The Test of the Ascetic and the Merchant's Redemption

Verse 1 (skanda.5.391.1)

सूत उवाच। यात्रां तु कृतवान् साधुर्मङ्गलायनपूर्विकाम्। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं दत्त्वा तदा तु नगरं ययौ॥

sūta uvāca| yātrāṁ tu kṛtavān sādhurmaṅgalāyanapūrvikām| brāhmaṇebhyo dhanaṁ dattvā tadā tu nagaraṁ yayau||

Suta said: The Sadhu undertook the journey with an auspicious departure; having given wealth to the brahmins, he then set off for his city.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.391.2)

कियद्दूरे गते साधौ सत्यनारायणः प्रभुः। जिज्ञासां कृतवान् साधो किमस्ति तव नौ स्थितम्॥

kiyaddūre gate sādhau satyanārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ| jijñāsāṁ kṛtavān sādho kimasti tava nau sthitam||

When the Sadhu had gone a little distance, Lord Satyanarayana, out of curiosity, asked: O Sadhu, what is kept in your boat?

Verse 3 (skanda.5.391.3)

ततो महाजनौ मत्तौ हेलया च प्रहस्य वै। कथं पृच्छसि भो दण्डिन्मुद्रां नेतुं किमिच्छसि॥

tato mahājanau mattau helayā ca prahasya vai| kathaṁ pṛcchasi bho daṇḍinmudrāṁ netuṁ kimicchasi||

Then those two proud, arrogant men, laughing dismissively, said: Why do you ask, O ascetic? Do you want money?

Verse 4 (skanda.5.391.4)

लतापत्रादिकं चैव वर्तते तरणौ मम। निष्ठुरं च वचः श्रुत्वा सत्यं भवतु ते वचः॥

latāpatrādikaṁ caiva vartate taraṇau mama| niṣṭhuraṁ ca vacaḥ śrutvā satyaṁ bhavatu te vacaḥ||

"In my boat there are only vines and leaves" - hearing this harsh reply, [the Lord said]: Let your words become true.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.391.5)

एवमुक्त्वा गतः शीघ्रं दण्डी तस्य समीपतः। कियद्दूरे ततो गत्वा स्थितः सिन्धुसमीपतः॥

evamuktvā gataḥ śīghraṁ daṇḍī tasya samīpataḥ| kiyaddūre tato gatvā sthitaḥ sindhusamīpataḥ||

Saying this, that ascetic quickly departed from their presence; going a little distance, he settled by the shore of the ocean.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.391.6)

गते दण्डिनि साधुश्च कृतनित्यक्रियस्तदा। उत्थितां तरणिं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं ययौ॥

gate daṇḍini sādhuśca kṛtanityakriyastadā| utthitāṁ taraṇiṁ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṁ paramaṁ yayau||

When the ascetic had gone, the Sadhu, having performed his daily rites, saw the boat riding high and light, and was struck with great astonishment.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.391.7)

दृष्ट्वा लतादिकं चैव मूर्छितो न्यपतद्भुवि। लब्धसंज्ञो वणिक्पुत्रस्ततश्चिन्तान्वितोऽभवत्॥

dṛṣṭvā latādikaṁ caiva mūrchito nyapatadbhuvi| labdhasaṁjño vaṇikputrastataścintānvito'bhavat||

Seeing only vines and leaves in it, he fainted and fell to the ground; regaining his senses, that merchant's son became filled with anxiety.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.391.8)

तदा तु दुहितुः कान्तो वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्। किमर्थं क्रियते शोकः शापो दत्तश्च दण्डिना॥

tadā tu duhituḥ kānto vacanaṁ cedamabravīt| kimarthaṁ kriyate śokaḥ śāpo dattaśca daṇḍinā||

Then his daughter's husband spoke these words: "Why do you grieve? This is the curse given by that ascetic."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.391.9)

शक्यते तेन सर्वं हि कर्तुं चात्र न संशयः। अतस्तच्छरणं यामो वाञ्छितार्थो भविष्यति॥

śakyate tena sarvaṁ hi kartuṁ cātra na saṁśayaḥ| atastaccharaṇaṁ yāmo vāñchitārtho bhaviṣyati||

