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. tatO magadha bhuubhR^itaa chiranirOdha sankleshitaM
shataaShTakayutaa yutadvitayamiisha bhuumiibhR^itaam |
anaatha sharaNaaya te kamapi puuruShaM praahiNOt
ayaachata sa maagadha kshapaNameva kiM bhuuyasaa ||
Then, O Lord, the 20,800 kings who had been imprisoned for a long
time by Jarasandha, King of Magadha, sent a messenger to Thee, the
sole refuge of the helpless, praying, in brief, for the destruction of
Jarasandha and their release from confinement.

4. yiyaasurabhimaagadhaM tadanu naaradOdiiritaat
yudhiShThira makhOdyamaat ubhayakaarya paryaakulaH |
viruddhajayinO(a)dhvaraat ubhaya siddhirityuddhave
shashamsuShi nijaiH samaM puramiyetha yaudhiShThiriim ||
As Thou wert preparing to march against Jarasandha, Narada
apprised Thee of Yudhishtira's embarking upon the sacrifice of
Rajasuya. Although perplexed for a moment as to which of the two
should be accorded priority, Thou didst decide to proceed to
Yudhishtira's capital, Indraprastha, on being advised by Uddhava
that both objects would be achieved simultaneously, considering that
the Rajasuya can be undertaken only after vanquishing all enemies,
of which Jarasandha was one.

5. asheShadayitaayute tvayi samaagate dharmajO
vijitya sahajairmahiiM bhavadapaanga sanvardhitaiH |
shriyaM nirupamaaM vahannahaha bhaktadaasaayitaM
bhavantamayi maagadhe prahitavaan sabhiimaarjunam ||
On Thy arrival at Indraprastha with all Thy wives, Yudhishtira, who
had become immensely wealthy with the help of his brothers by their
increased might due to Thy gracious side glance, deputed Thee (who
art the servant of Thy devotees) to Jarasandha, accompanied by
Bhima and Arjuna. Wonder of wonders, indeed !

6. girivrajapuraM gataastadanu deva yuuyaM trayO
yayaacha samarOtsavandvijamiSheNa taM maagadham |
apuurNa sukR^itaM tvamuM pavanajena sangraamayan
niriikshya saha jiShNunaa tvamapi raajyayudhvaa sthitaH ||
O Lord, all three of you, then, proceeding to Girivraj, capital of
Jarasandha, in the garb of Brahmins, sought of Jarasandha, the boon
of a duel as a festival. As Jarasandha lacked sufficient merit to be
killed by Thee, Thou didst contrive to make him fight with Bhima,
while, along with Arjuna, Thou didst look on as one who induces
Kings to fight each other.

7. ashaanta samarOddhataM viTapa paaTanaasanj~nayaa
nipaatya jarasaH sutaM pavanajena niShpaaTitam |
vimuchya nR^ipatiinmudaa samanugR^ihya bhaktiM paraaM
dideshitha gataspR^ihaanapi cha dharma guptyai bhuvaH ||
Jarasandha, who, in his arrogance, was fighting ferociously, was
killed by Bhima, by his body being split vertically down the middle,
following a hint from Thee, by the act of splitting a twig. Then, Thou
didst release the Kings from captivity and, besides, blessing them
with joy, Thou didst confer on them Supreme devotion to Thee and
enjoin them (who were free from worldly desires) to rule the earth
according to Dharma (righteousness and justice).

8. prachakruShi yudhiShThire tadanu raajasuuyaadhvaraM
prasanna bhR^itakii bhavat sakala raajakavyaakulam |
tvamapyayi jagatpate dvijapadaavane jaadikaM
chakartha kimu kathyate nR^ipavarasya bhaagyOnnatiH ||
Thereafter, in the course of the Rajasuya sacrifice performed by
Yudhishtira, in which all the assembled Kings gladly contributed
their services, Thou, O Lord of the Universe, didst Thyself wash the
feet of the holy men. How is one to describe the height of that
great King's good fortune !

9. tataH savana karmaNi pravaramagrapuujaavidhiM
vichaarya sahadeva vaaganugataH sa dharmaatmajaH |
vyadhatta bhavate mudaa sadasi vishvabhuutaatmane
tadaa sasura maanuShaM bhuvanameva tR^iptiM dadhau ||
Then, in the ceremony of Rajasuya, after considering to whom the
prime or first worship should be extended, Yudhishtira, on the
counsel of Sahadeva, performed, in that assembly, the Agrapuja in
honour of Thee, who art the very Soul of the whole Universe. The
entire universe, including all gods and men, rejoiced at the honour
done to Thee.

10. tataH sapadi chedipO muninR^ipeShu tiShThatsvahO
sabhaajayati kO jaDaH pashupadurduruuTaM vaTum |
iti tvayi cha durvachO vitati mudvamannaasanaat
udaapatadudaayudhaH samapatannamuM paaNDavaaH ||
Sisupala, King of Chedi, suddenly jumped from his seat, holding
aloft his weapons and pouring forth a volley of abuses on Thee, such
as "Strange indeed, that the prime honour is given to a cowherd lad of
despicable conduct, while so many sages and kings are present; who
is that fool doing this." The Pandava brothers thereupon rushed
at him in anger.

11. nivaarya nijapakshagaanabhimukhasya vidveShiNaH
tvameva jahR^iShe shirO danujadaariNaa svaariNaa |
janusitrataya labdhayaa satatachintayaa shuddhadhiiH
tvayaa sa paramekataamadhR^ita yOginaaM durlabhaam ||
Holding back Thy allies, the Pandavas, Thou didst Thyself sever the
head of the onrushing Sisupala with Thy discus which destroys
demons. With his mind purified by continuously thinking of Thee
with hatred, in three lives (as Hiranyakasipu, Ravan, and, now,
Sisupala) he attained that ultimate union with Thee, which is hard
for even Yogis to attain.

12. tataH sumahite tvayaa kratuvare niruuDhe janO
yayau jayati dharmajO jayati kR^iShNa ityaalapan |
khalaH sa tu suyOdhanO dhutamanaaH sapatnashriyaa
mayaarpita sabhaamukhe sthalajalabhramaadabhramiit ||
On the glorious sacrifice, Rajasuya, being successfully completed by
Thee, the assembled people departed raising paeans of "Victory to
Yudhishtira, and Victory to Krishna". However, Duryodhana, who
was burning with jealousy at the prosperity of his enemies (the
Pandavas), lost his poise and stumbled in front of the Assembly Hall
(constructed for the Pandavas by Maya, architect of the demons), out
of his perplexity and confusion between firm ground and running
water.

13. tadaa hasitamutthitaM drupadanandanaa bhiimayOH
apaangakalayaa vibhO kimapi taavadujjR^imbhayan |
dharaabhara niraakR^itau sapadi naama biijaM vapan
janaardana marutpuriinilaya paahi maamaamayaat ||
Then, O Janardana, Eternal, All-pervading Lord, by encouraging
slightly by Thy sidelong glance, the laughter of derision arising from
Draupadi and Bhima (at Duryodhana's discomfiture), Thou didst
sow, then itself, the seed for the eventual eradication of evil `and
ridding of this earth of its burden. O Lord of Guruvayur, save me
from my ailments.