Listen, and I will tell you briefly of this sacred practice. Through it, even the poor find prosperity, and those without children are blessed with offspring. The bound are freed from their bonds, and the fearful become fearless. In this very life, O brāhmaṇa, one should worship with devotion and proper method. One should rise in the morning, bathe, purify oneself, and cleanse the teeth. Then, with a pure heart, one should worship Nārāyaṇa—radiant as a dense white cloud, four-armed, adorned in yellow, precious garments. With this resolve, one should worship the Lord both in the morning and again in the evening, offering heartfelt devotion: “O Lord, I perform Your vow and worship You at dusk.” The Śālagrāma stone, adorned with gold, should be reverently worshipped with hymns of the self. One should recite the mantra, “Om, obeisance to the Blessed One; we contemplate the eternal Lord of Truth,” one hundred and eight times, and then offer one-tenth that number in oblations. Thereafter, one should recite the six chapters that chiefly expound the truth and bring about its grace. The first portion of the offerings is to be given to the teacher and others, the second to one’s own family. Food should be offered to the Brahmins before one partakes, all the while observing restraint in speech. If this vow is performed with devotion and faith, the actions done in this life bear fruit in the next. Truly, the Satyanarayana vow here grants all desires. Having thus spoken, the divine being vanished, and Nārada returned to heaven. Now, let me relate the history, the dialogue between Hari and the Brahmin. In the renowned city of Kashi lived an excellent Brahmin named Shatananda, devoted to the vow of Vishnu. Humble and exceedingly peaceful, he appeared before the Lord. The Lord asked him, “Where are you going, best of Brahmins? Tell me, if you wish, what is your livelihood?” Shatananda replied, “I am going to the doors of the wealthy to seek the best wealth. This is the means to obtain wealth in the Kali age.” Then Hari, the compassionate one, instructed him: “O Brahmin, worship Satyanarayana as I have said. Take refuge at the lotus feet of the Lord, the giver of liberation.” Thus enlightened by Hari’s words, the Brahmin understood. The Lord continued, “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.” Gathering the materials for worship, for the benefit of the world, the Brahmin beheld the Supreme Person—clad in yellow garments, with eyes like fresh lotus flowers, smiling gently. Hearing and seeing this, Shatananda’s body thrilled with joy, and his eyes were filled with love. He bowed and said, “I bow to the Lord of the universe, the cause of all creation, who, though unmanifest, has become manifest, liberator from the threefold suffering. Salutations to the true Nārāyaṇa, creator and sustainer of the universe, pure of soul. Blessed am I today—my life is fulfilled! By destiny this has happened; I do not know whose merit has borne this fruit. Worship must be performed for the Lord of the worlds, the consort of Lakṣmī.” Hari then spoke to him sweetly, smiling and enchanting the universe: “With whatever is easily obtained, and with mere faith, worship Me.