प्रसन्नवदनं शांतं सनकाद्यैरभिष्टुतम्
With a pleasant face, peaceful, praised by Sanaka and others.
नादि मध्यान्तदेवाय निर्गुणाय महात्मने
To the god without beginning, middle, or end, attributeless, great-souled.
सर्वेषामादिभूताय लोकानामुपकारिणे
To the prime origin of all, the benefactor of the worlds.
सूत उवाच इति श्रुत्वा स्तुतिं विष्णुर्नारदं प्रत्यभाषत
Sūta said: Having heard this praise, Viṣṇu replied to Nārada.
कथयस्व महाभाग तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते
Tell me, O highly fortunate one; I will recount everything to you.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा साधुसाध्वित्यपूजयत्
Hearing Nārada’s words, he honored him, saying, 'Excellent, excellent.'
कृते त्रेतायुगे विष्णुर्द्वापरेऽनेकरूपधृक्
In the Kṛta and Tretā ages, Viṣṇu; in Dvāpara, he assumes many forms.
चतुष्पादो हि धर्मश्च तस्य सत्यं प्रसाधनम्
Dharma stands on four legs, and for him, truth is the foundation.
सत्यनारायणव्रतमतः श्रेष्ठतमं स्मृतम्
Therefore, the vow of Satyanārāyaṇa is remembered as the most excellent.
किं फलं किं विधानं च सत्यनारायणार्चने 3.2.24.
What is the fruit, and what is the procedure, in the worship of Satyanārāyaṇa?
शृणु संक्षेपतो ह्येतत्कथयामि तवाग्रतः
Listen briefly to this; I will tell it before you.
निर्धनोपि धनाढ्यः स्यादपुत्रः पुत्रवान्भवेत्
Even the poor become wealthy, and the childless gain children.
मुच्यते बंधनाद्बद्धो निर्भयः स्याद्भयातुरः
One bound is released from bondage; the fearful becomes fearless.
इह जन्मनि भो विप्र भक्त्या च विधिनार्चयेत्
In this very birth, O brāhmaṇa, one should worship with devotion and proper method.
प्रातःस्नायी शुचिर्भूत्वा दंतधावनपूर्व कम्
Having bathed in the morning, becoming pure, and after brushing the teeth,
नारायणं सांद्रघनावदातं चतुर्भुजं पीतमहार्हवाससम्
Nārāyaṇa, radiant as a dense white cloud, four-armed, clad in yellow, precious garments.
करोमि ते व्रतं देव सायंकाले त्वदर्चनम्
I perform your vow, O Lord, and worship you in the evening.
इति संकल्प्य मनसा सायंकाले प्रपूजयेत्
Thus resolving in mind, one should worship in the evening.
शालग्रामं स्वर्णयुक्तं पूजयेदात्मसूक्तकैः
One should worship the Śālagrāma, adorned with gold, with hymns of the self.
ॐनमो भगवते नित्यं सत्यदेवाय धीमहि 3.2.24.
Om, obeisance to the Blessed One, we contemplate the eternal Lord of Truth.
जप्तव्यष्टोत्तरशतं जुहुयात्तद्दशांशकम्
One should recite it one hundred and eight times, and offer one tenth of that in oblations.
षडध्यायीं सत्यमुख्यां तत्पश्चात्तत्प्रसादकम्
Afterward, one should recite the six chapters, which are chiefly about truth, and which bring about its grace.
आचार्यायादिभागं च द्वितीयं स्वकुलाय सः
The first portion is for the teacher and others; the second is for one's own family.
विप्रेभ्यो भोजनं दद्यात्स्वयं भुञ्जीत वाग्यतः
One should give food to the Brahmins, and then eat oneself, observing restraint in speech.
कारयेद्यदि भक्त्या च श्रद्धया च समन्वितः
If one performs it with devotion and is endowed with faith,
इह जन्मकृतं कर्म परजन्मनि पद्यते
The actions performed in this birth bear fruit in the next birth.
सत्यनारायण व्रतमिह सर्वान्कामान्ददाति हि
The Satyanarayana vow here truly grants all desires.
इत्युक्त्ंवाऽतर्दधे देवो नारदः स्वर्गतिं ययौ
Having spoken thus, the god vanished; Narada went to heaven.
इतिहासमिमं वक्ष्ये संवादं हरिविप्रयोः
I will now relate this history, the dialogue between Hari and the Brahmin.
काशीपुरीति विख्याता तत्रासीद्ब्राह्मणो वरः
In the renowned city of Kashi, there was an excellent Brahmin.