The Hymn to Sri Nara-Narayana

Verse 1 (skanda.2.220.1)

स्कन्द उवाच । श्रुत्वैतत्सकलं धर्म्यं यथावद्भगवद्वचः । निःसंशयो मुनिः प्राह तं प्रणम्य कृताञ्जलिः

skanda uvāca | śrutvaitatsakalaṁ dharmyaṁ yathāvadbhagavadvacaḥ | niḥsaṁśayo muniḥ prāha taṁ praṇamya kṛtāñjaliḥ

Skanda said: Having heard in full this righteous discourse spoken duly by the Lord, the sage, all doubts dispelled, bowed to Him and, with joined palms, spoke.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.220.2)

नारद उवाच । नष्टा मे संशयाः सर्वे प्रसादाद्भगवंस्तव । वासुदेवस्य माहात्म्यं मयाधिगतमञ्जसा

nārada uvāca | naṣṭā me saṁśayāḥ sarve prasādādbhagavaṁstava | vāsudevasya māhātmyaṁ mayādhigatamañjasā

Narada said: By your grace, O Lord, all my doubts are destroyed; I have truly and fully grasped the glory of Vasudeva.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.220.3)

कंचित्कालमिहैवाहं तपः कुर्वंस्त्वया सह । शृण्वंश्च नित्यं ज्ञानादि करिष्ये पक्वमात्मनः

kaṁcitkālamihaivāhaṁ tapaḥ kurvaṁstvayā saha | śṛṇvaṁśca nityaṁ jñānādi kariṣye pakvamātmanaḥ

For some time I shall remain right here, performing austerity with you, and, ever hearing knowledge and the rest, I shall bring myself to full ripeness.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.220.4)

स्कन्द उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा नारदस्तत्र तेन चाप्यनुमोदितः । उवास दिव्यवर्षाणां सहस्रं स तपश्चरन्

skanda uvāca | ityuktvā nāradastatra tena cāpyanumoditaḥ | uvāsa divyavarṣāṇāṁ sahasraṁ sa tapaścaran

Skanda said: Having said this, Narada, given leave by Him, dwelt there performing austerity for a thousand divine years.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.220.5)

शुश्राव चानुदिवसं यथाकालं हरेर्मुखात् । धर्मज्ञानाद्यथ प्राप पक्वतां तत्र योगिराट्

śuśrāva cānudivasaṁ yathākālaṁ harermukhāt | dharmajñānādyatha prāpa pakvatāṁ tatra yogirāṭ

And day after day, at the proper time, he heard discourse from the mouth of Hari; and thus that king of yogis attained ripeness in dharma, knowledge, and the rest.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.220.6)

स्नेहं च परमं प्राप स श्रीकृष्णेऽखिलात्मनि । गुणगानपरो नित्यमास भागवताग्रणीः

snehaṁ ca paramaṁ prāpa sa śrīkṛṣṇe'khilātmani | guṇagānaparo nityamāsa bhāgavatāgraṇīḥ

He attained supreme love for Sri Krishna, the Self of all, and, ever devoted to singing His praises, became the foremost of the Bhagavatas.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.220.7)

भक्तिनिष्ठां परां प्राप्तमथ तं सिद्धयोगिनम् । उवाच भगवत्प्रीतः श्रेयस्कृत्सर्वदेहिनाम्

bhaktiniṣṭhāṁ parāṁ prāptamatha taṁ siddhayoginam | uvāca bhagavatprītaḥ śreyaskṛtsarvadehinām

Then, to him who had attained supreme steadfastness in devotion and had become a perfected yogi, the Lord, pleased, He who brings blessing to all embodied beings, spoke.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.220.8)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । सिद्धोसि त्वं महर्षेऽद्य गच्छ लोकहितं कुरु । एकान्तधर्मं सर्वत्र प्रवर्त्तयितुमर्हसि

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | siddhosi tvaṁ maharṣe'dya gaccha lokahitaṁ kuru | ekāntadharmaṁ sarvatra pravarttayitumarhasi

Sri Narayana said: O great sage, you are now perfected; go and work for the welfare of the world. You are worthy to propagate the exclusive dharma everywhere.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.220.9)

स्कन्द उवाच । इत्याज्ञां शिरसा तस्य स आदाय जगद्गुरोः । गच्छंस्ततस्तमस्तौषीत्प्रणम्य प्राञ्जलिः स्थितः

skanda uvāca | ityājñāṁ śirasā tasya sa ādāya jagadguroḥ | gacchaṁstatastamastauṣītpraṇamya prāñjaliḥ sthitaḥ

