Shri Satyanarayan Katha — Complete with Meaning
The Shri Satyanarayan Katha is the story of worshipping Lord Vishnu in his form as Satyanarayan — the Lord of Truth. Drawn from the Reva Khanda of the Skanda Purana, it unfolds in five chapters. It is read and heard on Purnima, Sankranti, house-warming, marriage, birth, or on fulfilling a vow. Tradition holds that merely listening with faith destroys sins and fulfils desires.
|| Doha ||
Jai Satyanarayan prabhu, satya sanatan roop | Jo sune padhe yah katha, mite dukh ka dhoop ||
Ek baar Narad ji ne Bhagavan Vishnu se puchha — He Prabhu! Manushya ke dukh aur paap ka naash kis upaay se ho? Vishnu ne kaha — Satyanarayan ki katha se | Jo shraddha se sune, uski sab manokamna poori ho ||
Ek nirdhan Brahman nagar mein bhatakta tha | Bhookha-pyaasa, dukhi aur chintit rehta tha | Swayam Vishnu vriddh roop dharkar aaye, Katha ka vrat lene ka maarg bataaye ||
Brahman ne vrat kiya, katha sunaai | Prasad baanta, parivaar mein khushhaali aayi | Santan mili, dhan-dhaanya bharapur | Satyanarayan ki kripa se sab dukh door ||
Raja Ulkamurkh ne bhi yah katha suni | Shraddha se pooja ki, manokamna poori | Leelawati aur Kalawati ko putri mili | Satya ke pratap se sab ichha poori ||
Sadhu Vanik ne vrat ka sankalp liya | Par ghar lautkar bhool gaya, prasad nahin diya | Patni-putri se dukh ki aandhi aayi | Tab yaad aaya — katha ki sacchayi ||
Pashchatap kiya, phir katha karvaai | Prasad chadhaya, Satyanarayan ko manaai | Putri aur damaad ka kaaraagaar chhoota | Satya ke saamne jhooth ka bandhan toota ||
|| Doha ||
Jo Satyanarayan ka, shraddha se kare poojan | Manokamna poorn ho, mile sukh aur mokshan ||
Meaning
Doha
Jai Satyanarayan prabhu, satya sanatan roop | Jo sune padhe yah katha, mite dukh ka dhoop ||
Victory to Lord Satyanarayan, the eternal form of Truth. Whoever reads or hears this katha — may all their sorrows be destroyed.
Verse 1
Ek baar Narad ji ne Bhagavan Vishnu se puchha — He Prabhu! Manushya ke dukh aur paap ka naash kis upaay se ho? Vishnu ne kaha — Satyanarayan ki katha se | Jo shraddha se sune, uski sab manokamna poori ho ||
Once Narad asked Lord Vishnu — O Lord, how can human sorrows and sins be destroyed? Vishnu replied — through the Satyanarayan Katha; whoever hears it with faith, all their wishes are fulfilled.
Verse 2
Ek nirdhan Brahman nagar mein bhatakta tha | Bhookha-pyaasa, dukhi aur chintit rehta tha | Swayam Vishnu vriddh roop dharkar aaye, Katha ka vrat lene ka maarg bataaye ||
A poor Brahmin wandered through the city — hungry, thirsty and sorrowful. Vishnu himself appeared in the form of an old man and showed him the path of the Satyanarayan vrat-katha.
Verse 3
Brahman ne vrat kiya, katha sunaai | Prasad baanta, parivaar mein khushhaali aayi | Santan mili, dhan-dhaanya bharapur | Satyanarayan ki kripa se sab dukh door ||
The Brahmin kept the fast, narrated the katha, and distributed prasad. Happiness filled his home — he was blessed with children and abundance. By Satyanarayan's grace, all sorrows departed.
Verse 4
Raja Ulkamurkh ne bhi yah katha suni | Shraddha se pooja ki, manokamna poori | Leelawati aur Kalawati ko putri mili | Satya ke pratap se sab ichha poori ||
King Ulkamurkh also heard the katha and worshipped with devotion. Leelawati and Kalawati were blessed with a daughter. By the power of Truth, all wishes were fulfilled.
Verse 5
Sadhu Vanik ne vrat ka sankalp liya | Par ghar lautkar bhool gaya, prasad nahin diya | Patni-putri se dukh ki aandhi aayi | Tab yaad aaya — katha ki sacchayi ||
The merchant Sadhu Vanik took a vow but forgot upon returning home — he did not offer prasad. As a result, suffering came upon his wife and daughter. Only then did he remember the truth of the katha.
Verse 6
Pashchatap kiya, phir katha karvaai | Prasad chadhaya, Satyanarayan ko manaai | Putri aur damaad ka kaaraagaar chhoota | Satya ke saamne jhooth ka bandhan toota ||
He repented, performed the katha again, and offered prasad. Satyanarayan was pleased — his daughter and son-in-law were freed from prison. Before Truth, the bonds of falsehood were broken.
Doha
Jo Satyanarayan ka, shraddha se kare poojan | Manokamna poorn ho, mile sukh aur mokshan ||
Whoever worships Satyanarayan with faith — may their wishes be fulfilled, and may they receive happiness and liberation.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
When should Satyanarayan Puja be done?
On Purnima (full moon), Sankranti, house-warming, marriage, birth, starting a business, or on fulfilling a vow. Thursdays and Purnima days are considered especially auspicious.
What materials are needed for Satyanarayan Puja?
Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar), panjiri or atta prasad (flour, ghee, sugar), banana, tulsi, flowers, diya, incense, kalash, yellow cloth and coconut. A priest is not required.
Can unmarried people perform Satyanarayan Katha?
Yes, unmarried people can also perform this katha. There is no restriction. It can be done by any family member or alone. What matters is sincere faith and devotion.