Nārada’s Stotra to Nara-Nārāyaṇa

This stotra was sung by Nārada, the devarshi, to Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa at Badarikāśrama. Nārada offered it as he was about to leave, after he had spent one thousand years of the devas in tapas (austerity) there and had received the full teaching of the Ekāntika Dharma. It is found in the Vāsudeva Māhātmya of the Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, chapter 31, verses 10 to 23.

In it Nārada calls Nārāyaṇa Vāsudeva, the bearer of the universe, the great teacher of the Paramahaṃsas and the Brahman without guṇas. He also calls him the only protector from Kāla, Māyā, Yama and saṃsāra.

The setting

Nārada came back from Goloka. As Bhagavān Kṛshṇa had told him, he went down to Badarikāśrama and worshipped Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa there. Nārāyaṇa is the form of Vāsudeva who lives at Badarī, and Nara is his eternal companion.

Nārada spent one thousand years of the devas in tapas. Every day he heard from the mouth of Nārāyaṇa teachings on Dharma and jñāna (knowledge). He grew deeply fond of Śrī Kṛshṇa, who lives in all beings as the ātmā (the self).

Nārāyaṇa was pleased with what Nārada had reached. He declared Nārada a Siddha. He gave him the task of spreading the Ekāntika Dharma everywhere. Then, before leaving, Nārada stood with folded hands and sang this stotra.

The stotra

Verse 10

Again and again I bow to you, O Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa, teacher of the world, whose form is divine and beyond the world. You are a mine of endless good and auspicious qualities. Always be especially kind to me, your servant.

Verse 11

You are Vāsudeva, the home (the bearer) of the universe. You do tapas for the good of the world. You are the master of the masters of Yoga, fixed in perfect calm. You are the master of those who find joy in the things of the spirit. You are the great teacher of the Paramahaṃsas.

Verse 12

You are all-pervading, the foremost among the ṛshis. You are the imperishable ātmā, the ruler of the jīvas and the devas. You are the witness of all, the great Person, who depends on none. Kāla (Time, the destroyer of all) became great by a mere movement of your eyebrow.

Verse 13

O Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa, you play at the creation and the dissolution of the world as the ātmā of the Māyā-Purusha. Yet you are not the doer. You are without guṇas, the whole of all beings, the Supreme Brahman, greater than the great.

Verse 14

You are the Truth. You shine by your own light. Your power is beyond thought and reasoning. Your form is worthy of the meditation of those whose minds are one with Brahman. You are the teacher of Bṛhadvrata (Mahāvrata). You are the chief of the great ṛshis. By your strength you broke the pride of the deva of Love.

Verse 15

Because of your brilliance and strength, anger, addiction, envy and greed, the chief enemies of those who do tapas, can never even enter your āśrama.

Verse 16

You are made of the Vedas and of knowledge. You are the path of immortality. You are made of Dharma and you are the support of the creation of Dharma. You have pulled out the very root of Adharma. You are unchanging, imperishable, the unseen kinsman.

Verse 17

You are without guṇas and flawless in form. All your acts are without guṇas. You are to be adored by those who seek Dharma, wealth and love, and also by those who long for moksha. You are the sovereign ruler of the universe, O Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa.

Verse 18

You alone can protect from the great fear that comes from Kāla, Māyā, Yama and saṃsāra. You are full of compassion. You overlook the faults and the pāpa (sins) of your devotees. You are truly kind to your devotees.

Verse 19

A person who remembers, at the time of death, only the name or the form of your avatāras (descents) is freed at once from the great flood of pāpa and goes quickly to svarga (heaven).

Verse 20

A deluded person who leaves you and becomes attached to the body made of the three guṇas, to the things joined to the body, and to wife, children, kinsmen and wealth, is cheated by Māyā.

Verse 21

The human body is the right means for the bhakti (devotion) to you that even the residents of svarga seek. I know that the pleasures of svarga without devotion to you are like naraka (hell).

Verse 22

You do tapas for the happiness of the three worlds. Still, it is a far greater favour to the people of Bhārata that you have taken avatāra here and shine here as you move among them.

Verse 23: the closing prayer

The Śāstras count as ungrateful those who do not come to you here, you who are as described above. So may you show kindness to me, who come to you alone and hold to you firmly.

Sources

  • Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Vāsudeva Māhātmya, chapter 31 (verses 10 to 23)