"That ascetic is capable of doing anything - there is no doubt of that; therefore let us go to him for refuge - our desired end will be achieved."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.391.10)

जामातुर्वचनं श्रुत्वा तत्सकाशं गतस्तदा। दृष्ट्वा च दण्डिनं भक्त्या नत्वा प्रोवाच सादरम्॥

jāmāturvacanaṁ śrutvā tatsakāśaṁ gatastadā| dṛṣṭvā ca daṇḍinaṁ bhaktyā natvā provāca sādaram||

Having heard his son-in-law's words, he went to that ascetic; seeing him, he bowed with devotion and spoke respectfully.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.391.11)

क्षमस्व चापराधं मे यदुक्तं तव सन्निधौ। एवं पुनः पुनर्नत्वा महाशोकाकुलोऽभवत्॥

kṣamasva cāparādhaṁ me yaduktaṁ tava sannidhau| evaṁ punaḥ punarnatvā mahāśokākulo'bhavat||

"Forgive the offence I committed by what I said in your presence" - bowing again and again like this, he became overwhelmed with intense grief.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.391.12)

प्रोवाच वचनं दण्डी विलपन्तं विलोक्य च। मा रोदीः शृणु मद्वाक्यं मम पूजाबहिर्मुखः॥

provāca vacanaṁ daṇḍī vilapantaṁ vilokya ca| mā rodīḥ śṛṇu madvākyaṁ mama pūjābahirmukhaḥ||

Seeing him lamenting, the ascetic said: "Do not weep, listen to my words; you have turned away from my worship."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.391.13)

ममाज्ञया च दुर्बुद्धे लब्धं दुःखं मुहुर्मुहुः। तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवद्वाक्यं स्तुतिं कर्तुं समुद्यतः॥

mamājñayā ca durbuddhe labdhaṁ duḥkhaṁ muhurmuhuḥ| tacchrutvā bhagavadvākyaṁ stutiṁ kartuṁ samudyataḥ||

"O foolish one, by my own command you have received this suffering again and again" - hearing the Lord's words, he became ready to offer praise.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.391.14)

साधुरुवाच। त्वन्मायामोहिताः सर्वे ब्रह्माद्यास्त्रिदिवौकसः। न जानन्ति गुणान् रूपं तवाश्चर्यमिदं प्रभो॥

sādhuruvāca| tvanmāyāmohitāḥ sarve brahmādyāstridivaukasaḥ| na jānanti guṇān rūpaṁ tavāścaryamidaṁ prabho||

The Sadhu said: O Lord, by your illusion, even Brahma and all the gods are deluded; they too do not know this wondrous form and qualities of yours.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.391.15)

मूढोऽहं त्वां कथं जाने मोहितस्तव मायया। प्रसीद पूजयिष्यामि यथाविभवविस्तरैः॥

mūḍho'haṁ tvāṁ kathaṁ jāne mohitastava māyayā| prasīda pūjayiṣyāmi yathāvibhavavistaraiḥ||

How can I, a fool deluded by your illusion, know you? Be gracious, O lord - I shall worship you according to my means.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.391.16)

पुरा वित्तं च तत्सर्वं त्राहि मां शरणागतम्। श्रुत्वा भक्तियुतं वाक्यं परितुष्टो जनार्दनः॥

purā vittaṁ ca tatsarvaṁ trāhi māṁ śaraṇāgatam| śrutvā bhaktiyutaṁ vākyaṁ parituṣṭo janārdanaḥ||

"Restore to me all the wealth I had before; protect me, who have come for refuge" - hearing these devotion-filled words, Janardana became pleased.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.391.17)

वरं च वाञ्छितं दत्त्वा तत्रैवान्तर्दधे हरिः। ततो नौकां समारुह्य दृष्ट्वा वित्तप्रपूरिताम्॥

varaṁ ca vāñchitaṁ dattvā tatraivāntardadhe hariḥ| tato naukāṁ samāruhya dṛṣṭvā vittaprapūritām||

Granting the desired boon, the Lord vanished right there; then, boarding the boat and seeing it filled with wealth -

Verse 18 (skanda.5.391.18)

