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.

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3. ajaamilO naama mahiisuraH puraa
charan vibhO dharmapathaan gR^ihaashramii |
gurOrgiraa kaananametya dR^iShTavaan
sudhR^iShTashiilaaM kulaTaaM madaakulaam ||
Long ago, there lived a Brahmin by name Ajamila, who followed the path
of virtue, leading the life of a householder. He went to the forest at the
command of his father. There he met a woman of immodest appearance
and undesirable character, in a drunken state.

4. svataH prashaantO(a)pi tadaahR^itaashayaH
svadharmamutsR^ijya tayaa samaaraman |
adharmakaarii dashamii bhavan puna-
Rdadhau bhavannaamayute sute ratim ||
Though of a composed, disciplined mind by nature, he was attracted to
her and forsaking his dutiful way of life, he became a slave to passion and
spent his life in her company. Leading a sinful life, he grew old and
became very much attached to his son, to whom he had given Thy name,
Narayana.

5. sa mR^ityukaale yamaraajakinkaraan
bhayankaraamstriinabhilakshayan bhiyaa |
puraa manaaktvatsmR^iti vaasanaabalaat
juhaava naaraayaNanaamakaM sutam ||
When he was in his death bed, he was terrified by the sight of three
attendants of the god of death in front of him. Owing to a small spark of
Thy memory lingering in his mind from his younger days, he called out in
fear, Thy name, Narayana, thinking of his son.

6. duraashayasyaapi tadaatvanirgata-
tvadiiyanaamaaksharamaatravaibhavaat
purO(a)bhipeturbhavadiiyapaarShadaaH
chaturbhujaaH piitapaTaa manOharaaH ||
Despite his sinfulness, the moment he uttered the word, Narayana, owing
to the power of the letters of Thy divine name, there appeared at his
bedside, Thy own charming attendants, four-armed and wearing yellow
garments.

7. amuM cha sampaashya vikarShatO bhaTaan
vimu~nchate-tyaarurudhu-rbalaadamii |
nivaaritaaste cha bhavajjanaistadaa
tadiiya paapaM nikhilaM nyavedayan ||
Thy attendants forcibly stopped Yama's messengers, who after tying him
with ropes were dragging him along. Thus prevented by Thy attendants,
Yama's servants apprised them of all his sins.

8. bhavantu paapaani kathaM tu niShkR^ite
kR^ite(a)pi bhO daNDanamasti paNDitaaH |
na niShkR^itiH kiM viditaa bhavaadR^ishaa-
Miti prabhO tvatpuruShaa babhaaShire ||
Oh Lord ! Thy attendants admonished Yama's soldiers for meting out
punishment to a person who had atoned for his sins and scolded them for
their ignorance in spite of being learned.

9. shrutismR^itibhyaanvihitaa vrataadayaH
punanti paapaM na lunanti vaasanaam |
anantasevaa tu nikR^intati dvayii-
Miti prabhO tvatpuruShaa babhaaShire ||
The scriptures (vedas and shastras) describe many vows and disciplinary
measures which help one to get rid of one's sins, but they do not rid us of
our innate wickedness. But devotion to the Lord destroys both the sin and
the natural inclination to sin. Thus, Oh Lord, Thy attendants advised
Yama's men.

10. anena bhO janmasahasrakOTibhiH
kR^iteShu paapeShvapi niShkR^itiH kR^itaa |
yadagrahiinnaama bhayaakulO hare-
Riti prabhO tvatpuruShaa babhaaShire ||
Thy attendants told the messengers of Yama that even though Ajamila
called out the name of Hari in fear, the very fact that he uttered the name
of the Lord was atonement enough for the sins committed by him even in
a thousand crore years.

11. nR^iNaamabuddhyaa(a)pi mukunda kiirtanaM
dahatyaghaughaan mahimaasya taadR^ishaH |
yathaagniredhaamsi yathauShadhaM gadaa-
Niti prabhO tvatpuruShaa babhaaShire ||
The magnificence of the divine name Hari is so (mighty) glorious, that even
mere recitation and repetition of the name of Lord Mukunda, even if done
mechanically without conscious effort, destroys all the sins committed by
men, just as fire burns the sticks of firewood or medicine removes diseases.
Thus, Oh Lord, Thy attendants spoke.

12. itiiritairyaamyabhaTairapaasR^ite
bhavadbhaTaanaaM cha gaNe tirOhite |
bhavatsmR^itiM ka~nchana kaalamaacharan
bhavatpadaM praapi bhavadbhaTairasau ||
The soldiers of Yama, thus advised, withdrew and Thy attendants also
went away. Ajamila after spending some time meditating on Thee, was
taken to Thy abode by Thy attendants at the appropriate hour.

13. svakinkaraavedana shankitO yama-
Stvadanghri bhakteShu na gamyataamiti |
svakiiya bhR^ityaanashishikshaduchchakaiH
sa deva vaataalayanaatha paahi maam ||
The servants of Yama apprised him of the developments on earth in
Ajamila's affair and Yama, Godfearing and righteous as he was, strictly
forbade them to approach any devotee of Thy feet. Oh Guruvayurappa of
such immense glory ! May Thou protect me.