With a gentle, radiant countenance, tranquil and full of peace, the great Lord was praised by Sanaka and the other sages. They offered their reverence to the god who has no beginning, no middle, and no end—the one who is beyond all attributes, whose soul is vast and boundless. To this prime origin of all existence, the benefactor of the worlds, their praises were directed. Sūta then spoke: Having heard these heartfelt praises, Viṣṇu turned to Nārada and replied, “Tell me, O highly fortunate one; I will recount everything to you.” Upon hearing Nārada’s words, Viṣṇu honored him, saying, “Excellent, excellent.” Viṣṇu explained, “In the Kṛta and Tretā ages, I am worshipped as Viṣṇu; in Dvāpara, I assume many forms. In these ages, Dharma stands firmly on four legs, and for me, truth is its foundation. Therefore, the vow of Satyanārāyaṇa is remembered as the most excellent among vows.” Nārada then asked, “What is the fruit, and what is the procedure, in the worship of Satyanārāyaṇa?” Viṣṇu replied, “Listen briefly, and I will tell you. Even the poor become wealthy, and the childless gain children. One who is bound is released from bondage; the fearful become fearless. In this very birth, O brāhmaṇa, one should worship with devotion and proper method. “After bathing in the morning, becoming pure, and brushing the teeth, one should worship Nārāyaṇa, who shines like a dense white cloud, four-armed, and clad in precious yellow garments. With this resolve in mind, one should worship the Lord in the evening, performing the Satyanārāyaṇa vow. “One should worship the Śālagrāma, adorned with gold, and offer hymns of the self. Chant: ‘Om, obeisance to the Blessed One, we contemplate the eternal Lord of Truth.’ Recite this one hundred and eight times, and offer one tenth of that number in oblations. Thereafter, recite the six chapters, which are chiefly about truth and bring about its grace. “The first portion of offerings is for the teacher and others; the second is for one’s own family. One should give food to the Brahmins, and then eat oneself, observing restraint in speech. If one performs this vow with devotion and faith, the actions performed in this birth bear fruit in the next. The Satyanārāyaṇa vow truly grants all desires.” Having spoken thus, the god vanished, and Narada ascended to heaven. Sūta continued, “I will now relate this history—the dialogue between Hari and the Brahmin. In the renowned city of Kashi, there lived an excellent Brahmin named Shatananda, devoted to the vow of Vishnu. Humble and exceedingly peaceful, he appeared before the eyes. ‘Where are you going, best of Brahmins? Tell me your livelihood, if you wish,’ Hari asked. Shatananda replied, ‘I am going to the doors of the wealthy to ask for the best wealth. This is the particular means for obtaining wealth in the Kali age.’ Hari said, ‘O Brahmin, by my instruction, worship Satyanārāyaṇa. Go to the lotus-eyed one’s feet for refuge, the giver of liberation.’ Thus addressed by Hari, the compassionate one, the Brahmin was enlightened. Hari then revealed, ‘Now, in the form of a Brahmin, I have come before you. For those immersed in the ocean of sorrow, the feet of Hari are the means to cross.’ Having gathered the materials for worship, O twice-born, for the benefit of the world, as Shatananda spoke thus, he beheld the Supreme Person.