Rendition By A. P. Sukumar, Canada

agre pashyaami tejO nibiDatara kalaayaavalii lObhaniiyaMpiiyuuShaaplaavitO(a)haM tadanu tadudare divyakaishOraveSham |taaruNyaarambharamyaM paramasukha rasaasvaada rOmaa~nchitaangaiHaaviitaM naaradaadyairvilasadupaniShat sundarii maNDalaishcha ||

I perceive ahead of me, a dense, comely, effulgent halo, bluish in hue, like a thickbouquet or ring of Kalaya (blue lilies) flowers, by which I feel steeped in nectar; in itsinner core, I behold the form of a divine lad, fetchingly handsome in his buddingadolescence, who is surrounded by Narada and other Sages, with hairs standing onend on their limbs, signifying their thrilling experience of Supreme Bliss, and by a bevy of beautiful maidens personifying the Upanishads (or the Gopis of Brindavan).

agre pashyaami tejO nibiDatara kalaayaavalii lObhaniiyaMpiiyuuShaaplaavitO(a)haM tadanu tadudare divyakaishOraveSham |taaruNyaarambharamyaM paramasukha rasaasvaada rOmaa~nchitaangaiHaaviitaM naaradaadyairvilasadupaniShat sundarii maNDalaishcha ||

I perceive ahead of me, a dense, comely, effulgent halo, bluish in hue, like a thickbouquet or ring of Kalaya (blue lilies) flowers, by which I feel steeped in nectar; in itsinner core, I behold the form of a divine lad, fetchingly handsome in his buddingadolescence, who is surrounded by Narada and other Sages, with hairs standing onend on their limbs, signifying their thrilling experience of Supreme Bliss, and by a bevy of beautiful maidens personifying the Upanishads (or the Gopis of Brindavan).

niilaabhaM ku~nchitaagraM ghanamamalataraM samyataM chaarubhangyaaratnOttamsaabhiraamaM valayitamudayachchandrakaiH pinchChajaalaiH |mandaarasra~N niviitaM tava pR^ithukabariibhaaramaalOkaye(a)haMsnigdha shvetOrdhvapuNDraamapi cha sulalitaaM phaala baalenduviithiim ||

I see Thy darkish blue, perfectly pure (clean), curly, luxuriant tresses, gatheredtogether in a charming knot, beautifully adorned with crest jewels, encircled by acluster of peacock's feathers with glistening "eyes", and tied together with garlands of Mandara and like flowers. Besides, I also see Thy comely forehead, radiant like thecrescent moon (on the fifth day after New Moon) with the clear white vertical sandalpaste mark on it.

hR^idyaM puurNaanukampaarNava mR^idulaharii cha~nchala bhruuvilaasaiHaaniila snigdhapakshmaavali parilasitaM netrayugmaM vibhO te |saandrachChaayaM vishaalaaruNa kamaladalaakaaramaamugdhataaraMkaaruNyaalOkaliilaa shishirita bhuvanaM kshipyataaM mayyanaathe ||

O Lord ! May those pair of eyes of Thine which are charming through the play of theeye-brows throbbing like the gentle rippling waves on the Ocean of InfiniteCompassion; which are refulgent with rows of deep-blue gleaming eyelashes; whichare soft, lustrous and shaped like the long petals of the red rose; (those eyes)possessing very comely pupils and cooling the world by their merciful glances; maythose eyes be cast on me, who has no refuge other than Thee.

uttungOllaasinaasaM harimaNi mukura prOllasad gaNDapaaliivyaalOlatkarNapaashaa~nchita makaramaNii kuNDaladvandvadiipram |unmiiladdantapankti sphuradaruNatarachChaaya bimbaadharaantaHpriitiprasyandi mandasmita madhurataraM vaktramudbhaasataaM me ||

May Thy face with its prominent and captivating nose, brilliant with the pair ofbejewelled fish-shaped, earrings adorning the lovely ears and reflected on the cheeks resembling mirrors of blue sapphire; which (face) is extremely attractive on account of the gentle smile oozing affection, between lips of cherry-red hue, mildly revealing sparkling rows of white teeth; may that face of Thine always shine before me (illumine me).

baahudvandvena ratnOjjvala valayabhR^itaa shONa paaNipravaalenOpaattaaM veNunaaliiM prasR^ita nakhamayuukhaanguliisangashaaraam |kR^itvaa vaktraaravinde sumadhura vikasadraagamudbhaavyamaanaiHshabda brahmaamR^itaistvaM shishirita bhuvanaiH si~nchame karNaviithiim ||

May Thee sprinkle (impregnate, soak) the passages of my ears with the nectarine and refreshingly cooling melodies, (that are Brahman itself, in the form of sound) issuing forth from Thy flute placed at the tip of Thy lotus-like mouth and held in Thy two hands adorned with jewelled bracelets and coral-red tender palms, and which (the flute) has acquired variegated hues through contact with Thy fingers and the radiation emanating from Thy nails.

