vishnukrishnaguruvayurnarayaniyam

Sandrananda Avabodhatmakam (Narayaniyam Opening)

सान्द्रानन्दावबोधात्मकम् (नारायणीयम् आरम्भ)

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Early morning, especially on Ekadashi and during visits to Guruvayur; daily as the opening of Narayaniyam parayana·📜 Narayaniyam, Dashaka 1, verses 1-2 (Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri)

Also known as: sandrananda avabodhatmakam · narayaniyam first verse · narayaneeyam opening · gurupavanapure bhagyam jananam

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

These are the opening two verses of the Narayaniyam, the celebrated devotional poem of 1,034 verses composed by Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri before the Lord of Guruvayur. The first verse marvels that the supreme Brahman — bliss, consciousness, beyond time and space — shines visibly as Krishna in the Guruvayur shrine. The second laments worldly distraction and surrenders at the Lord's feet, praying Vasudeva to swiftly remove the poet's suffering.

Origin & Story

Narayaniyam, Dashaka 1, verses 1-2 (Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri) · Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri · 16th century CE (1586 CE)

Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, a scholar of Kerala, took upon himself the paralysis of his guru. Advised to surrender to Guruvayurappan, he composed ten verses each day in praise of the Lord, drawing from the Bhagavatam. He began with these verses celebrating the presence of Brahman at Guruvayur. On completing the 1,034th verse, he beheld a vision of the Lord and was healed.

✦ As told in scripture

It is famously recounted that as Bhattathiri completed the final dashaka of the Narayaniyam, the Lord of Guruvayur granted him a direct vision and cured his crippling paralysis — and to this day devotees recite the work, beginning with 'Sandrananda-avabodhatmakam', praying for relief from disease and sorrow.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

सान्द्रानन्दावबोधात्मकमनुपमितं कालदेशावधिभ्यां निर्मुक्तं नित्यमुक्तं निगमशतसहस्रेण निर्भास्यमानम् । अस्पष्टं दृष्टमात्रे पुनरुरुपुरुषार्थात्मकं ब्रह्म तत्त्वं तत्तावद्भाति साक्षाद्गुरुपवनपुरे हन्त भाग्यं जनानाम् ॥

Sāndrānandāvabodhātmakamanupamitaṁ kāladeśāvadhibhyāṁ Nirmuktaṁ nityamuktaṁ nigamaśatasahasreṇa nirbhāsyamānam | Aspaṣṭaṁ dṛṣṭamātre punarurupuruṣārthātmakaṁ brahma tattvaṁ Tattāvadbhāti sākṣādgurupavanapure hanta bhāgyaṁ janānām ||

Meaning:That essence of Brahman, made of concentrated bliss and pure consciousness, incomparable, free from the bounds of time and place, eternally liberated, revealed by a hundred thousand Vedic scriptures — unclear to ordinary sight yet directly perceived, the very embodiment of the supreme goal of life — that same reality shines visibly here in Guruvayur. Oh, what great fortune is this for the people!

Verse 2

एवं दुर्लभ्यवस्तुन्यपि सुलभतया हस्तलब्धे यदन्यत् तन्वा वाचा धिया वा भजति बत जनः क्षुद्रतां क्षुद्रबुद्धिः । एषोऽहं विश्वमूर्ते तव चरणयुगं देवपूज्यं प्रपद्ये हन्त वासुदेव क्षपय दुरितं द्रागयो माममुं ते ॥

Evaṁ durlabhyavastunyapi sulabhatayā hastalabdhe yadanyat Tanvā vācā dhiyā vā bhajati bata janaḥ kṣudratāṁ kṣudrabuddhiḥ | Eṣo'haṁ viśvamūrte tava caraṇayugaṁ devapūjyaṁ prapadye Hanta vāsudeva kṣapaya duritaṁ drāgayo māmamuṁ te ||

