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Maharishi Sootha continued addressing the gathered rishis, "Oh, Rishis, I will now tell you of those who have performed the Satyanarayana Puja in the past. Once, there lived a poor Brahmin in the beautiful city of Kasi. Tormented by hunger, he wandered every day, searching for food.

 

One day, Lord Vishnu appeared before him in the form of an old man and asked, 'Friend, why are you wandering aimlessly?' The Brahmin replied, 'Sir, I am a very poor man. I can no longer bear the pangs of hunger and beg for alms. If you know a way out of my misery, please tell me.'The old man, who was Lord Vishnu in disguise, said, 'Oh Brahmin, Lord Satyanarayana grants the wishes of his devotees and removes their sorrows. You should perform his Puja and you will surely reap the benefits.' Lord Vishnu then explained the details of the Satyanarayana Vrata to the Brahmin and disappeared.The Brahmin immediately decided to perform the puja.

 

After a sleepless night, he rose early the next morning, his mind fixed only on the puja. That day, by divine grace, he received more alms than usual, enough to buy fruits, milk, curd, honey, and other offerings. He invited his friends and relatives and performed the puja with great devotion. With Lord Satyanarayana’s grace, he overcame his poverty and lived a life of contentment. Every full moon day, he continued performing the puja, and in time, he attained Moksha (salvation).Maharishi Sootha thus narrated the story to the rishis, which had originally been told by Lord Vishnu to Narada Muni.

 

The rishis then asked, "Oh, great one, please tell us who else has performed this puja."Maharishi Sootha continued: "One day, while the poor Brahmin from Kasi was observing the Satyanarayana Vrata, a woodcutter entered his house and asked for water. Seeing the Brahmin performing the puja, the woodcutter asked, 'What is this puja about, and what good will it bring?' The Brahmin, now blessed with Lord Narayana’s grace, replied, 'This is the Satyanarayana Vrata. Anyone who observes this Vrata will be granted wealth and prosperity. I myself have been blessed with riches.'The woodcutter was overjoyed and learned the correct way to perform the puja.

 

He ate the prasad offered by the Brahmin and went on his way. Filled with faith, the woodcutter decided to observe the vrata using the money he would earn by selling firewood that day. He went to a wealthier part of the city, sold his firewood, and made twice his usual profit. Grateful for his luck, he bought bananas, sugar, ghee, milk, curd, honey, and wheat flour, and performed the Satyanarayana puja with his friends and family.

 

By Lord Narayana's grace, the woodcutter acquired great wealth, lived comfortably, and eventually attained Moksha.