Skanda said: Having received this command of the Guru of the universe upon his head, he, as he was about to depart, praised Him, standing bowed with joined palms.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.220.10)

नारद उवाच । नमोनमस्ते भगवञ्जगद्गुरो नारायणाऽप्राकृत दिव्यमूर्ते । अनन्तकल्याणगुणाकरस्त्वं दासे मयि प्रीततरः मदा स्याः

nārada uvāca | namonamaste bhagavañjagadguro nārāyaṇā'prākṛta divyamūrte | anantakalyāṇaguṇākarastvaṁ dāse mayi prītataraḥ madā syāḥ

Narada said: Salutations, salutations to You, O Lord, Guru of the universe, Narayana, of a divine form beyond material nature; You are the mine of endless auspicious qualities — may You be ever more pleased with me, Your servant.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.220.11)

त्वं वासुदेवोसि जगन्निवासः क्षेमाय लोकस्य तपः करोषि । योगेश्वरेशोपशमस्थ आत्मारामाधिपस्त्वं परहंससद्गुरुः

tvaṁ vāsudevosi jagannivāsaḥ kṣemāya lokasya tapaḥ karoṣi | yogeśvareśopaśamastha ātmārāmādhipastvaṁ parahaṁsasadguruḥ

You are Vasudeva, the abode of the universe; You perform austerity for the welfare of the world. You are the Lord of the lords of Yoga, established in tranquility, the ruler of those who delight in the Self, the true guru of the Paramahamsas.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.220.12)

विभुर्ऋषीणामृषभोऽक्षरात्मा जीवेश्वराणां च नियामकोसि । साक्षी महापूरुष आत्मतन्त्रः कालोऽभवद्यद्भ्रुकुटेर्महांश्च

vibhurṛṣīṇāmṛṣabho'kṣarātmā jīveśvarāṇāṁ ca niyāmakosi | sākṣī mahāpūruṣa ātmatantraḥ kālo'bhavadyadbhrukuṭermahāṁśca

You are the all-pervading one, the foremost of sages, the Imperishable Self, and the controller of the jivas and the Ishvaras; You are the witness, the Great Person, self-dependent, from whose mere frown even great Time itself came into being.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.220.13)

सर्गादिलीला जगतां त्वमीश करोषि मायापुरुषात्मनैव । तथाप्यकर्त्ता ननु निर्गुणोसि भूमा परब्रह्म परात्परश्च

sargādilīlā jagatāṁ tvamīśa karoṣi māyāpuruṣātmanaiva | tathāpyakarttā nanu nirguṇosi bhūmā parabrahma parātparaśca

O Lord, You perform the sport of the creation and the rest of the worlds through Maya and Purusha alone; yet, indeed, You remain the non-doer, without qualities, the Infinite, the Supreme Brahman, higher than the highest.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.220.14)

सत्यः स्वयंज्योतिरतर्क्यशक्तिस्त्वं ब्रह्मभूतात्मविचिन्त्यमूर्त्तिः । बृहद्व्रताचार्य महामुनीन्द्र कन्दर्पदर्पापहरप्रताप

satyaḥ svayaṁjyotiratarkyaśaktistvaṁ brahmabhūtātmavicintyamūrttiḥ | bṛhadvratācārya mahāmunīndra kandarpadarpāpaharapratāpa

You are the True, the Self-luminous, of inconceivable power, whose form is unfathomable, being of the nature of Brahman itself; O teacher of the great vow, O lord of the great sages, O You whose might destroys the pride of Kamadeva.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.220.15)

तपस्विनां ये रिपवः प्रसिद्धाः क्रोधो रसो मत्सरलोभमुख्याः । अप्याश्रमं तेपि कदापि वेष्टुं नेमं क्षमा ह्येष तव प्रतापः

tapasvināṁ ye ripavaḥ prasiddhāḥ krodho raso matsaralobhamukhyāḥ | apyāśramaṁ tepi kadāpi veṣṭuṁ nemaṁ kṣamā hyeṣa tava pratāpaḥ

The enemies well known to ascetics — anger, sensual craving, and those headed by envy and greed — even these are never able to enter this hermitage; such indeed is Your might.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.220.16)

छन्दोमयो ज्ञानमयोऽमृताध्वा धर्मात्मको धर्मसर्गाभिपोष्टा । उन्मूलिताधर्मसर्गो महात्मा त्वमव्ययश्चाक्षयोऽव्यक्तबन्धुः

chandomayo jñānamayo'mṛtādhvā dharmātmako dharmasargābhipoṣṭā | unmūlitādharmasargo mahātmā tvamavyayaścākṣayo'vyaktabandhuḥ

