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. shakreNa sanyati hatO(a)pi balirmahaatmaa
shukreNa jiivitatanuH kratuvardhitOShmaa |
vikraantimaan bhayaniliina suraaM trilOkiiM
chakre vashe sa tava chakramukhaadabhiitaH ||
The demon Bali, though killed in battle by Indra, was
brought back to life by Sukra, the preceptor of the demons.
By performing many sacrifices, he acquired more power and
conquered the three worlds, without fear of Thy disc; the
gods ran away and hid themselves in fear from him.

4. putraarti darshana vashaadaditirviShaNNaa
taM kaashyapaM nijapatiM sharaNaM prapannaa |
tvatpuujanaM taduditaM hi payOvrataakhyaM
saa dvaadashaahamacharattvayi bhaktipuurNaa ||
Aditi, the mother of the gods was heartbroken at the sight
of her sons, living in fear and sorrow. She beseeched her
husband, Kasyapa, for help and by his advice, observed
the best form of worship to Thee, called Payovrata, lasting
for twelve days with complete and staunch devotion.

5. tasyaavadhau tvayi niliinamateramuShyaaH
shyaamashchaturbhujavapuH svayamaaviraasiiH |
namraaM cha taamiha bhavattanayO bhaveyaM
gOpyaM madiikshaNamiti pralapannayaasiiH ||
When the vrat was duly concluded, Thou, appeared before
Aditi, (who was still immersed in Thee), four-armed and of a
dark blue colour in form. As she prostrated before Thee,
Thou promised to be born as her son, but cautioned her to
keep Thy revelation a secret, and then Thou vanished.

6. tvaM kaashyape tapasi sannidadhattadaaniiM
praaptO(a)si garbhamaditeH praNutO vidhaatraa |
praasuuta cha prakaTa vaiShNavadivya ruupaM
saa dvaadashii shravaNa puNyadine bhavantam ||
Then embedding Thyself in Kasyapa's seed born of penance,
Thou wert conceived in Aditi's womb and wert praised by
Brahma. On the auspicious Sravana Dwadasi day, Aditi, gave
birth to Thee, manifested in divine Vaishnava form.

7. puNyaashramaM tamabhivarShati puShpavarShai-
rharShaakule surakule kR^itatuuryaghOShe |
badhvaa(a)~njaliM jaya jayeti nutaH pitR^ibhyaaM
tvaM tatkshaNe paTutamaM vaTuruupamaadhaaH
The gods exceedingly delighted, sounded auspicious
instruments and showered flowers over the sacred
hermitage. While the parents stood with folded hands
praising Thy glory repeatedly and heralding Thy victory,
Thou instantly assumed the form of a dwarf, a competent
Brahmachari, well-versed in the Vedas.

8. taavatprajaapatimukhairupaniiya mau~njii-
daNDaajinaakshavalayaadibhirarchyamaanaH |
dediipyamaanavapuriisha kR^itaagnikaaryastvaM
praasthithaa baligR^ihaM prakR^itaashvamedham
Oh Lord ! Then and there, Thy father Kasyapa Prajapati,
performed all the ceremonial rites from birth to thread
ceremony; Thou wert offered the Mounji grass, the Danda
or stick, the deerskin, the Akshamala, or string of beads and
so on; adorned by all these and shining with divine
splendour, Thou completed the rites of the sacrificial fire,
and proceeded to the house of Bali where he was
performing the horse sacrifice.

9. gaatreNa bhaavimahimOchitagauravaM praag-
vyaavR^iNvateva dharaNiiM chalayannayaasiiH |
ChatraM parOShmatiraNaarthamivaadadhaanO
daNDaM cha daanavajaneShviva sannidhaatum ||
Though dwarflike in form, Thy dignified gait seemed to
forecast the magnificent form Thou wert to assume in the
future, by the movement of Thy body shaking the earth at
every step; Thy umbrella, seemed to be held to ward off the
enemy fire and Thy stick, as if to strike down the demons
with it.

10. taaM narmadOttarataTe hayamedhashaalaa-
maaseduShi tvayi ruchaa tava ruddhanetraiH |
bhaasvaan kimeSha dahanO nu sanatkumaarO
yOgii nu kO(a)yamiti shukramukhaiH shashanke ||
As Thou appoached the site of the horse sacrifice, situated
on the northern bank of the river Narmada, the dazzling
brilliance of Thy form, blinded Sukra and other sages and
they wondered aloud, who this could be, whether Thou
wert the Sun or Fire or the sage Sanatkumara.

11. aaniitamaashu bhR^igubhirmahasaabhibhuutai
stvaaM ramyaruupamasuraH pulakaavR^itaangaH |
bhaktyaa sametya sukR^itii pariNijya paadau
tattOyamanvadhR^ita muurdhani tiirthatiirtham ||
Sage Bhrigu (Sukracharya) and his clan, who were bedazzled
by Thy radiance, hastily welcomed Thee; the blessed demon
king, Bali, who was overwhelmed with ecstasy, on seeing
Thy lustrous form, approached Thee and washing Thy feet
reverently, sprinkled that sacred water, which having
touched Thy feet, was now holiest of all, on his head.

12. prahlaadavamshajatayaa kratubhirdvijeShu
vishvaasatO nu tadidaM ditijO(a)pi lebhe |
yatte padaambu girishasya shirO(a)bhilaalyaM
sa tvaM vibhO gurupuraalaya paalayethaaH ||
The sacred water flowing from Thy feet, adorns the head of
Lord Siva. Although a demon by birth, Bali, was fortunate
enough to have it sprinkled on his head, perhaps due to his
being born in the dynasty of Prahlada, or due to his
sacrifices or because of his faith in Brahmins. Oh
Guruvayurappa, May Thou of such glory, save me.