कृपया सत्यदेवस्य सफलं वाञ्छितं मम। इत्युक्त्वा स्वजनैः सार्धं पूजां कृत्वा यथाविधिम्॥

kṛpayā satyadevasya saphalaṁ vāñchitaṁ mama| ityuktvā svajanaiḥ sārdhaṁ pūjāṁ kṛtvā yathāvidhim||

"By the grace of Satyadeva my wish has been fulfilled" - saying this, he performed the worship duly, together with his kinsfolk.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.391.19)

हर्षेण चाभवत्पूर्णः सत्यदेवप्रसादतः। नावं संयोज्य यत्नेन स्वदेशगमनं कृतम्॥

harṣeṇa cābhavatpūrṇaḥ satyadevaprasādataḥ| nāvaṁ saṁyojya yatnena svadeśagamanaṁ kṛtam||

By the grace of Satyadeva he became filled with joy; carefully fitting out the boat, he set out for his own land.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.391.20)

साधुर्जामातरं प्राह पश्य रत्नपुरी मम। दूतं च प्रेषयामास निजवित्तस्य रक्षकम्॥

sādhurjāmātaraṁ prāha paśya ratnapurī mama| dūtaṁ ca preṣayāmāsa nijavittasya rakṣakam||

The Sadhu said to his son-in-law: "Look, that is my Ratnapuri." He sent the guardian of his wealth as a messenger to the city.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.391.21)

दूतोऽसौ नगरं गत्वा साधुभार्यां विलोक्य च। प्रोवाच वाञ्छितं वाक्यं नत्वा बद्धाञ्जलिस्तदा॥

dūto'sau nagaraṁ gatvā sādhubhāryāṁ vilokya ca| provāca vāñchitaṁ vākyaṁ natvā baddhāñjalistadā||

That messenger, going to the city and seeing the Sadhu's wife, bowed with joined hands and spoke the desired words.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.391.22)

निकटे नगरस्यैव जामात्रा सहितो वणिक्। आगतो बन्धुवर्गैश्च वित्तैश्च बहुभिर्युतः॥

nikaṭe nagarasyaiva jāmātrā sahito vaṇik| āgato bandhuvargaiśca vittaiśca bahubhiryutaḥ||

"The merchant, together with his son-in-law, has arrived near the city with much wealth and many kinsfolk."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.391.23)

श्रुत्वा दूतमुखाद्वाक्यं महाहर्षवती सती। सत्यपूजां ततः कृत्वा प्रोवाच तनुजां प्रति॥

śrutvā dūtamukhādvākyaṁ mahāharṣavatī satī| satyapūjāṁ tataḥ kṛtvā provāca tanujāṁ prati||

Hearing this from the messenger's mouth, that virtuous woman became exceedingly joyful; then, having worshipped Satyanarayana, she spoke to her daughter.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.391.24)

व्रजामि शीघ्रमागच्छ साधुसंदर्शनाय च। इति मातृवचः श्रुत्वा व्रतं कृत्वा समाप्य च॥

vrajāmi śīghramāgaccha sādhusaṁdarśanāya ca| iti mātṛvacaḥ śrutvā vrataṁ kṛtvā samāpya ca||

"I am going quickly; you too come soon to see the Sadhu" - hearing her mother's words, considering the vow finished,

Verse 25 (skanda.5.391.25)

प्रसादं च परित्यज्य गता सापि पतिं प्रति। तेन रुष्टः सत्यदेवो भर्तारं तरणिं तथा॥

prasādaṁ ca parityajya gatā sāpi patiṁ prati| tena ruṣṭaḥ satyadevo bhartāraṁ taraṇiṁ tathā||

without partaking of the sacred food, she went to her father; angered by this, Satyadeva caused the boat, along with her husband -

Verse 26 (skanda.5.391.26)

संहृत्य च धनैः सार्धं जले तस्यावमज्जयत्। ततः कलावती कन्या न विलोक्य निजं पतिम्॥

saṁhṛtya ca dhanaiḥ sārdhaṁ jale tasyāvamajjayat| tataḥ kalāvatī kanyā na vilokya nijaṁ patim||

to be gathered up, wealth and all, and sunk in the water; then the girl Kalavati, not seeing her husband,

Verse 27 (skanda.5.391.27)