You consist of the Vedic metres, You consist of knowledge, You are the path of immortality, of the very nature of dharma, the nourisher of the creation of dharma; You are the uprooter of adharma, the Great Soul, imperishable, undecaying, the kinsman of the unmanifest.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.220.17)

निर्दोषरूपस्य तवाऽखिलाः क्रिया भवन्ति वै निर्गुणा निर्गुणस्य । धर्मार्थकामेप्सुभिरर्चनीयस्त्वमीश्वरो नाथ मुमुक्षुभिश्च

nirdoṣarūpasya tavā'khilāḥ kriyā bhavanti vai nirguṇā nirguṇasya | dharmārthakāmepsubhirarcanīyastvamīśvaro nātha mumukṣubhiśca

For You, of a faultless form, all actions are indeed without binding quality, since You are Yourself without qualities. You, O Lord and Master, are to be worshipped both by those who desire dharma, wealth, and pleasure, and by those who seek liberation.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.220.18)

त्वं कालमायायमसंसृतिभ्यो महाभयात्पातुमेकः समर्थः । भक्तापराधाननवेक्षमाणो महादयालुः किल भक्तवत्सलः

tvaṁ kālamāyāyamasaṁsṛtibhyo mahābhayātpātumekaḥ samarthaḥ | bhaktāparādhānanavekṣamāṇo mahādayāluḥ kila bhaktavatsalaḥ

You alone are capable of protecting from the great terror of Time, Maya, Yama, and worldly existence; overlooking the offences of Your devotees, You are indeed most compassionate, and full of affection for Your devotees.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.220.19)

धृतावतारस्य हि नाममात्रं रूपं च वा यः स्मरेदन्तकाले । सोपि प्रभो घोरमहाघसंघात्सद्यो विमुक्तो दिवमाशु याति

dhṛtāvatārasya hi nāmamātraṁ rūpaṁ ca vā yaḥ smaredantakāle | sopi prabho ghoramahāghasaṁghātsadyo vimukto divamāśu yāti

O Lord, even he who, at the time of death, remembers merely the name, or the form, of an incarnation You have assumed, is at once freed from a terrible mass of great sins and swiftly goes to heaven.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.220.20)

तं त्वां विहायाऽत्र तु यो मनुष्यो देहे त्रिधातावपि देहिकेषु । जायात्मजज्ञातिधनेषु सज्जते स मायया वञ्चित एव मूढः

taṁ tvāṁ vihāyā'tra tu yo manuṣyo dehe tridhātāvapi dehikeṣu | jāyātmajajñātidhaneṣu sajjate sa māyayā vañcita eva mūḍhaḥ

But the man who, abandoning You here, becomes attached to the body composed of the three humors, or to other embodied beings, or to wife, children, kinsmen, and wealth — that fool is indeed deceived by Maya.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.220.21)

त्वद्भक्तियोग्यो नरदेह एव यं कामयन्तेऽपि च नाकसंस्थाः । त्वद्भक्तिहीनं हि दिवोपि सौख्यमहं तु जाने नरकेण तुल्यम्

tvadbhaktiyogyo naradeha eva yaṁ kāmayante'pi ca nākasaṁsthāḥ | tvadbhaktihīnaṁ hi divopi saukhyamahaṁ tu jāne narakeṇa tulyam

It is the human body alone that is fit for devotion to You, and even the dwellers of heaven desire it; for I consider even the happiness of heaven, if devoid of devotion to You, to be equal to hell.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.220.22)

तपस्त्रिलोक्याः कुरुषे सुखाय तत्रापि ते भारतवासिपुंसु । अनुग्रहो भूरितरो यदत्र कृतावतारो विचरन्विराजसे

tapastrilokyāḥ kuruṣe sukhāya tatrāpi te bhāratavāsipuṁsu | anugraho bhūritaro yadatra kṛtāvatāro vicaranvirājase

You perform austerity for the happiness of the three worlds; yet among them, Your grace toward the men who dwell in Bharata is greater still, in that You wander here, having assumed an incarnation, and shine forth.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.220.23)

तस्याश्रयं ये तव नात्र कुर्वते त एव शास्त्रेषु मताः कृतघ्नाः । अतस्तवैकाश्रयमेव बाढं कुर्वत्यजस्रं मयि तेऽस्तु तुष्टिः

tasyāśrayaṁ ye tava nātra kurvate ta eva śāstreṣu matāḥ kṛtaghnāḥ | atastavaikāśrayameva bāḍhaṁ kurvatyajasraṁ mayi te'stu tuṣṭiḥ

Those who do not take refuge in You here are indeed regarded in the scriptures as ingrates; therefore, may You be ever and firmly pleased with me, who take refuge in You alone, constantly.