Satyanarayan Katha Chapter 4: The Boat of Leaves and Kalavati's Haste

The fourth chapter shows the large consequences of two small faults: a lie, and one moment of disrespect to prasad.

The sannyasi and the lie

After auspicious prayers and gifts to the Brahmins, the merchant Sadhu began his journey home. A little way on, Lord Satyanarayan, to test him, took the form of a sannyasi with a staff and asked: "Merchant, what is in your boat?"

Puffed up with pride in his wealth, Sadhu laughed: "Why do you ask, holy man? Do you want money? My boat is full of creepers and leaves."

Hearing these harsh words, the sannyasi said: "May your words be true." So saying, he went a little way off and sat on the seashore.

Leaves in the boat

After the sannyasi left, Sadhu finished his daily rites and saw that the boat was riding high and light. In surprise he looked inside: it really was full of creepers and leaves; all the wealth was gone. He fainted. When he came to, he began to lament.

His son-in-law said: "Why grieve? This is the sannyasi's curse; he can do anything, no doubt of it. Let us take refuge in him; there our wish will be fulfilled."

Asking forgiveness

Sadhu went to the sannyasi, bowed with devotion and said respectfully: "Forgive me for the untruth I told you." So saying, he bowed again and again and wept.

The Lord as the sannyasi said: "Son of a merchant, do not weep; listen. Because you turned away from my worship, by my will you have suffered again and again." Sadhu praised Him: "Lord, even Brahma and the gods, deluded by Your maya, do not know Your qualities and form; how could a fool like me? Be gracious; I will worship You as I am able. Protect me and restore my wealth as before."

Hearing his devoted words, the Lord was pleased, granted his wish and vanished. Returning to the boat, Sadhu found it full of wealth. He acknowledged the Lord's grace, worshipped Him properly with his companions and joyfully set off for home.

Reaching home, and Kalavati's haste

Near the city Sadhu said to his son-in-law: "Look, this is my city Ratnapuri." He sent a messenger home with news of his arrival and his wealth. The messenger bowed to Lilavati and said: "The master has arrived near the city with his son-in-law and great wealth."

Overjoyed, Lilavati finished the Satyanarayan worship and said to her daughter: "I am going to see my husband; finish your work and come quickly." Kalavati too was at worship. Hearing her mother, in her eagerness to meet her husband she left the prasad without accepting it and ran to see him.

The boat sinks

Displeased at the disrespect to prasad, the Lord sank her husband in the water with the boat and its wealth. Not seeing her husband on the shore, Kalavati fell weeping to the ground. Seeing the boat gone and his daughter weeping, Sadhu said sorrowfully: "Lord, forgive whatever fault I or my family have committed."

Kalavati resolved to take her husband's sandals and follow him in death. Then a voice from the sky said: "Sadhu, your daughter left my prasad, so her husband has vanished. If she goes home, accepts the prasad and returns, she will surely find her husband."

Accepting prasad and the reunion

Hearing the voice, Kalavati hurried home, accepted the prasad with faith and came back. There she saw her husband with the boat and the wealth. Joyfully she said to her father: "Let us go home now; why delay?" Sadhu happily worshipped Satyanarayan with his relatives as prescribed, and from that day kept the vow on every Purnima and Sankranti. He enjoyed happiness in this world and at the end went to Satyapura, Vaikuntha.

What this chapter teaches

• Even a small lie can bring great trouble; do not lie out of pride in wealth.
• God may test us in any form; speak to everyone with respect.
• Prasad is God's blessing; it should not be disrespected even in haste.
• Admitting a mistake and sincerely asking forgiveness sets everything right.