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. durvaasaassuravanitaapta divyamaalyaM
shakraaya svayamupadaaya tatra bhuuyaH |
naagendra pratimR^idite shashaapa shakraM
kaa kshaantistvaditara devataamsha jaanaam ||
Sage Durvasa, once gifted to Indra, the divine garland, presented to him by celestial
maidens. That garland was trampled upon and crushed by Iravata, lord of elephants,
belonging to Indra. Seeing this, the sage cursed him out of anger. Since Durvasa was
not born of Thee, (but of Rudra), tolerance was not one of his qualities.

4. shaapena prathitajare(a)tha nirjarendre
deveShvapyasurajiteShu niShprabheShu |
sharvaadyaaH kamalajametya sarvadevaa
nirvaaNaprabhava samaM bhavantamaapuH ||
Due to that curse, Indra, hitherto known as Nirjara, or The Unaging One, was
afflicted by old age; the gods were defeated by the demons and lost all their glory
and strength. Oh Thou Source of Deliverance ! All the gods including Siva went to
Brahma, and along with him came to Thee for help.

5. brahmaadyaiH stuta mahimaa chiraM tadaaniiM
praaduShShan varada puraH pareNa dhaamnaa |
he devaa ditija kulairvidhaaya sandhiM
piiyuuShaM parimathateti paryashaastvam ||
Oh Varada ! Grantor of Boons ! Thou whose glory was long sung by Brahma and
others, appeared before them, radiating supreme light and ordered them to enter
into a pact with the demon race and churn the ocean for nectar.

6. sandhaanaM kR^itavati daanavaiH suraughe
manthaanaM nayati madena mandaraadrim |
bhraShTe(a)smin badaramivOdvahan khagendre
sadyastvaM vinihitavaan payaHpayOdhau ||
The gods, entering into a peace pact with the demons, proudly brought the Mandara
mountain to be used as a churning stick, but it fell down half way. Then, Thou
seated
aloft Garuda, the king of birds, lifted it effortlessly, as if it were a badara fruit and
soon, placed it in the ocean of milk.

7. aadhaaya drutamatha vaasukiM varatraaM
paathOdhau vinihita sarva biijajaale |
praarabdhe mathanavidhau suraasuraistai-
rvyaajaattvaM bhujagamukhe(a)karOssuraariin ||
Using Vasuki, the serpent, as the churning rope, the gods and demons began to
churn the ocean of milk, with all the vital seeds embedded in it. At that time, Thou,
cunningly, placed the demons, facing the serpent, near its mouth.

8. kshubdhaadrau kshubhitajalOdare tadaaniiM
dugdhaabdhau gurutarabhaaratO nimagne |
deveShu vyathitatameShu tatpriyaiShii
praaNaiShiiH kamaThatanuM kaThOrapR^iShThaam
When the ocean was thus vigorously churned, the churning stick, the Mandara
mountain, due to its own heavy weight, began to sink in the rolling waters below.
Seeing the gods becoming distressed by this, Thou, wishing to help them, took the
form of a hardbacked tortoise.

9. vajraatisthiratara karpareNa viShNO
vistaaraatparigata lakshayOjanena |
ambhOdheH kuharagatena varShmaNaa tvaM
nirmagnaM kshitidharanaathamunninetha ||
Oh Vishnu ! Thou, assuming the form of a tortoise, with its outer shell harder than
diamond, and its width spanning a lakh of yojanas, entered the depths of the ocean,
and lifted the lord of the mountains, that lay sunken there.

10. unmagne jhaTiti tadaa dharaadharendre
nirmethurdR^iDhamihasammadena sarve |
aavishya dvitayagaNe(a)pi sarparaaje
vaivashyaM parishamayannaviivR^idhastaan ||
As the lord of mountains emerged from the water, there was gaiety all round, and
the gods and demons churned with redoubled vigour. Thou, at that time, entered
the
hearts of the two groups and the lord of serpents, enthusing them and driving away
their fatigue.

11. uddaama bhramaNa javOnnamadgiriindra-
nyastaikasthiratara hastapankajaM tvaam |
abhraante vidhigirishaadayaH pramOdaa-
Dudbhraantaa nunuvurupaatta puShpavarShaaH ||
To prevent the Mandara mountain from being toppled, owing to the vigorous
churning and the consequent speedy revolution, Thou, held it firmly in place with
Thy lotus like hand. Seeing this, Siva, Brahma and others, showered flowers on Thee
from the heavens and sang Thy praises full of wonder and delight.

12. daityaughe bhujagamukhaanilena tapte
tenaiva tridashakule(a)pi ki~nchidaarte |
kaaruNyaattava kila deva vaarivaahaaH
praavarShannamaragaNaannadaityasanghaan ||
The poisonous breath emanating from the serpent's mouth, made the demons feel
parched and uncomfortable. The gods also felt the heat, but to a lesser extent, as
they were in the rear. Owing to Thy mercy, Oh Lord ! The clouds rained water on the
gods, but not on the demons.

13. udbhraamyad bahu timi nakra chakravaale
tatraabdhau chiramathite(a)pi nirvikaare |
ekastvaM karayugakR^iShTa sarparaajaH
sanraajan pavanapuresha paahi rOgaat ||
Even though the ocean was churned for a long time, with the multitudes of whales
and crocodiles swimming round in agitation, nothing happened. Then Thou, holding
the `ends of the serpent lord in Thy two hands, churned the ocean, all by Thyself. Oh
Guruvayurappa ! May Thou, of such amazing prowess, protect me from diseases.