Meaning:Though such a rare treasure has thus come easily within reach, alas, the small-minded person still chases trivial things with body, speech and mind. O you whose form is the whole universe, I take refuge at your two feet, worshipped even by the gods. O Vasudeva, swiftly destroy this suffering of mine — I who have come to you.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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सान्द्र-आनन्द🔊sandra-anandadense, concentrated bliss

अवबोध-आत्मकम्🔊avabodha-atmakamof the nature of pure consciousness/awareness

अनुपमितम्🔊anupamitamincomparable, beyond all comparison

कालदेशावधिभ्यां निर्मुक्तम्🔊kala-desha-avadhibhyam nirmuktamfree from the limits of time and space

नित्यमुक्तम्🔊nityamuktameternally free / ever-liberated

निगमशतसहस्रेण निर्भास्यमानम्🔊nigama-shata-sahasrena nirbhasyamanamrevealed by a hundred thousand Vedic texts

अस्पष्टम् दृष्टमात्रे🔊aspashtam drishtamatreunclear at first sight, yet directly perceptible

उरु-पुरुषार्थ-आत्मकम्🔊uru-purushartha-atmakamthe very embodiment of the highest human goal (liberation)

ब्रह्म तत्त्वम्🔊brahma tattvamthe supreme reality, Brahman

साक्षात् गुरुपवनपुरे भाति🔊sakshat gurupavanapure bhatishines directly (manifest) in Guruvayur

हन्त भाग्यं जनानाम्🔊hanta bhagyam jananamoh, what great fortune of the people!

हस्तलब्धे🔊hastalabdhethough obtained (so easily) in one's own hands

क्षुद्रबुद्धिः क्षुद्रताम् भजति🔊kshudrabuddhih kshudratam bhajatithe small-minded person pursues trivial things

विश्वमूर्ते🔊vishvamurteO you whose form is the entire universe!

तव चरणयुगं प्रपद्ये🔊tava charanayugam prapadyeI take refuge at your two feet

वासुदेव क्षपय दुरितम्🔊vasudeva kshapaya duritamO Vasudeva, destroy (my) suffering and sin

द्राक्🔊drakquickly, at once

Benefits of Chanting Sandrananda Avabodhatmakam (Narayaniyam Opening)

✦

Opens the Narayaniyam, a poem famed for healing and divine grace

✦

Affirms that the formless Brahman is directly present as Krishna in Guruvayur

✦

Cultivates surrender (prapatti) at the feet of Vasudeva

✦

Traditionally recited for relief from illness and suffering

✦

Awakens longing for the supreme goal (moksha) over fleeting pleasures

✦

Considered highly auspicious as the dawn-prayer of Guruvayur devotees

How to Chant Sandrananda Avabodhatmakam (Narayaniyam Opening)

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEarly morning, especially on Ekadashi and during visits to Guruvayur; daily as the opening of Narayaniyam parayana

Recite these opening verses to begin the Narayaniyam, ideally facing an image of Guruvayurappan (Krishna). Sit with a calm, devoted mind, picturing the Lord enshrined at Guruvayur as the visible form of Brahman. These two verses may also be chanted on their own as a heartfelt prayer of surrender and for relief from suffering, in the spirit in which Bhattathiri composed them.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Narayaniyam is a devotional Sanskrit poem of 1,034 verses (100 dashakas) condensing the Srimad Bhagavatam, composed in the 16th century by Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri at the Guruvayur temple in Kerala. These are its opening verses.

It declares that the supreme Brahman — concentrated bliss and consciousness, beyond time and space, praised by countless Vedic texts — shines directly and visibly as the Lord of Guruvayur, calling this the great fortune of the people.

Tradition holds that Bhattathiri composed it to be cured of paralysis, taking upon himself the ailment of his guru. As he completed it before Guruvayurappan, he was healed — so the poem, beginning with these verses, is cherished as a prayer for health and grace.

Yes. While they open the full poem, the two verses form a complete meditation on the presence of Brahman at Guruvayur and a prayer of surrender to Vasudeva, and are often recited on their own.