utsarpatkaustubhashriitatibhiraruNitaM kOmalaM kaNThadeshaMvakshaH shriivatsaramyaM taralatara samuddiipra haara prataanam |naanaavarNaprasuunaavali kisalayiniiM vanyamaalaaM vilOlallOlambaaMlambamaanaamurasi tava tathaa bhaavaye ratnamaalaam ||

I meditate upon Thy handsome neck coloured purple by the radiating lustre of ThyKaustubha jewel; on Thy chest beautified by the Srivatsa sign and adorned withclusters of dazzling pearl necklaces dangling around, garlands of forest flowers andtender sprouts and bunches of multicoloured blossoms, with bees hovering aroundthem; and, also, the necklaces of precious stones spread over Thy chest.

ange pa~nchaangaraagairatishaya vikasat saurabhaakR^iShTalOkaMliinaaneka trilOkii vitatimapi kR^ishaaM bibhrataM madhyavalliim |shakraashmanyasta taptOjvala kanakanibhaM piita chelaM dadhaanaMdhyaayaamO diiptarashmi sphuTamaNirashanaa kinkiNii maNDitaM tvaam ||

We meditate upon Thee, who charms and captivates the entire world by themarvellous, spreading fragrances emanating from the five-membered unguentssmeared over Thy body; who has a creeper-like slender waist in which innumerableworlds lie merged; who is attired in a yellow silk garment looking like dazzling molten gold overlaid on a rock of sapphire (the colour of the Lord's body); and who art encompassed by a jewelled girdle with tiny tinkling bells emitting brilliant rays.

uuruu chaaruu tavOruu ghanamasR^iNaruchau chittachOrau ramaayaaHvishvakshObhaM vishankya dhruvamanishamubhau piita chelaavR^itaangau |aanamraaNaaM purastaannyasana dhR^itasamastaartha paalii samudgachChaayaMjaanudvayancha kramapR^ithula manOj~ne cha janghe niSheve ||

I meditate upon Thy two well-proportioned resplendent thighs which steal the heart of Devi Lakshmi, and which are always attired in yellow silk garment, as though fearing their potential for causing universal agitation to the onlookers if exposed to view; on Thy pair of knees resembling two caskets containing a collection of all objects desired by Thy devotees who prostrate before Thee; and on Thy two fleshy, well-tapered, comely shanks (forelegs).

ma~njiiraM ma~njunaadairiva padabhajanaM shreya ityaalapantaMpaadaagraM bhraanti majjat praNata jana manO mandarOddhaarakuurmam |uttungaataamra raajannakhara himakara jyOtsnayaa chaashritaanaaMsantaapa dhvaanta hantriiM tatimanukalaye mangalaamanguliinaam ||

I meditate upon Thy anklets which seem to proclaim, in sweet tones, the overridingsuperiority of worshipping Thy feet; upon the upper part of Thy feet, shaped like thetortoise which raises the minds of the devotees sinking in the sea of illusion, similar to the raising of the Mandara mountain by Thy tortoise incarnation; and also on theauspicious row of Thy toes and the upraised, purple-tinted crescent-shaped nails, thelunar radiance emanating from which dispels the darkness of sorrow in the minds ofThy devotees.

yOgiindraaNaaM tvadangeShvadhikasumadhuraM mukti bhaajaaM nivaasObhaktaanaaM kaamavarSha dyutaru kisalayaM naatha te paadamuulam |nityaM chittasthitaM me pavanapurapate kR^iShNa kaaruNyasindhOhR^itvaa nishsheShataapaan pradishatu paramaananda sandOhalakshmiim ||

May the soles of Thy feet which, to the noble Sages, are the sweetest and mostbeloved among Thy limbs; which constitute the abode of the liberated; and whichresemble the tender sprout of the wish-fulfilling, celestial tree that showers on Thydevotees all that they desire, be forever remain firmly embedded in my heart. OKrishna, Ocean of Mercy, Lord of Guruvayur and Master of the World ! May these feet of Thine, dispelling all my woes, confer on me the flood of prosperity and Supreme Bliss Absolute.

aj~naatvaa te mahattvaM yadiha nigaditaM vishvanaatha kshamethaaHstOtraM chaitatsahasrOttaramadhikataraM tvatprasaadaaya bhuuyaat |dvedhaa naaraayaNiiyaM shrutiShu cha januShaa stutyataa varNanenasphiitaM liilaavataarairidamiha kurutaamaayuraarOgya saukhyam ||

O Lord of the Universe ! Deign to forgive me for any unknowing, unintended lapses on my part, due to my ignorance of Thy greatness, in this hymn of over 1000 verses,which, I pray, may bestow Thy Grace on one and all. Its title Narayaneeyam, signifiesits twin aspects, which are that its subject matter is Narayana and its composer alsobears the name, Narayana. May this composition which narrates Thy incarnations and sportive exploits which are extolled in the Scriptures as being eminently praiseworthy, confer long life, sound health and happiness on one and all in this world.