The Narayana Sukta is, in a way, the mystical appendix to the Purusha Sukta of the Veda, the only difference between the Purusha Sukta and the Narayana Sukta being the divination of the Deity addressed by them. The Purusha Sukta beholds the supreme being as the all-encompassing, impersonal purusha, while the Narayana Sukta addresses the lord as Narayana. The Purusha Sukta, thus, is a hymn addressed to the Purusha extending beyond the cosmos yet at the same time present within creation, and the Narayana Sukta is a devout, touching, feeling full and personal address to the creator of the universe. In the Narayana Sukta some clarification of the hidden meaning of the Purusha Sukta is to be discovered.
Narayana is the thousand-headed one, thousand-eyed, and thousand-limbed. But Narayana is not merely the father or creator of the cosmos, beyond creation, but is also hidden in the heart of everyone. Like a resplendent flame in the heart of the individual, Narayana can be visualised in deep meditation. In the lotus of the heart there is the citadel of the cosmos, the palace of the creator of the universe. Thus, the worshipper of the supreme Narayana need not necessarily look up to the sky to behold him and adore him. One can as well see the same Narayana within himself, in his own heart. While Narayana creates the world from outside, he also impels everyone through feeling and action from within. Through every nerve-current, life flows and vibrates. This vibration, this flow of life, is the chaitanya, or consciousness, of Narayana moving in creation. Narayana is adored as the one being extending beyond Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, Indra and all the gods and angels, while himself appearing as every one of them—the imperishable, self-existent all. Whatever all this universe is—yacca kincit jagat sarvam— seen or unseen, in its depths or merely heard of, Narayana is within and without all these, enveloping everyone. May Narayana bless us, and bestow upon us glory.
Narayana Sukta
ॐ सहस्रशीर्षं देवं विश्वाक्षं विश्वशम्भुवम् ।
विश्वै नारायणं देवं अक्षरं परमं पदम् ॥
ōm sahasraśīrṣaṁ devaṁ viśvākśaṁ viśvaśambhuvaṁ,
viśvaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ devamakśaraṁ paramaṁ padam.
This universe is the Eternal Being (Narayana), the imperishable, the supreme, the goal, multi-headed and multi-eyed (i.e., omnipresent and omniscient), the resplendent, the source of delight for the whole universe.
Note:—With this verse commences a famous hymn of the Vedic group, stating the characters of the Absolute in its manifestation as this creation.
विश्वतः परमं नित्यं विश्वं नारायणं हरिम् ।
विश्वमेवेदं पुरुषस्तद्विवमुपाजीवती ॥
viśvataḥ paramam nityaṁ viśvaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ harim,
viśvamevedaṁ puruṣastadviśvamupajīvati.
This universe is the Supreme Being (Purusha) alone; hence, it subsists on That, the Eternal which transcends it (in every way)—the Omnipresent Absolute which destroys all sins.
पतिं विश्वस्यात्मेश्वरं शाश्वतं शिवमच्युतम् ।
नारायणं महाज्ञेयं विश्वात्मानं परायणम् ॥
patiṁ viśvasyātmeśvaraṁ śāśvataṁ śivamacyutam,
nārāyaṇaṁ mahājñeyaṁ viśvātmānaṁ parāyaṇam.
The protector of the universe, the Lord of all souls (or Lord over Self), the perpetual, the auspicious, the indestructible, the Goal of all creation, the Supreme object worthy of being known, the Soul of all beings, the Refuge unfailing (is He).
नारायण परं ब्रह्म तत्त्वं नारायणः परः ।
नारायण परो ज्योतिरात्मा नारायणः परः ।
नारायण परो ध्याता ध्यानं नारायणः परः ॥
nārāyaṇaḥ paraṁ brahma tattvaṁ nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ,
nārāyaṇaḥ paro jyotirātmā nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ.
nārāyaṇaḥ paro dhyātā dhyānam nārāyaṇaḥ paraḥ.
The Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute; Narayana is the Supreme Reality; Narayana is the Supreme Light; Narayana is the Supreme Self; Narayana is the Supreme Meditator; Narayana is the Supreme Meditation.
यच्चं किञ्चिज्जगत्सर्वं दृष्यते श्रीयतेऽपि वा ।
अन्तरबहिश्च तत्सर्वं व्याप्य नारायणः स्थितः ॥
yacca kiñcijjagatsarvaṁ dṛśyate śrūyate’pi vā,
antarbahiśca tatsarvaṁ vyāpya nārāyaṇaḥ sthitaḥ.
Whatever all this universe is, seen or heard of—pervading all this, from inside and outside alike, stands supreme the Eternal Divine Being (Narayana).
अनन्तमव्यां कविं समुद्रेन्तं विश्वशम्भुवम् ।
पद्मकोशप्रतीकाशं हृदयं च अपि चाप्यधोमुखम् ॥
anantamavyayaṁ kaviṁ samudre’ntaṁ viśvaśambhuvam,
padmakośapratīkāśaṁ hṛdayaṁ cāpyadhomukham.
