CHAPTER 4

 CHAPTER 4

Saadhu and son-in-law loaded their boat with riches given to them by the king and sailed homeward. Lord Sathyanaaraayana wanted to test Saadhu further. He took the form of an ascetic with a trident, appeared before Saadhu, and asked him what he was carrying in his boat. Without realizing that the ascetic was indeed Lord Naaraayana in disguise, Saadhu laughed mockingly and said, " You brahmin, were you thinking of stealing my things? We do not have any valuables in the boat except vessels." Whereupon Bhagawaan Naaraayana replied, “Oh, Saadhu, so be it.” The ascetic then departed in great haste and stood by the seashore. When Saadhu went to his boat, he discovered to his horror that the boat was filled with vessels just as he had falsely told the ascetic. Saadhu swooned at the sight, but he was revived by his son-in-law who spoke: "This must be the curse of the ascetic. He must be a mystic. Let us go to him and ask his forgiveness." The two merchants then went to the seashore where the ascetic was meditating. They fell at his feet and repeatedly begged for his forgiveness.

Pleased by Saadhu's devotion, the Lord said, " Saadhu, do not weep. You suffer because you have broken your promise time and again." On hearing this Saadhu prayed to God, "Oh Bhagawaan, even Brahma and other Devaas drowned in your Maayaa, cannot comprehend your various forms. How can I, with my limited knowledge, comprehend your various forms? I pray according to my limited knowledge. Please show me your true form and bless me. Upon hearing his prayer, God was pleased and granted his wishes, restoring his merchandise in the boat, and disappeared. The two merchants then joyfully sailed homeward. On reaching their hometown, they sent a messenger to their wives informing them of their safe arrival.

At that time, Leelaavathi and Kalaavathi were performing Sathyanaaraayana Pooja. Leelaavathi quickly finished the Pooja and asked her daughter to do so. She then hurried to the seashore to meet her husband. Kalaavathi, in her eagerness to meet her husband, forgot to eat the prasaad and rushed to the seashore. This action of hers angered Lord Sathyanaaraayana. He caused the ship and her husband to drown in the sea. Not finding her husband, Kalaavathi started weeping. All were wonderstruck and frightened. Saadhu was at a loss to know what to do. Thinking that it was Bhagawaan Naaraayana's Maayaa, he announced to everybody that he would perform Sathyanaaraayana Pooja and prayed to Bhagawaan Naaraayana again and again. At this, Bhagawaan Sathyanaaraayana, the savior of the sinners, was very pleased and said, Oh Saadhu, your daughter did not eat the prasaad in her haste to see her husband, so I made him, and the boat disappear. Let her go home, take the prasaad and return. On hearing this, Kalaavathi rushed home and took the prasaad. When she returned to the seashore, she found to her joy her husband and the boat. Saadhu then returned home happily with his relatives and performed the Sathyanaaraayana Pooja every full-moon day. With God's grace, he enjoyed all the comforts in this world and finally attained salvation.