Narayaniyam is a medieval Sanskrit text, comprising a summary study in poetic form of the Bhagavata Purana. It was composed by Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, (1560-1666 A.D.) one of the celebrated Sanskrit poets in Kerala. Even though the Narayaneeyam was completed as early as 1586 A.D., it appeared in print only after more than 250 years. The Bhagavata Purana is a major Hindu scripture consisting of about 18,000 verses, mainly devoted to the worship of Krishna.

1. You can view video with audio of this slide set at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYQvX5d2_TQ

3. vaikuNTha vardhita balO(a)tha bhavatprasaadaadambhOjayOnirasR^
ijat kila jiivadehaan |
sthaasnuuni bhuuruhamayaani tathaa tirashchaaM
jaatiirmanuShya nivahaanapi deva bhedaan ||
Oh Lord of Vaikunta ! Equipped with more power due to Thy blessing,
God Brahma created living creatures, like the stationary trees, plants,
and creepers and the movable ones like the animals and birds as well
as hosts of human beings and the various gods.

4. mithyaagrahaasmimati raaga vikOpa bhiitiraj~
naana vR^ittimiti pa~nchavidhaaM sa sR^iShTvaa |
uddaama taamasa padaartha vidhaanaduunastene
tvadiiya charaNasmaraNaM vishuddhyai ||
God Brahma then created the five different types of emotions
generated by ignorance viz. pride, egoism, attachment, anger and
fear. Saddened at having to create these objects of a Tamasic nature,
he meditated on Thy lotus feet, for purifying himself and as
atonement for his action.

5. taavat sasarja manasaa sanakaM sanandaM
bhuuyaH sanaatana muniM cha sanatkumaaram |
te sR^iShTi karmaNi tu tena niyujyamaanaa-
Stvatpaada bhakti rasikaa jagR^ihurna vaaNiim ||
Then Brahma created out of his mind, the four sages, Sanaka,
Sananda, Sanatana and Sanatkumara. Although he asked them to
carry on the work of creation, they would not do so as they were fully
absorbed in devotion to Thy lotus feet.

6. taavat prakOpamuditaM pratirundhatO(a)sya
bhruumadhyatO(a)jani mR^iDO bhavadekadeshaH |
naamaani me kuru padaani cha haa viri~nchetyaadau
rurOda kila tena sa rudranaamaa ||
Brahma who was enraged by the refusal of the sages to obey him,
tried to control his anger. Then there sprang up between Brahma's
eyebrows, Mrida, who was a part of Thine ownself. Mrida cried out to
Brahma to give him a name and allot him a place. So he was called
Rudra or one who cries.

7. ekaadashaahvayatayaa cha vibhinnaruupaM
rudraM vidhaaya dayitaa vanitaashcha datvaa |
taavantyadatta cha padaani bhavatpraNunnaH
praaha prajaavirachanaaya cha saadaraM tam ||
Inspired by Thee, Brahma gave Rudra eleven different forms with
eleven names and gave as many wives and an equal number of places.
Then he kindly requested him to indulge in procreation.

8. rudraabhisR^iShTa bhayadaakR^iti rudrasangha
sampuuryamaaNa bhuvanatraya bhiitachetaaH |
maa maa prajaaH sR^ija tapashchara mangalaaye-
tyaachaShTa taM kamalabhuurbhavadiiritaatmaa ||
Rudra created multitudes of Rudraganas of terrifying appearance and
when they began to spread all over the three worlds Brahma became
thoroughly scared. Urged by Thee, Brahma directed Rudra to stop
creation and do penance instead for the welfare of the world.

9. tasyaatha sargarasikasya mariichiratristatraangiraaH
kratumuniH pulahaH pulastyaH |
angaadajaayata bhR^igushcha vasiShThadakshau
shriinaaradashcha bhagavan bhavadanghridaasaH ||
After Rudra went away to do penance, Brahma again started the work
of creation and from various parts of his body he created the ten great
sages, viz. Mareechi, Atri, Angiras, Krathu, Pulaha, Pulastya, Bhrigu,
Vasishta, Daksha and Narada. Among them Narada was an ardent
devotee of Thy lotus feet.

10. dharmaadikaanabhisR^ijannatha kardamaM cha
vaaNiiM vidhaaya vidhirangaja sankulO(a)bhuut |
tvadbOdhitaissanakadakshamukhaistanuujair-
udbOdhitashcha viraraama tamO vimu~nchan ||
Then Brahma created Dharma Deva and Kardama followed by Vani.
Brahma was smitten by love at the sight of Saraswathi (Vani), but his
sons, Sanaka and Daksha, urged by Thee, persuaded him to give up
this lowly desire born of ignorance.

11. vedaan puraaNa nivahaanapi sarvavidyaaH
kurvannijaanana gaNaachchaturaananO(a)sau |
putreShu teShu vinidhaaya sa sargavR^iddhim
apraapnuvamstava padaambujamaashritO(a)bhuut ||
From his four faces Brahma produced the Vedas, the Puranas and all
other sciences, and gave them to his sons. Unable to make any further
progress in the work of creation he took refuge at Thy lotus feet.

12. jaanannupaayamatha dehamajO vibhajya
striipumsa bhaavamabhajanmanutadvadhuubhyaam |
taabhyaaM cha maanuShakulaani vivardhayamstvaM
gOvinda maarutapuraadhipa rundhi rOgaan ||
By contemplating on Thy lotus feet Brahma discovered the strategy for
multiplying creation. He split his body into two and adopted the male
and female forms of Manu and his wife, thus evolving the means of
multiplying the human race. Oh Govinda ! Oh Guruvayurappa ! Oh
Thou who multiplies the human race ! Thus, please save me from
all my afflictions.