शोकेन महता तत्र रुदती चापतद्भुवि। दृष्ट्वा तथाविधां नावं कन्यां च बहुदुःखिताम्॥

śokena mahatā tatra rudatī cāpatadbhuvi| dṛṣṭvā tathāvidhāṁ nāvaṁ kanyāṁ ca bahuduḥkhitām||

fell to the ground there, weeping with great sorrow; seeing the boat in that state and the girl in such distress -

Verse 28 (skanda.5.391.28)

भीतेन मनसा साधुः किमाश्चर्यमिदं भवेत्। चिन्त्यमानाश्च ते सर्वे बभूवुस्तरिवाहकाः॥

bhītena manasā sādhuḥ kimāścaryamidaṁ bhavet| cintyamānāśca te sarve babhūvustarivāhakāḥ||

the Sadhu, with a frightened heart, said: "What wonder has happened here?" All the boatmen too became filled with anxiety.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.391.29)

ततो लीलावती कन्यां दृष्ट्वा सा विह्वलाभवत्। विललापातिदुःखेन भर्तारं चेदमब्रवीत्॥

tato līlāvatī kanyāṁ dṛṣṭvā sā vihvalābhavat| vilalāpātiduḥkhena bhartāraṁ cedamabravīt||

Then Lilavati, seeing her daughter in this state, became distraught; wailing with great sorrow, she spoke to her husband.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.391.30)

इदानीं नौकया सार्धं कथं सोऽभूदलक्षितः। न जाने कस्य देवस्य हेलया चैव सा हृता॥

idānīṁ naukayā sārdhaṁ kathaṁ so'bhūdalakṣitaḥ| na jāne kasya devasya helayā caiva sā hṛtā||

"How has he now vanished, boat and all - I do not know; by whose god's disregard has he been taken away?"

Verse 31 (skanda.5.391.31)

सत्यदेवस्य माहात्म्यं ज्ञातुं वा केन शक्यते। इत्युक्त्वा विललापैव ततश्च स्वजनैः सह॥

satyadevasya māhātmyaṁ jñātuṁ vā kena śakyate| ityuktvā vilalāpaiva tataśca svajanaiḥ saha||

"Who indeed can know the greatness of Satyadeva?" - saying this, she began to lament together with her kinsfolk.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.391.32)

ततो लीलावती कन्यां क्रोडे कृत्वा रुरोद ह। ततः कलावती कन्या नष्टे स्वामिनि दुःखिता॥

tato līlāvatī kanyāṁ kroḍe kṛtvā ruroda ha| tataḥ kalāvatī kanyā naṣṭe svāmini duḥkhitā||

Then Lilavati, taking her daughter into her lap, wept aloud; the girl Kalavati too, having lost her husband, became exceedingly grieved.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.391.33)

गृहीत्वा पादुकां तस्या अनुगन्तुं च मनो दधे। कन्यायाश्चरितं दृष्ट्वा सभार्यः सज्जनो वणिक्॥

gṛhītvā pādukāṁ tasyā anugantuṁ ca mano dadhe| kanyāyāścaritaṁ dṛṣṭvā sabhāryaḥ sajjano vaṇik||

Taking her husband's sandals, she resolved to follow after him; seeing his daughter's state, that honest merchant, together with his wife -

Verse 34 (skanda.5.391.34)

अतिशोकेन सन्तप्तश्चिन्तयामास धर्मवित्। हृतं वा सत्यदेवेन भ्रान्तोऽहं सत्यमायया॥

atiśokena santaptaścintayāmāsa dharmavit| hṛtaṁ vā satyadevena bhrānto'haṁ satyamāyayā||

became consumed with grief, and being righteous, began to think: "Has this indeed been taken away by Satyadeva? I am bewildered by the illusion of Truth."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.391.35)

सत्यपूजां करिष्यामि यथाविभवविस्तरैः। इति सर्वान्समाहूय कथयित्वा मनोरथम्॥

satyapūjāṁ kariṣyāmi yathāvibhavavistaraiḥ| iti sarvānsamāhūya kathayitvā manoratham||

"I shall worship Satyadeva according to my means" - saying this, he called everyone together and told them his intention.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.391.36)

