Narayaniyam Dashaka 8
Narayaniyam Dashaka 8
Narayaniyam Dashaka 8
nārāyaṇīyaṃ daśaka 8 - pralayavarṇanam
evaṃ tāvat prākṛtaprakṣayānte
brāhme kalpe hyādime labdhajanmā |
brahmā bhūyastvatta evāpya vedān
sṛṣṭiṃ cakre pūrvakalpopamānām ||1||
so'yaṃ caturyugasahasramitānyahāni
tāvanmitāśca rajanīrbahuśo nināya |
nidrātyasau tvayi nilīya samaṃ svasṛṣṭai-
rnaimittikapralayamāhurato'sya rātrim ||2||
asmādṛśāṃ punaraharmukhakṛtyatulyāṃ
sṛṣṭiṃ karotyanudinaṃ sa bhavatprasādāt |
prāgbrāhmakalpajanuṣāṃ ca parāyuṣāṃ tu
suptaprabodhanasamāsti tadā'pi sṛṣṭiḥ ||3||
pañcāśadabdamadhunā svavayordharūpa-
mekaṃ parārdhamativṛtya hi vartate'sau |
tatrāntyarātrijanitān kathayāmi bhūman
paścāddināvataraṇe ca bhavadvilāsān ||4||
dināvasāne'tha sarojayoniḥ
suṣuptikāmastvayi sannililye |
jaganti ca tvajjaṭharaṃ samīyu-
stadedamekārṇavamāsa viśvam ||5||
tavaiva veṣe phaṇirāji śeṣe
jalaikaśeṣe bhuvane sma śeṣe |
ānandasāndrānubhavasvarūpaḥ
svayoganidrāparimudritātmā ||6||
kālākhyaśaktiṃ pralayāvasāne
prabodhayetyādiśatā kilādau |
tvayā prasuptaṃ parisuptaśakti-
vrajena tatrākhilajīvadhāmnā ||7||
caturyugāṇāṃ ca sahasramevaṃ
tvayi prasupte punaradvitīye |
kālākhyaśaktiḥ prathamaprabuddhā
prābodhayattvāṃ kila viśvanātha ||8||
vibudhya ca tvaṃ jalagarbhaśāyin
vilokya lokānakhilān pralīnān |
teṣveva sūkṣmātmatayā nijāntaḥ -
sthiteṣu viśveṣu dadātha dṛṣṭim ||9||
tatastvadīyādayi nābhirandhrā-
dudañcitaṃ kiñcana divyapadmam |
nilīnaniśśeṣapadārthamālā-
saṅkṣeparūpaṃ mukulāyamānam ||10||
tadetadambhoruhakuḍmalaṃ te
kalevarāt toyapathe prarūḍham |
bahirnirītaṃ paritaḥ sphuradbhiḥ
svadhāmabhirdhvāntamalaṃ nyakṛntat ||11||
samphullapatre nitarāṃ vicitre
tasmin bhavadvīryadhṛte saroje |
sa padmajanmā vidhirāvirāsīt
svayamprabuddhākhilavedarāśiḥ ||12||
asmin parātman nanu pādmakalpe
tvamitthamutthāpitapadmayoniḥ |
anantabhūmā mama rogarāśiṃ
nirundhi vātālayavāsa viṣṇo ||13||
Related Scriptures
About This Stotram
Overview
Narayaniyam Dashaka 8 is the eighth ten-verse section of the Narayaniyam, the Sanskrit devotional work composed by Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri in the 16th century CE. This dashaka, titled "Pralaya Varnanam" (Description of Dissolution), describes the Naimittika Pralaya — the periodic cosmic dissolution that occurs at the end of Brahma's day — as recounted in the Srimad Bhagavatam. The section illustrates Lord Narayana's role as the ground and sustainer of existence through cycles of creation and dissolution.
What are the benefits of chanting Narayaniyam Dashaka 8?
- Provides a framework for understanding the impermanence of the manifest world
- Deepens contemplation of Narayana as the underlying constant through cosmic cycles
- Supports detachment from material phenomena as understood in Advaita Vedanta
- Connects the practitioner to the cosmological teachings of the Bhagavatam tradition
When is the best time to recite this?
The dashaka is recited morning and evening as part of the sequential reading of the Narayaniyam. It is particularly appropriate for periods of personal contemplation on cosmic themes and is recited at Guruvayur Ekadashi along with other dashakas.
What is the historical and traditional background?
Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri composed the Narayaniyam at the Guruvayur temple in Kerala around 1586 CE. The work of 1,036 verses across 100 dashakas condenses the Srimad Bhagavatam in a devotional and philosophical manner. Dashaka 8's treatment of cosmic dissolution draws directly from the Bhagavatam's cosmological sections and reflects the Puranic framework of cyclical time. The Narayaniyam is recited daily at the Guruvayur temple and is considered one of the most significant Sanskrit devotional works of the Kerala tradition.
Available scripts
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Related Texts
- Narayaniyam Dashaka 1 — the opening dashaka of the same work that introduces the nature of Brahman, providing context for the cosmological description in this section
- Narayaniyam Dashaka 2 — the preceding section that addresses the sweetness of the Lord's form before the narrative moves to cosmological themes