He is the Limitless, Imperishable, Omniscient, residing in the ocean of the heart, the Cause of the happiness of the universe, the Supreme End of all striving, (manifesting Himself) in the ether of the heart which is comparable to an inverted bud of the lotus flower.
अधो निष्ठ्या वितस्त्यान्ते नाभ्याम् उपरि तिष्ठति ।
ज्वालामालाकुलं भाती विश्वस्यायतनं महत् ॥
adho niṣṭayā vitasyānte nābhyāmupari tiṣṭhati,
jvālamālākulaṁ bhāti viśvasyāyatanaṁ mahat.
Below the Adam’s apple, at a distance of a span, and above the navel (i.e., the heart which is the relative seat of the manifestation of Pure Consciousness in the human being), effulges the Great Abode of the universe, as if adorned with garlands of flames.
सन्ततं शिलाभिस्तु लम्बत्याकोशसन्निभम् ।
तस्यान्ते सुषिरं सूक्ष्मं तस्मिन् सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥
santataṁ śilābhistu lambatyākośasannibham,
tasyānte suṣiraṁ sūkśmaṁ tasmin sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam.
Surrounded on all sides by nerve-currents (or arteries), the lotus-bud of the heart is suspended in an inverted position. In it is a subtle space (a narrow aperture, the sushumna-nadi), and therein is to be found the Substratum of all things.
तस्य माध्ये महानग्निर्विश्वरविश्वतोमुखः ।
सोऽग्रभुग् विभजन तिष्टान् आहारमजरः कविः ॥
tasya madhye mahanagnirviśvārcirviśvatomukhaḥ,
so’grabhug vibhajan tiṣṭhan āhāramajaraḥ kaviḥ.
In that space within the heart resides the Great Flaming Fire, undecaying, all-knowing, with tongues spread out in all directions, with faces turned everywhere, consuming all food presented before it, and assimilating it into itself.
तिर्यगुर्ध्वमदःशायी रशमयस्तस्य सन्तताः ।
सन्तापयति स्वं देहमापादतलमास्तकः ।
तस्य मध्ये वह्निशिखा अणीयोर्ध्वा व्यवस्थिताः ॥
tiryagūrdhvamadaḥśāyī raśmayastasya santatāḥ,
santāpayati svaṁ dehamāpātatalamastakam,
tasya madhye vahniśikhā aṇīyordhvā vyavasthitaḥ.
His rays, spreading all round, sideways as well as above and below, warm up the whole body from head to foot. In the centre of That (Flame) abides the Tongue of Fire as the topmost among all subtle things.
Note:—Due to the attachments and entanglement of the jiva in worldly enjoyment and suffering, the Consciousness is enshrouded in potential as well as expressed objectivity; hence, it appears like a tiny streak of flame within the dark clouds of ignorance. But when the jiva rises above worldliness, the Consciousness is realised as the Infinite.
नीलतोयदमध्यस्थद् विद्युल्लेखेव भास्वरा ।
नीवारशूकवत्तन्वी पीता भास्वत्यणूपमा ॥
nīlatoyadamadhyasthād vidyullekheva bhāsvarā,
nīvāraśūkavattanvī pītā bhāsvatyaṇūpamā.
Brilliant like a streak of lightning set in the midst of the blue rain-bearing clouds, slender like the awn of a paddy grain, yellow (like gold) in colour, in subtlety comparable to the minute atom, (this Tongue of Fire) glows splendid.
तस्याः शिखाया मध्ये परमात्मा व्यवस्थितः ।
स ब्रह्म स शिवः स हरिः स इन्द्रः सोऽक्षरः परमः स्वराट् ॥
tasyāḥ śikhāyā madhye paramātmā vyavasthitaḥ,
sa brahma sa śivaḥ sa hariḥ sendraḥ so’kṣaraḥ paramaḥ svarāṭ.
In the middle of that Flame, the Supreme Self dwells. This (Self) is Brahma (the Creator), Siva (the Destroyer), Hari (the Protector), Indra (the Ruler), the Imperishable, the Absolute, the Autonomous Being.
ऋतं सत्यं परं ब्रह्म पुरुषं कृष्णपिङ्गलम् ।
ऊर्ध्वरेतं विरूपाक्षं विश्वरूपाय वै नमो नमः ॥
ṛtaṁ satyaṁ paraṁ brahma puruṣaṁ kṛṣṇapiṅgalam,
ūrdhvaretaṁ virūpākśaṁ viśvarūpāya vai namo namaḥ.
Prostrations again and again to the Omni-formed Being, the Truth, the Law, the Supreme Absolute, the Purusha of blue-decked yellow hue, the Centralised-force Power, the All-seeing One.
ॐ नारायणाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि ।
तन्नो विष्णुः प्रचोदयात् ॥
ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः ।।
ōm nārāyaṇāya vidmahe vāsudevāya dhīmahi,
tanno viṣṇuḥ pracodayāt.
ōṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.
We commune ourselves with Narayana, and meditate on Vaasudeva; May that Vishnu direct us (to the Great Goal).
