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. kuchela naamaa bhavataH satiirthyataaM
gataH sa saandiipani mandire dvijaH |
tvadeka raageNa dhanaadi niHspR^ihO
dinaani ninye prashamii gR^ihaashramii ||
Thy companion while studying in Sage Sandipani's hermitage, a
Brahmin by name Kuchela, who was totally devoted to Thee, free
from wordly desires and possessed of a calm and collected
disposition, was spending his days as a householder.

4. samaana shiilaapi tadiiya vallabhaa
tathaiva nO chittajayaM sameyuShii |
kadaachiduuche bata vR^ittilabdhaye
ramaapatiH kiM na sakhaa niShevyate ||
His wife who was of a similar detached temparament but had not
attained control over her mind to the same extent, one day
suggested to him that he might pay a visit to his friend, Lord of
Rama (Krishna), for getting some means of livelihood.

5. itiiritO(a)yaM priyayaa kshudhaa(a)(a)rtayaa
jugupsamaanO(a)pi dhane madaavahe |
tadaa tvadaalOkana kautukaadyayau
vahan paTaante pR^ithukaanupaayanam ||
Thus urged by his wife, out of her being afflicted by hunger,
Kuchela, despite his revulsion towards wealth, which is the source
of arrogance, nevertheless, set out, because of his eagerness to
see Thee, carrying some parched, beaten rice, tied to the end of his
garment, as an offering to Thee.

6. gatO(a)yamaashcharyamayiiM bhavatpuriiM
gR^iheShu shaibyaabhavanaM sameyivaan |
pravishya vaikuNThamivaapa nirvR^itiM
tavaati sambhaavanayaa tu kiM punaH ||
Arriving at Dwaraka, a city full of wonderful sights, he entered the
house of Mitravinda, out of the 16,008 houses of Thy consorts, and
experienced that Supreme Bliss, as though he had entered
Vaikunttha itself. His joy knew no bounds on account of the
extremely cordial reception accorded by Thee. What more could
one wish for ?

7. prapuujitaM taM priyayaa cha viijitaM
kare gR^ihiitvaa(a)kathayaH puraakR^itam |
yadindhanaarthaM gurudaarachOditaiH
apartu varShaM tadamarShi kaanane ||
After doing him the proper honours, and getting him fanned by
Thy consort herself, and taking hold of his hands, Thou didst
converse with him about the various memories of those days in
the Ashram of Sage Sandipani, and, in particular, about the
incident
when both of you went to the forest at the instance of Thy
teacher's wife, to gather fuel, and were taken unawares by an
untimely shower of rain.

8. trapaajuShO(a)smaatpR^ithukaM balaadatha
pragR^ihya muShTau sakR^idaashite tvayaa |
kR^itaM kR^itaM nanviyateti sambhramaad
ramaa kilOpetya karaM rurOdha te ||
On forcibly taking the beaten rice from Kuchela (who was feeling
shy and hesitant to offer it to Thee), and eating one handful, Thy
consort, Rukmini, rushed to Thee in alarm, and checked Thy hand,
saying "This much is enough".

9. bhakteShu bhaktena sa maanitastvayaa
puriiM vasannekanishaaM mahaasukham |
bataaparedyurdraviNaM vinaa yayau
vichitraruupastava khalvanugrahaH ||
After being honoured by Thee, who art the devotee of Thy
devotees,Kuchela spent one night, very happily, in Thy city, and
the next day, he set out on his return journey, empty-handed. Thy
blessing, indeed, is multifaceted and inscrutable.

10. yadihyayaachiShya madaasyadachyutO
vadaami bhaaryaaM kimiti vrajannasau |
tvadukti liilaasmita magnadhiiH punaH
kramaadapashyanmaNi diipramaalayam ||
"If only I had asked, Krishna would certainly have given; what shall
I tell my wife? “ Thinking thus, he wound his way back home, with
his mind wholly absorbed in the pleasant conversation with Thee
and Thy bewitching smile. Gradually, when he reached his place,
he suddenly saw before him a mansion resplendent with gems.

11. kiM maarga vibhramsha iti bhraman kshaNaM
gR^ihaM praviShTaH sa dadarsha vallabhaam |
sakhii pariitaaM maNihema bhuuShitaaM
bubOdha cha tvatkaruNaaM mahaadbhutaam ||
Perplexed for a moment whether he had lost his way, he saw his
wife, bedecked in gold ornaments and jewellery, and surrounded
by her companions. He then realised the marvellous nature of Thy
compassion.

12. sa ratnashaalaasu vasannapi svayaM
samunnamadbhakti bharO(a)mR^itaM yayau |
tvamevamaapuurita bhaktavaanChitO
marutpuraadhiisha harasva me gadaan ||
Even while residing in a gem-studded mansion, Kuchela's intense
devotion to Thee increased steadily and, in due time, he attained
salvation. O Lord of Guruvayur, may Thou eradicate my afflictions.