CHAPTER3

 CHAPTER 3

Maharishi Sootha continued: " Oh, best of ascetics, I will now tell you the story further. In the olden days there lived a wise king by the name Ulkaamukha. He had mastered all his senses and always spoke the truth. He used to go to the temple every day and give gifts to the brahmins. His lotus-faced wife was a pure and pious woman. One day, the royal couple was performing the Sathyanaraayana Pooja on the banks of the river Bhadrasheela. At that time, a merchant called Saadhu sailed by. Seeing the king perform some Pooja, Saadhu stopped his boat, got off, and addressed the king humbly: "Oh, King, would you tell me what you are doing with such devotion and concentration?" The king replied, "Oh, Saadhu, I have no children. In order that I may be blessed with children, I am worshipping the Almighty Bhagawaan Sathyanaaraayana." On hearing this Saadhu spoke humbly: "Oh, King, please tell me how to perform the Pooja. I would like to observe the Vratha, as I too have no children." The king told him all the details. Saadhu returned home and with great joy told his wife, Leelaavathi, that they should perform Sathyanaaraayana Pooja which will fulfill their desire to have children. He then resolved to perform the Pooja after the child was born. Then by divine grace, Saadhu's wife conceived and in due course, a beautiful daughter was born to them. They named the child Kalaavathi.

One day, Leelaavathi reminded her husband of his promise to perform Pooja. Sadhu told his wife that he would do the Pooja at the time of his daughter's wedding and got busy with his work. In the meantime, Kalaavathi grew up and blossomed into a lovely girl. Saadhu sent out messengers to find a suitable bridegroom for his daughter. One of his messengers found a good-natured and handsome boy from Kaanchana Nagar. Saadhu found the boy to be a suitable match for Kalaavathi and celebrated his daughter's wedding with great pomp and show. But Saadhu completely forgot about the Sathyanaaraayana Pooja and thus angered Bhagawaan Sathyanaaraayana.

Then one day Saadhu went on a business trip with his son-in-law. He stopped to trade at Ratnapura that was ruled by King Chandraketu. Bhagawaan Sathyanaaraayana placed a curse on Saadhu. One day some thieves robbed the king's treasury and ran away. The king's soldiers followed them in hot pursuit. The frightened thieves threw all the loot near Saadhu and escaped. Finding the king's treasure near Saadhu and his son-in-law, the king's soldiers arrested them and brought them before the king. The king ordered them to be chained and thrown into prison. Because of Bhagawaan Naaraayana's maayaa, nobody even listened to what Saadhu had to say in his defense. King Chandraketu also had their merchandise confiscated. Bhagawaan Naaraayana's curse did not spare Saadhu’s wife either. Some robbers broke into her house and Leelaavathi lost everything.

 One day, Kalaavathi was very hungry and ran out of the house. She wandered here and there and stopped at a house where Sathyanaaraayana Pooja was being performed. She stayed at that place until the Pooja was finished and ate the prasaad that was offered. When she reached home, it was late at night. Leelaavathi asked her where she had been. Kalaavathi told her mother that she was listening to Sathyanaaraayana Katha in somebody’s house. Leelaavathi at once remembered her husband's promise to perform the Pooja and resolved to observe Sathyanaaraayana Vratha herself. She collected all her relatives and friends and prayed to Lord Sathyanaaraayana, to forgive their sins.

Lord Sathyanaaraayana was pleased with Leelaavathi's prayers. He appeared before King Chandraketu in his dream and told him to release the two merchants from prison as they were not the real thieves. If the king failed to do so, Lord Naaraayana warned that his kingdom, wealth, and children would all be destroyed. Next morning, the king told his counselors about his dream and ordered Saadhu and his son-in-law to be released. The latter were frightened and stood before the king with bowed heads. The king talked to them gently and said, “You two have suffered a great deal because of your fate, but there is nothing to fear". The king returned their merchandise, gave them new clothes and lots of gifts, and bade them goodbye.