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
ōṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.
Om. May there be Peace, Peace, Peace.
Om. Sahana vavathu. Sahanou bunakthu. Saha veeryam karavavahai.
Tejaswinaa vadheethamasthu maa vidwishavahaii.
Om shanthi, shanthi, shanthi.
Let Brahmam protect the teacher-student duo,
And also protect us,
We would work with vigour,
Let our learning be lustrous,
Let not we quarrel among ourselves,
Let there be peace, peace and peace.
Sahasra seersham devam viswaksham viswa sambhuvam.
Viswam narayanam devam aksharam paramam padam.
I meditate on god Narayana,
Who has thousands of heads,
Who sees everywhere,
Who does good to all the world,
Who is the world,
Who is indestructible,
And who is the greatest destination.
Viswatha paramanithyam viswam narayanam harim,
Viswamevedam purusha stadvischa mupajeevathi.
I meditate on God Narayana,
Who is much greater than this world,
Who is forever,
Who is the world,
Who destroys sins and suffering,
And say, that this world is Purusha,
And is alive because he is inside it.
Pathim viswasyatmeshwara, saswatha shivamachyutham,
Narayanam mahagneyam viswathmanam parayanam.
I meditate on Narayana,
Who owns this world,
Who is the god of all souls,
Who is forever,
Who is personification of good,
Who never slips,
Who needs to be known with great effort,
Who is the soul of everything,
And who is the great destination.
Narayana paro jyothirathma narayana para,
Narayana para brahma tatwam narayana para.
Narayana paro dyatha, dyanam Narayana para.
Narayana is the great light,
Narayana is the great soul,
Narayana is the ultimate Brahmam,
Narayana is the great principle,
Narayana is the greatest among those who meditate on him,
And Narayana is the great meditation.
Yachcha kinchid jagat sarvam drusyathe sruyathe bhi vaa,
Antharbahischa tatsarva vyapya narayana sthitha.
Narayana is spread,
All over the world.
In everything that we see and hear,
And in its inside and outside.
Anantham avyayam kavi samudrentham viswasambhuvam,
Padmakosa pratheekasa hrudhyam chapyadho mukham.
I meditate on God Narayana,
Who is endless,
Who is indestructible,
Who is all knowing,
Who is inside the sea,
And who does good to all world.
I also state that the heart hangs like an inverted lotus bud.
Adho nishtaaya vithasthyaanthe nabhyam upari thishtathi,
Jwalamalaakulam bhathi viswasya yatanam mahat.
Inside the heart,
Which is Just below the collarbone,
And one hand above the belly button,
Shines .as if it is surrounded by a flame,
The greatest habitat of the universe
Santhatha shilabhisthu lambatya kosa sannibham,
Tasyanthe sushira sookshmam tasmin sarve prathishtitham.
The lotus like heart hangs,
Attached to the bones on all four sides,
And inside the heart is a very tiny hole,
And inside that hole everything exists.
Tasya madhye mahan agni viswa archir viswatho mukha,
Sograbuk vibhajan thishtaa annahara majara kavi.
Inside the center of the heart,
There is an ever-shining fire,
Which is spread in all directions,
And that fire which burns stable,
Sees everywhere,
Never gets old,
And divides and supplies the food.
Tirya goordhwa madhasa sayee rasmayas tasya santhatha,
Santhapayathi swam deha mapada thala masthaka,
Tasya madhye vahni shika aneeryordhwa vyavasthitha.
The rays of that fire is always spread,
All over from one end to other,
And throughout the length,
And from head to foot,
And the body of that fire,
Heats our body allover,
And its one thin flame,
Shines erect in the center of the heart.
Neela thoyadha madhyastha dwidyullekheva bhaswaraa,
Neevara sooka vathanvee peetha bhaswat yanoopama.
Like the sparkle of lightning,
From within a black dark cloud,
Like the sprout of a red paddy,
Thin and golden,
And as tiny as an atom,
That flame continues burning.
Tasya shikhaya madhye paramathma vyavasthitha,
Sa brahma sa shiva sa hari sendra sokshara parama swaraat.
In the center of the flame lives the all-pervasive God.
Who is Brahma,
Who is Shiva,
Who is Vishnu,
Who is Indra,
Who is perennial and ever living,
And He is the greatest emperor.
Rhutha sathyam param brahma purusham Krishna pingalam,
Oordhwaretham viroopaksham viswa roopaya vai namo nama.
Salutations and salutations,
To Him who is the beauty of everything,
To Him who is ever lasting truth,
To Him who exists as Para Brahmam in all bodies,
To Him who is the black Vishnu and reddish Shiva rolled into one,
To Him who looks after the progeny,
To Him who is three eyed,
And to Him who assumes the form of all beings of the universe.
Narayanaya vidmahe vasudevaya deemahi,
Thanno Vishnu prachodayath.
Let us try to know that Lord Narayana,
Let us try to meditate on that Vasudeva,
And let that Vishnu employ us to do good deeds.