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. jaatasya dhruvakula eva tungakiirterangasya
vyajani sutaH sa venanaamaa |
taddOShavyathitamatiH sa raajavarya-
Stvatpaade nihitamanaa vanaM gatO(a)bhuut ||
The famous king, Anga, who was born in the same dynasty as Dhruva, had
a son named Vena, who was very wicked. Anga, who was heart broken by
his son's evil ways, went to the forest, with his mind dedicated to Thy feet
alone.
jaatasya dhruvakula eva tungakiirterangasya
vyajani sutaH sa venanaamaa |
taddOShavyathitamatiH sa raajavarya-
Stvatpaade nihitamanaa vanaM gatO(a)bhuut ||
The famous king, Anga, who was born in the same dynasty as Dhruva, had
a son named Vena, who was very wicked. Anga, who was heart broken by
his son's evil ways, went to the forest, with his mind dedicated to Thy feet
alone.

4. paapO(a)pi kshititalapaalanaaya venaH
pauraardyairupanihitaH kaThOraviiryaH |
sarvebhyO nijabalameva samprashamsan
bhuuchakre tava yajanaanyayaM nyarautsiit ||
In spite of his wickedness and cruelty, he was crowned king by the
subjects of his kingdom to rule over the land. Owing to his arrogance and
pride, he indulged in self praise and banned all sacrificial rites to Thee and
all kinds of worship of Thee in his kingdom.

5. sampraapte hitakathanaaya taapasaughe
mattO(a)nyO bhuvanapatirna kashchaneti |
tvannindaavachanaparO muniishvaraistaiH
shaapaagnau shalabhadashaamanaayi venaH ||
In order to bring him back to the path of righteousness, several sages
came to advise him for his own good, but he spurned their advice,
boasting that he alone was the supreme lord on earth, and blaspheming
Thee using vile words. The lordly sages, enraged by his behaviour, cursed
him and reduced him to ashes, like a moth burnt in fire.

6. tannaashaat khalajanabhiirukairmuniindraiH-
stanmaatraa chiraparirakshite tadange |
tyaktaaghe parimathitaadathOrudaNDaa-
ddOrdaNDe parimathite tvamaaviraasiiH ||
After his death, the great sages were afraid that tyranny and evil would
increase if the kingdom remained without a ruler. Vena's mother had long
preserved his dead body. So the lordly sages churned his thighs, which
were like strong poles and removed all his sins. Then, when they churned
his ramrod like arm, Thou manifested Thyself.

7. vikhyaataH pR^ithuriti taapasOpadiShTaiH
suutaadyaiH pariNutabhaavibhuuriviiryaH |
venaartyaa kabalitasampadaM dharitrii-
maakraantaaM nijadhanuShaa samaamakaarShiiH ||
Thou took the form of Prithu, the great emperor. Prompted by the sages,
soothsayers, bards and others sang hymns of glory about the various
brave and gallant exploits Thou wert to perform in the future. Due to
Vena's evil deeds, the Earth had swallowed all her wealth and would not
bring it forth. Attacking her with Thy bow, Thou levelled all the ups and
downs and made the Earth yield all the hidden wealth.

8. bhuuyastaaM nijakulamukhyavatsayuktai-
rdevaadyaiH samuchitachaarubhaajaneShu |
annaadiinyabhilaShitaani yaani taani
svachChandaM surabhitanuumaduuduhastvam ||
Transforming the Earth into the celestial cow, Kamadhenu, Thou made the
gods and others milk it, using the heads of their dynasties as calves, (and
obtain) whatever they wished for, such as food and other desired objects,
in befitting, beautiful vessels, as much as they wanted.

9. aatmaanaM yajati makhaistvayi tridhaama-
nnaarabdhe shatatamavaajimedhayaage |
spardhaaluH shatamakha etya niichaveShO
hR^itvaa(a)shvaM tava tanayaat paraajitO(a)bhuut ||
Oh Lord of three abodes ! Thou, in the form of Prithu, performed several
sacrifices to Vishnu, which is Thine own self. When the hundredth horse
sacrifice began, Indra, out of jealousy, came to Thee, disguised as a lowly
barbarian, and abducted the horse. In the battle which followed, he was
defeated by Thy son.

10. devendraM muhuriti vaajinaM harantaM
vahnau taM munivaramaNDale juhuuShau |
rundhaane kamalabhave kratOH samaaptau
saakshaattvaM madhuripumaikshathaaH svayaM svam
But Indra came back persistently and abducted the horse, time and again.
Finally the great sages decided to make Devendra, himself the sacrificial
offering, but God Brahma stopped them from doing so. When the sacrifice
was over, Thou saw Thine own self manifested in the all-pervading Vishnu
form.

11. taddattaM varamupalabhya bhaktimekaaM
gangaante vihitapadaH kadaapi deva |
satrasthaM muninivahaM hitaani shamsa-
nnaikshiShThaaH sanakamukhaan muniin purastaat
In Thy form as Prithu, Thou received the boon of single-minded devotion
from Vishnu. Later, while residing on the banks of the river Ganges, (as
Prithu), when Thou wert engaged in counselling the sages assembled
there for a sacrificial session, about Dharma, Thou saw in person the great
sage, Sanaka and others.

12. vij~naanaM sanakamukhOditaM dadhaanaH
svaatmaanaM svayamagamO vanaantasevii |
tattaadR^ikpR^ithuvapuriisha satvaraM me
rOgaughaM prashamaya vaatagehavaasin ||
Following the advice on spiritual wisdom given by Sanaka and the rest,
Thou, as Prithu, went to the forest to do penance and attained self-
salvation, merging in Thine own self. Oh Guruvayurappa ! May Thou who
came in the form of Prithu, remove all my afflictions.