Narayana Suktham - Hymn to Sri Narayana

Lakshmi Narayana

Aum, I dedicate this translation to the effulgent Sri Lakshmi Narayana, the Lord of universal abundance

Translated by Jayaram V

Narayana (Nārāyaṇa) is considered the lord of the universe and the supreme Being in Vaishnavism. He is synonymous with Mahesvara, Maha Vishnu, Manifested Brahman, Saguna Brahman, or Isvara Brahman.

He is the source of all creation from the highest to the lowest who is extolled as the supreme being of universal dimensions pervading everything within and without and residing in the heart of all like a shining tongue of flame. He goes by many names including Hari, Vishnu, Maha Deva, Purushotthama, Maha Purusha. The Narayana Sukta from the Yajurveda speaks of the resplendent qualities of the great lord Narayana as Para Brahman. Reciting the following hymn and contemplating upon its meaning are considered auspicious and self-cleansing.


Translation

dhāta purasthādyumudājahār shakrah pravidvāmpradishschatasraù
tmevam vidvānmrta iha bhavati nānanyaù pantha ayanāya vidyate

The one whom Brahma saw and revealed, whom Indra perceived in all four directions, by knowing him I become immortal in this world. I know not anyone other than him.

ōm sahasraśīrṣaṁ devaṁ viśvākśaṁ viśvaśambhuvaṁ,
viśvaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ devamakśaraṁ paramaṁ padam.

Aum, the god of infinite heads, the eyes of the universe, the source of all existence, this universe itself, is Nayrayana, the imperishable god, and the highest goal.

viśvataḥ paramam nityaṁ viśvaṁ nārāyaṇagï harim,
viśvamevedaṁ puruṣastadviśvamupajīvati.

The highest of all, the eternal, this very universe is Narayana, the destroyer of sins, the Purusha, upon whom the universe and all this subsists.

patiṁ viśvasyātmeśvaragï śāśvatagï śivamacyutam,
nārāyaṇaṁ mahājñeyaṁ viśvātmānaṁ parāyaṇam.

The ruler, supporter and protector, the lord of all the souls, the eternally permanent, the auspicious, and the strong willed is Narayana, the great one worthy of knowing, who is firmly devoted to the souls of all the beings in the universe.

nārāyaṇaḥ paraṁ brahma tattvaṁ nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ,
nārāyaṇaḥ paro jyotirātmā nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ.
nārāyaṇaḥ paro dhyātā dhyānam nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ.

Narayana is Brahman, the supreme reality, Narayana the transcendental one. Narayana is the supreme effulgence, Narayana the transcendental one. Narayana is the supreme meditator absorbed in meditation, Narayana the transcendental one.

yacca kiñcijjagatsarvaṁ dṛśyate śrūyate'pi vā,
antarbahiśca tatsarvaṁ vyāpya nārāyaṇaḥ sthitaḥ.

Whatever all this manifestation is, seen or heard of, from within and without, pervading all, Narayana is established in that.

anantamavyayaṁ kavigï samudre'ntaṁ viśvaśambhuvam,
padmakośapratīkāśagï hṛdayaṁ cāpyadhomukham.

The infinite, the indestructible, the seer, the omniscient, who is established in the oceans to the end, the source of the universal existence, in whose lotus like heart-chamber all desires remain inverted (withdrawn).

adho niṣṭayā vitasyānte nābhyāmupari tiṣṭhati,
jvālamālākulaṁ bhāti viśvasyāyatanaṁ mahat.

A span below the vocal chords, and above the navel (in the heart region), shining like a flaming garland is the abode of the great one who resides in the whole universe

santatagï śilābhistu lambatyākośasannibham,
tasyānte suṣiragï sūkśmaṁ tasmin sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam.

Surrounded on all sides by arteries, in the lotus bud of the heart which is turned upside down is a subtle aperture (sushumna-nadi ), wherein is found that which is established in all

tasya madhye mahanagnirviśvārcirviśvatomukhaḥ,
so'grabhug vibhajan tiṣṭhan āhāramajaraḥ kaviḥ.

In the middle of that space within the heart is the great flame of the universal fire, the eternal, with faces everywhere and tongues in all directions, and firmly established is the all knowing and the imperishable one, consuming all the food offered to him and digesting it into himself.

tiryagūrdhvamadaḥśāyī raśmayastasya santatāḥ,
santāpayati svaṁ dehamāpātatalamastakam,
tasya madhye vahniśikhā aṇīyordhvā vyavasthitaḥ.

Spreading all around, sideways, above and below, his rays heat up the whole body from head to toe. At the center of that (flame) is the tongue of fire as the highest among all the subtle things.

nīlatoyadamadhyasthād vidyullekheva bhāsvarā,
nīvāraśūkavattanvī pītā bhāsvatyaṇūpamā.

Shining like a flash of lighting in the middle of the dark rain-bearing clouds, slender like the awn of a rice seed, yellow in color, it (the tongue of flame) glows like a small atom.

tasyāḥ śikhāyā madhye paramātmā vyavasthitaḥ,
sa brahma sa śivaḥ sa hariḥ sendraḥ so'kṣaraḥ paramaḥ svarāṭ.

In the middle of that glowing flame is ensconced the Supreme Self. It is Brahma, it is Shiva, it is Hari, it is Indra, it is the imperishable, the Supreme, and the self-existent.

ṛtagï satyaṁ paraṁ brahma puruṣaṁ kṛṣṇapiṅgalam,
ūrdhvaretaṁ virūpākśaṁ viśvarūpāya vai namo namaḥ.

Salutations again and again to the one with forms everywhere, the truthful one, the supreme Brahman, the highest Being, the one who is dark and yellow in hue, the one who is fully celibate, and the all seeing one whose form is the universe.

ōm nārāyaṇāya vidmahe vāsudevāya dhīmahi,
tanno viṣṇuḥ pracodayāt.

Aum, we come to know Narayana when we meditate upon Vasudeva. To That (great one) may Vishnu direct us.

ōṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Aum, Peace, Peace, Peace.

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