Chapter – 4 - Order of benedictory prayers

Shatanand Muni said:-
O King! Thus worshiped by listeners, in the beginning, the learned speaker should offer benedictory prayer and delighted at heart, should recite three verses – ‘Sadananda...’ etc. (Vol - I, cheaper - I, stanza – 13 onwards). 1

(Remembering divine virtues of the Lord) he should pray for His presence in his heart as - ‘May Lord Swaminarayan, Nilakanth, Narayan, Hari, Harikrishna and Sahajanand, Krishna, be seated in my heart.’ 2.

Then he should recite these two verses ‘Vairagyavega...’, etc. And then the speaker should respectfully salute the sacred book while uttering the following couplet of verses. .3.

“O Lord of Lords! Master! Swaminarayan, contemplating on you, please listen, I shall tell the auspicious stories of your life and deeds. 4.

Bowing down to Shri Sahajanand Swami the son of Bhakti Devi and Dharma Deva, His divine teachings, and Shatanand Muni (the author of the sacred book), he should speak out “Victory unto you, O Lord!” 5.

After reciting the above said two verses, the wise speaker should begin to read the text and should explain the meaning (purport) looking at the sages and Brahmans, and not at the ladies. 6.

Rules for concluding katha
Now I shall instruct you about those chapters after which the speaker should not conclude the session, as it is advised. 7.

First Prakaran
Now these numbers of chapters from the first Prakaran are given. The narration of the story of that day should not be closed with reading of the following chapters. While reading of the 1st book is in progress with chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 18, 31, 33, 35, 38, 39, 40, 42 and also 53 and 57. (8-11)

Second Prakaran

Now in 2nd Division, the reading of the following number of chapters is to be avoided at the end of the sessions of that day 1, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 23, 24,30, 38, 45. (12-14)

Third Prakaran
Now the prohibited chapters of the 3rd division are – 9, 10, 16,17, 19, 23, 31, 32, 33, 40, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 52, 58, 62, 63. (15-19)

Fourth Prakaran
Following chapters in the 4th division are prohibited for ending of the session - 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 22, 30, 34, 36, 41, 43, 44, 45, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64 , 65, 70. (20-27)

Fifth Prakaran
O King! The following chapters in the 5th division are to be avoided for ending of that day – 2, 3, 6, 7, 13, 20, 21, 30, 32, 35, 38, 42, 43, 57, 59, 60, 64, 66. (28-32)

The reader should follow the above mentioned procedure of stop pages. It is also to be followed by those who read one chapter a day. 33

The reader should mutter the name of Vishnu at least for sometime or for an hour everyday at the end of the discourse and then he should step down from his seat. 34.

That learned reader should again bow to his Guru and elderly persons and then go to his own house. He should follow this routine till the end of the Katha event. 35.

Restriction of speaker to accept food and alms from others that sin-fearing learned speaker should not accept any gift or any food from any other person, from the commencement day of the Katha to the end of it. 36.

If the listeners are not able to provide enough food to the reader (and his family) every day, he may accept the food offered by others; it will bring no sin to him. 37.

The above said procedure is recommended to be observed (by those who conduct this Katha event) for seven days, nine days, fortnight, one month, or for a season, i.e. two months. (Those who read one chapter every day need not observe these rules). 38.

Cautions for speaker
The reader should not take such food causing gases, that upsets his stomach; should not over eat; should not eat vegetables prone to diseases; avoid oily and bitter food. 39.

He should observe celibacy, non-violence, truth, non-stealing. He should never act in such a way that will create hindrance or obstructions in the event. 40.

Cautions for listeners
The listener, having aforesaid qualities, should worship the sacred book and the speaker in the beginning, in the above said manner and then should sit and listen to the story (every day). 41.

No listener should enter the Pendol with turban on his head and should not sit with his legs spread long; he also should not go elsewhere leaving the Pendol during Katha hours. Listener should not eat betel leaf or betel nut while listening to the Katha and should observe piety and control of speech. 42.

One should not sit in Virasan posture and should not unnecessarily look here and there; should not talk with each other. Thus one should listen with full attention. 43.

In case of any doubt, the listener should humbly salute and ask the speaker. He should not indecently make movements of his legs or hands in the assembly; he should be well mannered. 44.

Celibacy and other rules should be observed by the listener during the session of Katha and suitable gifts should be given to the speaker on the special festive days (like Janmashtami) and at the end of each division, with devotion. 45.

O King! A wealthy listener should offer food to at least fifty Brahmans at the end of each division, wholeheartedly. 46.

A listener of less financial capacity should feed a hundred Brahmans with food of their choice up to their satisfaction and ability and give them gifts, at the concluding session. 47.

Additional practices for main listener
On the first day of the Katha, in the beginning, the leading listener or the host should worship Lord Ganesh and then appoint three Brahmans for chanting the name of the Lord. 48.

O King! Firm as they be in their vow, they should utter the eight syllable mantra every day for five thousand times, up to the end of the Katha event, for the pleasure of Shri Hari. 49.

The host should offer food, clothes and gifts to them at the end of the Katha event. The host should also offer gifts to the Brahmans among the audience, according to his capacity. 50. 

O King! It would be better for a listener to take light food (Havishyaanna) and less in quantity once a day, so that he can control calls of nature and feel more comfortable. 51.

Control of food intake during katha
It is better to keep fast for these seven days of Katha event. A weak listener can eat fruits or drink milk or can take food without salt or eat only once a day. One who is desirous of attending the Katha should do whatever is convenient to him. 52-53.

Observance of fast is of no high esteem if it creates disturbance in listening than taking food is better if it helps to listen attentively and comfortably. 54.

Giving of alms to the speaker
A grand worship should be arranged on the last day of the Katha event appropriate to the financial capacities of the listeners. All members should worship the speaker according to their monetary position. 55. 

The leader of the listeners (host) should give fresh silken garments, earrings, bracelets and golden coins to the speaker as per his capacity. 56 

The host having ample wealth, to earn the fruit of the Katha as stated in the scripture, should never act guilefully while offering gifts or giving the fees to the speaker. 57.

Others also should gift clothes, money, ornaments or other household material to the speaker according to their capacity. 58.

The listeners among the audience who have less resources at their disposal should also gift some silver or golden coins or money individually to the speaker according their capacity. 59.

A special provision should be made to give the speaker a milky cow. Oblations of substances like Payasa, clarified butter (ghee), etc., should be offered in sacrificial fire (Homa) with utterances of one tenth of the number of mantra chanted during the event. Then with utterances of ‘Vyarhitimantraa’ (like Aum Bhuhu, Aum Bhuvah,...) with offering of sesame, rice grains (Vrihi) etc., in the fire. Thus the Homa should be performed with regular procedure. 60-61.

If it is not possible to perform the Homa on the part of the listeners, they should give the compensatory amount to the priests and no doubt by that much also they will obtain full reward of the performance of the Homa. 62.

O King! Thus I have told you the special rules for hearing the sacred book Satsangijivan. You should also keep in mind the other rules that are stated before. 63.

O you King! Men who hear this scripture (Satsangijivan Mahatmya) following these rules, surely will attain full reward of the sacred event and their desired fruit also as stated before, here, in this world and in the other world also. 64.

Here ends the fourth chapter of the Satsangijivan Mahatmya that describes the special rules to be followed by listeners and the number of chapters prohibited to finish at the end of the session of every day in the conversation between Shatanand Muni and Hemantsinh regarding the importance of the composition and other topics. 4