पृच्छन्ति विनयेनैव सूतं पौराणिकं खलु
They respectfully question the bard, the reciter of the Purāṇas.
भगवन्ब्रूहि लोकानां हितार्थाय चतुर्युगे
O revered one, speak for the welfare of the worlds in the four ages.
विनायासेन वै कामं प्राप्नुयुर्मानवाः शुभम्
May humans attain auspiciousness without exertion, as they desire.
जगत्त्राणहेतुं रिपौ धूम्रकेतुं सदा सत्यनारायणं स्तौमि देवम्
For the protection of the world, against the enemy Dhūmraketu, I always praise the god Satyanārāyaṇa.
श्रीरामं सहलक्ष्मणं सकरुणं सीतान्वितं सात्त्विकं वैदेहीमुखपद्मलुब्धमधुपं पौलस्त्यसंहारकम्
I praise Śrī Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa, compassionate, accompanied by Sītā, pure, the bee attracted to the lotus-face of Vaidehī, destroyer of the Paulastya.
कलिकलुषविनाशं कामसिद्धिप्रकाशं सुरवरमुखभासं भूसुरेण प्रकाशम्
Destroyer of the impurity of Kali, manifestor of the fulfillment of desires, shining among the foremost of gods, radiant through the Brahmin.
एकदा नारदो योगी परानुग्रहवांच्छया
Once, Nārada the yogi, desiring to bestow supreme grace,
तत्र दृष्ट्वा जनान्सर्वान्नानाक्लेशसमन्वितान्
There, seeing all people afflicted with various sufferings,
केनोपायेन चैतेषां दुःखनाशो भवेद्ध्रुवम्
By what means could the destruction of their suffering surely occur?
तत्र नारायणं देवं शुक्लवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् 3.2.24.
There, the god Nārāyaṇa appeared, white in color, four-armed.
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.