, Lord Satyanarayan Himself appeared before him in the form of an aged Brahmin and asked the cause of his sorrow. When the Brahmin told of his poverty, the old man revealed the Satyanarayan Vrat and its method, and vanished.
The Brahmin resolved to perform the vrat. The very next day, having obtained alms beyond his expectation, he performed the puja with his family. By the Lord's grace his hardships ended, and he grew prosperous and content. From then on he performed the vrat every month, and in time attained the supreme abode.
One day, while he was performing the vrat, a poor woodcutter who sold firewood came to his door thirsty. Setting down his load, he watched the puja and asked what it was. Learning of the vrat, he too partook of the prasad and resolved to perform it. The next day he sold his firewood for double the usual price, and with that money he performed the Satyanarayan Vrat with devotion. By the Lord's grace he was freed from poverty and lived in happiness and plenty.
तृतीय अध्याय — राजा उल्कामुख और साधु वैश्य
There was a righteous king named Ulkamukh, devoted to truth and self-control. One day, on the bank of the river Bhadrashila, he was performing the Satyanarayan Vrat. At that time a wealthy merchant named Sadhu arrived there with his goods. He asked the king what fruit this vrat bestowed.
The king answered, 'This is the Satyanarayan Vrat, which grants children, wealth and the fulfilment of every wish.' The merchant, who was childless, said with folded hands, 'If I am blessed with a child, I shall surely perform this vrat.' Returning home, he told his wife Lilavati. In time, by the Lord's grace, a beautiful daughter was born to them and was named Kalavati.
When his wife reminded him of his vow, the merchant put it off, saying he would perform the vrat at the time of his daughter's marriage. The years passed; Kalavati grew up, and her father arranged her marriage to a worthy merchant's son. But absorbed in his trade and wealth, he again forgot the vrat he had promised. Displeased by this neglect of his word, Lord Satyanarayan resolved to remind him.
चतुर्थ अध्याय — साधु वैश्य पर विपत्ति और उद्धार
Soon after, the merchant Sadhu and his son-in-law travelled to the beautiful city of Ratnasarpur to trade, in the kingdom of King Chandraketu. By chance, a thief had stolen the king's treasure and, pursued by the guards, fled past their resting place leaving the goods there. The guards, finding the king's wealth near the two merchants, seized them as thieves and cast them into prison; their own goods were confiscated.
By the Lord's will, at the same time their wealth at home vanished too. Lilavati and Kalavati were reduced to great poverty, wandering for food. One day Kalavati came to a house where the Satyanarayan Vrat was being performed. She listened to the katha and returned home, and her mother, remembering their forgotten vow, resolved to perform the vrat at once. With deep devotion Lilavati performed the Satyanarayan puja and prayed, 'O Lord, forgive our offence and release my husband and son-in-law.'
Pleased by her devotion, Lord Satyanarayan appeared in a dream to King Chandraketu and commanded him to free the two innocent merchants and return their wealth. At dawn the king released them with honour and restored their goods doubled. The merchant understood that all his suffering had come from breaking his promise to the Lord, and he set out for home resolved to perform the vrat.
पंचम अध्याय — पत्तों की नौका और राजा तुंगध्वज
As the merchant sailed homeward, Lord Satyanarayan, in the guise of a wandering sadhu, asked him what his boat carried. Proud and careless, the merchant lied scornfully, 'Only dry leaves and creepers.' 'So be it,' said the sadhu, and vanished — and at once the rich cargo turned into mere leaves. Stunned, the merchant fell senseless; on recovering he understood the sadhu was the Lord Himself. He begged forgiveness with utmost humility, vowing to perform the vrat, and the Lord, ever merciful, restored his goods. Reaching home, the merchant and his family performed the Satyanarayan Vrat with great devotion and lived ever after in happiness.
In another age there was a king named Tungadhwaja who, returning from a hunt, came upon a group of cowherds (gopas) joyfully performing the Satyanarayan Vrat in the forest. In his pride the king neither honoured the Lord nor accepted the prasad they offered, and went away. Soon his hundred sons perished and his wealth and kingdom were destroyed. Realising that this ruin had come from slighting the Lord's prasad, the king hurried back to the cowherds, partook of the sacred offering with humility, and performed the vrat. By the grace of Satyanarayan, his sons and his prosperity were all restored.
Thus whoever performs or even listens to the Satyanarayan Vrat with faith is freed from sorrow, poverty and misfortune, and is blessed with wealth, progeny and well-being — attaining at last the abode of the Lord. 'Jai Satyanarayan Bhagwan ki Jai.'
व्रत का फल
श्रद्धापूर्वक सत्यनारायण व्रत करने या सुनने से विघ्न, ऋण और पारिवारिक कष्ट दूर होते हैं; संतान, धन और गृहशांति प्राप्त होती है; नए घर, व्यवसाय या विवाह जैसे शुभ आरंभ पवित्र होते हैं; और अंततः भक्त भगवान विष्णु के परमधाम को प्राप्त होता है।
इस पूजा के मंत्र व आरती
सामान्य प्रश्न
When should the Satyanarayan Vrat be performed?
It is most often performed on the Purnima (full moon), and also on Ekadashi, Kartik Purnima, or any auspicious or joyous occasion — a new home (griha pravesh), wedding, new business, or the fulfilment of a wish. There is no restriction; it may be done on any day with devotion.
What is offered as prasad in the Satyanarayan Puja?
The traditional prasad (sapadha bhog) is made from one and a quarter (sava) measures each of wheat semolina (sooji/rava), sugar, ghee, milk and ripe bananas, often with grated coconut and tulsi. It is offered to the Lord and shared among all present.
Is it enough to listen to the katha, or must one perform the full puja?
The scripture says that listening to the five-chapter katha with faith is itself highly fruitful, like performing the vrat. Ideally the katha is recited as part of the puja, but devotees who only hear it with devotion also receive the Lord's grace.
Which God is worshipped in the Satyanarayan Vrat?
Lord Satyanarayan — a form of Bhagavan Vishnu as 'the embodiment of Truth' (Satya + Narayan). The vrat honours Vishnu, so Vishnu mantras such as the Vishnu Sahasranama and the aarti Om Jai Jagdish Hare are recited with it.