Nārāyaṇa Sūktam

Nārāyaṇa Sūktam

sahasra-śīrṣaṁ devaṁ viśvākṣaṁ viśva-śaṁbhuvam |
viśvaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ devam-akṣaraṁ paramaṁ padam || 1 ||

1. This universe is truly (the body of) the Supreme Godhead only. Therefore it is dependent upon Him; the Self-effulgent Divine Being; who has countless head and eyes, who is the producer of joy for the universe, whose form the universe is; who is the Controller and the Cause of all beings, all-pervasive, imperishable and the unsurpassed Ruler and Saviour of all.

viśvataḥ paramān-nityaṁ viśvaṁ nārāyaṇaguṁ harim |
viśvam evedaṁ puruṣastad viśvam upajīvati || 2 ||

2. He is superior to this universe, endless and multi-form. He is the goal of humanity and the Destroyer of sin. That Supreme Person is the universe and the Creator thereof.

patiṁ viśvasyātmeśvaraguṁ śāśvataguṁ śivam acyutam |
nārāyaṇaṁ mahā-jñeyaṁ viśvātmānaṁ parāyaṇam || 3 ||

3. He is the Protector-of-the-universe and the Ruler-of-individual-souls, He is permanent, supremely auspicious and unchanging.

He has embodied Himself in mankind as the Indwelling-spirit. He is supremely worthy of being known by creatures; the One who is embodied in the universe and who is the Supreme-goal.

nārāyaṇa paro jyotir-ātmā nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ|
nārāyaṇa paraṁ-brahma tattvaṁ nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ || 4 ||
nārāyaṇa paro jyotir-ātmā nārāyaṇa paraḥ|
nārāyaṇa paro dhyātā dhyānaṁ nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ || 5 ||

4.-5. Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme-Reality designated as Brahman. Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme, Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme Light (described in the Upanishads), Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme. Nārāyaṇa is the most excellent meditator and meditation.

yacca kiñcit jagat sarvaṁ dṛśyate śrūyate'pi vā|
antarbahiśca tat sarvaṁ vyāpya nārāyaṇaḥ sthitaḥ || 6 ||

6. Whatsoever there is in this universe known through perception or report; all that is pervaded by Nārāyaṇa within and without.

anantam avyayaṁ kaviguṁ samudrentaṁ viśva śaṁbhuvam |
padma kośa pratīkāśaguṁ hṛdayaṁ cāpyadhomukham || 7 ||

7. One should meditate within the inverted lotus-bud like heart; upon that Supreme Person, the Limitless, Unchanging, All-knowing, the Cause-of-happiness to the universe; who is the end of the ocean of Samsāra and the goal of all striving.

The point of focus in meditation is the space within the heart which resembles an inverted lotus bud.

adho niṣṭyā vitastyānte nābhyām upari tiṣṭhati |
jvāla-mālā-kulaṁ bhātī viśvasyāyatanaṁ mahat || 8 ||

8. It should be known that within the heart which is situated between the larynx and the navel, the Lord of the universe abides shining with a garland of flames.

santataguṁ śilābhistu lambatyā kośa sannibham |
tasyānte suṣiraguṁ sūkṣmaṁ tasmin sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam || 9 ||

9. The heart resembles an inverted lotus-bud surrounded by arteries. Within it there is a subtle space, within which everything is established.

tasya madhye mahan-agnir viśvārcir viśvato-mukhaḥ|
so'grabhug vibhajan tiṣṭhan nāhāram ajaraḥ kaviḥ || 10 ||

10. In that space is the Undecaying, Omni-faced, great Light, which has flames on every side. He enjoys the food presented and metabolizes it in the body.

tīryag ūrdhvaṁ adhaśśāyī raśmaya s tasya santatā|
santāpayati svaṁ deham āpāda tala -mastakaḥ ||
tasya madhye vahni śikhā aṇīyordhvā vyavasthitaḥ || 11 ||

11. The rays of that Fire spread out, upwards and downwards warming the whole body from head to foot. In the centre of that Light which permeates the whole body there abides a thin tongue of flame; the colour of gold which is most subtle.

nīla-toyada madhyasthād vidyullekheva bhāsvarā|
nīvāra śūkavat tanvī pītābhāsvatyaṇūpamā || 12 ||

12. It is dazzling like a flash of lightening that appears in a dark rain cloud. It is a slender as the paddy grain which serves as a comparison to illustrate its subtlety.

tasyā śikhāya madhye paramātmā vyavasthitaḥ|
sa brahma sa śivas sa haris sendra so'kṣaraḥ paramas svarāṭ || 13 ||

13. The Supreme Soul dwells within that flame, He is Brahma, He is Śiva, He is Vishnu, He is Indra, He is the Supreme Cause-of-the-universe, the Self-luminous One.

ṛtaguṁ satyaṁ paraṁ brahma puruṣaṁ kṛṣṇa piṅgalam |
ūrdhvaretaṁ virūpākṣaṁ viśvarūpāya vai namo namaḥ || 14 ||

14. The Supreme Brahman the Absolute Reality is a Being dark-blue and yellowish in colour, absolutely chaste and possessing uncommon eyes; salutations to Him of the Universal-form.

oṁ nārāyaṇāya vidmahe vāsudevāya dhīmahi |
tanno viṣṇuḥ praco dayāt || 15 ||

15. May we know the Cause-of-all-beings, we meditate upon the Indweller-of-all-jīvas; may that Supreme Omnipresent one enlighten our intellects.