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. sthitassa kamalOdbhavastava hi naabhipankeruhe
kutaH svididamambudhaavuditamityanaalOkayan |
tadiikshaNa kutuuhalaat pratidishaM vivR^ittaanana-
shchaturvadanataamagaad vikasadaSh TadR^iShTyambujaam
Sitting in the lotus on Thy navel, Brahma was perplexed as to
wherefrom the lotus sprang up in the ocean. Eager to find out,
he turned his face all round, thereby acquiring four faces with
eight eyes like full-blown lotuses.

4. mahaarNavavighuurNitaM kamalameva tatkevalaM
vilOkya tadupaashrayaM tava tanuM tu naalOkayan |
ka eSha kamalOdare mahati nissahaayO hyahaM
kutaH svididamambujaM samajaniiti chintaamagaat ||
Seeing only the unsupported lotus in the mighty ocean and
not perceiving Thy divine form propping it up, Brahma
started wondering about his own identity, seated all alone in
this huge lotus and about its origination.

5. amuShya hi sarOruhaH kimapi kaaraNaM sambhaved
iti sma kR^itanishchayaH sa khalu naalarandhraadhvanaa |
svayOgabalavidyayaa samavaruuDhavaan
prauDhadhiistvadii-yamatimOhanaM na tu kalebaraM
dR^iShTavaan ||
Convinced that this lotus could not be unsupported and
determined to find its origin, Brahma who was highly
intelligent, descended through the hole in the stalk of the
lotus by his yogic power, but was still unable to locate Thy
extremely charming form.

6. tataH sakalanaalikaa vivaramaargagO maargayan
prayasya shatavatsaraM kimapi naiva sandR^iShTavaan |
nivR^itya kamalOdare sukhaniShaNNa ekaagradhiiH
samaadhi balamaadadhe bhavadanugrahaikaagrahii ||
Even after delving deeply through every hole in the lotus stalk
and searching frantically for a hundred divine years, Brahma
could not find anything.Then giving up the search, he sat in a
relaxed posture within the lotus and with his mind focussed
only on one point, he went into a deep trance invoking only
Thy grace.

7. shatena parivatsaraiH dR^iDha samaadhi bandhOllasat-
prabOdhavishadiikR^ itaH sa khalu padminii sambhavaH |
adR^iShTacharamadbhutaM tava hi ruupamantardR^ishaa
vyachaShTa parituShTadhiiH bhujagabhOga bhaagaashrayam
||
After spending a hundred divine years in a state of deep
trance (samadhi), Brahma cleansed by the pure wisdom
acquired thus, was granted the wonderful never-beforeseen
vision of Thee, lying majestically on one side on the body of
the serpent (Adisesha). Seeing this marvellous vision through
his mind's eye, Brahma was overjoyed.

8. kiriiTa makuTOllasatkaTakahaarakeyuurayug
maNisphuritamekhalaM supariviita piitaambaram |
kalaaya kusumaprabhaM galatalOllasatkaustubhaM
vapustadayi bhaavaye kamalajanmane darshitam ||
Oh Lord ! I worship that divine form, which was shown to
lotus-born God Brahma, that divine form resplendent with
the brilliant crown, adorned with bangles,necklaces and
shoulder bracelets,the gem-studded waistbelt,dressed in the
elegant yellow silkcloth, the radiant Kausthubha jewel round
the neck and sparkling like the Kalaya flower.

9. shrutiprakaradarshita prachuravaibhava shriipate
hare jaya jaya prabhO padamupaiShi diShTyaa dR^ishOH |
kuruShva dhiyamaashu me bhuvananirmitau karmaThaaM
iti druhiNavarNita svaguNabanhimaa paahi maam ||
"Hail, Hail, Oh Hari ! Oh Lord of Lakshmi ! Oh Thou of
Infinite Glory whose supremacy has been described by the
various scriptures ! It is my good fortune that Thou art visible
to me. May Thou grant me the intelligence and skill for the
creation of the world." May Thou, whose abundance of good
qualities has thus been praised by Brahma, protect me.

10. labhasva bhuvanatrayiirachanadakshataamakshataaM
gR^ihaaNa madanugrahaM kuru tapashcha bhuuyO vidhe |
bhavatvakhila saadhanii mayi cha bhaktiratyutkaTe
tyudiirya giramaadadhaa muditachetasaM vedhasam ||
Thou blessed Brahma with unlimited skill for the creation of
the three worlds and urged him to do penance again. Thou
who art the personification of accomplishment encouraged
Brahma to pray to Thee with more intense fervour and
delighted him with more boons than he asked for.

11. shataM kR^ita tapaastataH sa khalu divya sanvatsaraan
avaapya cha tapObalaM matibalaM cha puurvaadhikam |
udiikshya kila kampitaM payasi pankajaM vaayunaa
bhavadbalavijR^imbhitaH pavanapaathasii piitavaan ||
Then God Brahma did penance for a hundred divine years and
acquired more strength from penance and more intelligence
than ever before. Seeing the lotus trembling in the water due
to the wind, he inhaled both the wind and water, heartened
by Thy moral support.

12. tavaiva kR^ipayaa punassarasijena tenaiva saH
prakalpya bhuvanatrayiiM pravavR^ite prajaanirmitau |
tathaa vidha kR^ipaabharO gurumarutpuraadhiishvara
tvamaashu paripaahi maaM gurudayOkshitairiikshitaiH ||
Once more, by Thy blessing, God Brahma, with the lotus as
base, created the three worlds and began the creation of
living beings. Oh Guruvayurappa ! May Thou of such infinite
mercy, protect me by Thy compassion filled glances.