नत्वा च दण्डवद्भूमौ सत्यदेवं पुनः पुनः। ततस्तुष्टः सत्यदेवो दीनानां परिपालकः॥

natvā ca daṇḍavadbhūmau satyadevaṁ punaḥ punaḥ| tatastuṣṭaḥ satyadevo dīnānāṁ paripālakaḥ||

Prostrating repeatedly on the ground before Satyadeva, and by this homage, Satyadeva, protector of the afflicted, became pleased.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.391.37)

जगाद वचनं चैनं कृपया भक्तवत्सलः। त्यक्त्वा प्रसादं ते कन्या पतिं द्रष्टुं समागता॥

jagāda vacanaṁ cainaṁ kṛpayā bhaktavatsalaḥ| tyaktvā prasādaṁ te kanyā patiṁ draṣṭuṁ samāgatā||

The Lord, gracious to his devotees, spoke these words with compassion: "Your daughter, forsaking the sacred food, came to see her husband -

Verse 38 (skanda.5.391.38)

अतोऽदृष्टोऽभवत्तस्याः कन्यकायाः पतिर्ध्रुवम्। गृहं गत्वा प्रसादं च भुक्त्वा सायाति चेत्पुनः॥

ato'dṛṣṭo'bhavattasyāḥ kanyakāyāḥ patirdhruvam| gṛhaṁ gatvā prasādaṁ ca bhuktvā sāyāti cetpunaḥ||

for this reason her husband has surely become invisible; if she goes home, partakes of the sacred food, and returns again,

Verse 39 (skanda.5.391.39)

लब्धभर्त्री सुता साधो भविष्यति न संशयः। कन्यका तादृशं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा गगनमण्डलात्॥

labdhabhartrī sutā sādho bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ| kanyakā tādṛśaṁ vākyaṁ śrutvā gaganamaṇḍalāt||

then, O Sadhu, your daughter shall without doubt regain her husband." Having heard these words from the sky, the girl,

Verse 40 (skanda.5.391.40)

क्षिप्रं तदा गृहं गत्वा प्रसादं च बुभोज सा। सा पश्चात्पुनरागत्य ददर्श स्वजनं पतिम्॥

kṣipraṁ tadā gṛhaṁ gatvā prasādaṁ ca bubhoja sā| sā paścātpunarāgatya dadarśa svajanaṁ patim||

quickly went home and partook of the sacred food; then, returning again, she saw her own husband and kinsfolk.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.391.41)

ततः कलावती कन्या जगाद पितरं प्रति। इदानीं च गृहं याहि विलम्बं कुरुषे कथम्॥

tataḥ kalāvatī kanyā jagāda pitaraṁ prati| idānīṁ ca gṛhaṁ yāhi vilambaṁ kuruṣe katham||

Then the girl Kalavati said to her father: "Now let us go home - why are you delaying?"

Verse 42 (skanda.5.391.42)

तच्छ्रुत्वा कन्यकावाक्यं सन्तुष्टोऽभूद्वणिक्सुतः। पूजनं सत्यदेवस्य कृत्वा विधिविधानतः॥

tacchrutvā kanyakāvākyaṁ santuṣṭo'bhūdvaṇiksutaḥ| pūjanaṁ satyadevasya kṛtvā vidhividhānataḥ||

Hearing his daughter's words, that merchant's son became greatly pleased; having worshipped Satyadeva according to the proper rites,

Verse 43 (skanda.5.391.43)

धनैर्बन्धुगणैः सार्धं जगाम निजमन्दिरम्। पौर्णमास्यां च सङ्क्रान्तौ कृतवान्सत्यपूजनम्॥

dhanairbandhugaṇaiḥ sārdhaṁ jagāma nijamandiram| paurṇamāsyāṁ ca saṅkrāntau kṛtavānsatyapūjanam||

he went home with his wealth and his kinsfolk; on the days of the full moon and the solstice, he continued to worship Satyanarayana.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.391.44)

इहलोके सुखं भुक्त्वा चान्ते सत्यपुरं ययौ॥

ihaloke sukhaṁ bhuktvā cānte satyapuraṁ yayau||

Having enjoyed happiness in this world, he at last attained Satyapura (Vaikuntha).