Vedic Chants

Nārāyaṇa-Upaṇiṣad

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Sanskrit

English

sa̱ha nā̍v-avatu | sa̱ha na̍u bhunaktu | sa̱ha vīrya̍ṁ karavāvahai |

te̱ja̱svi nā̲v-adhī̍tam-astu̱ mā vi̍dviṣā̱vahai̎ ||

om̐ śānti̱ḥ śānti̱ḥ śānti̍ḥ ||

Let God protect the teacher and the student. May God nourish both of us. Let God make us wise (apply our knowledge). Let us work together sincerely. Whatever we may learn, may that be useful to us. Let us not hate each other for any reason. OM…peace, peace, peace.

atha puruṣo ha vai nārāyaṇo ‘kāmayata prajāḥ sṛ̍je ye̱ti |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇāt prā̍ṇo jā̱yate | manaḥ sarvendri̍yāṇi̱ ca |

khaṁ vāyur jyotir-āpaḥ pṛthivī viśva̍sya dhā̱riṇī |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇād bra̍hma jā̱yate |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇād ru̍dro jā̱yate |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇād i̍ndro jā̱yate |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇāt prajāpatayaḥ pra̍jāya̱nte |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇād dvādaśādityā rudrā vasavas sarvāṇi ca cha̍ndā(g)m̐ si |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇād eva samu̍t-padya̱nte |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇe pra̍varta̱nte |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇe pra̍līya̱nte |

etad ṛg veda śiro ‘dhī̲te || 1 ||

Then Narayana, the Supreme Being desired ‘I shall project beings’. From Narayana emanates the prana (life breath), mind and the sense organs, ether, air, fire, water, and the earth that supports all. From Narayana emanates Brahmā. From Narayana emanates Rudra. From Narayana emanates Indra. From Narayana emanate the Prajapatis (The Divine Progenitors). From Narayana emanates the 12 Ādityas, Rudras, Vasus and all the Vedic metres (chandas). From Narayana only do they proceed. Through Narayana do they prosper. In Narayana are they reabsorbed. This, the Rig Veda teaches.

om̐ | atha nityo nā̍rāya̱ṇaḥ |

bra̱hmā nā̍rāya̱ṇaḥ |

śi̱vaś ca̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

śa̱kraś ca̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

dyā̱vā̱ pṛ̱thi̱vyau ca̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

kā̱laś ca̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

di̱śaś ca̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

vi̱di̱śaś ca̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

ū̱rdhvaś ca̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

a̱dhaś ca̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

a̱nta̱r ba̱hiś ca̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

nārāyaṇa eveda̍(g)m̐ sa̱rvam |

yad bhū̱taṁy yac-ca̱ bhavyam̎ |

niṣkalo nirañjano nirvikalpo nirākhyātaś śuddho deva eko̍ nārāya̱ṇaḥ |

na dvi̱tīyo̎ ‘sti̱ kaści̍t | ya e̍vaṁ ve̱da |

sa viṣṇureva bhavati sa viṣṇure̍va bha̱vati |

etad yajur veda śiro ‘dhī̲te || 2 ||

Narayana is eternal. Brahmā is Narayana. Shiva is Narayana. Indra is Narayana. Time is Narayana. Space is Narayana, the intermediate quarters also are Narayana. That which is above is Narayana. That which is below is Narayana. That which is within and that which is without is Narayana. The entire universe which existed and that which will exist is Narayana. Narayana is the only One that is partless, immaculate, inconceivable, indescribable, pure and divine. There is no second. Whosoever knows Him thus, becomes Vishnu. This, the Yajur Veda teaches.

om̐ itya̍gre vyā̱haret | nama i̍ti pa̱ścāt | nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇāyety-u̍pari̱ṣṭāt |

om̐ i̍tyekā̱kṣaram | nama iti̍ dve a̱kṣare |

nā̱rā̱ya̱ṇāyeti pañcā̎kṣarā̱ṇi |

etad vai nārāyaṇasyā ‘ṣṭākṣa̍raṁ pa̱dam |

yo ha vai nārāyaṇasyā ‘ṣṭākṣaraṁ pada̍m-adhye̱ti |

anapabruvas sarvam ā̍yur e̱ti |

vindate prā̍jāpa̱tya(g)m̐ rāyas poṣa̍ṁ gaupa̱tyam |

tato ‘mṛtatvam aśnute tato ‘mṛtatvam aśnu̍ta i̱ti |

ya e̍vaṁ ve̱da |

etat sāma veda śiro ‘dhī̲te || 3 ||

One should utter ‘Om’ first, then ‘Namah’ and thereafter ‘Narayanaya’. ‘Om’ is a single syllable. ‘Namah’ consists of two syllables. ‘Narayanaya’ consists of five syllables. This is the mantra of eight syllables (ashtakshari) pertaining to Narayana. Whoever studies this mantra and chants it constantly, becomes free from all disgrace, attains full life and authority. He enjoys royal pleasures, attains self-mastery, thereupon He attains Liberation, yea Final Liberation. This, the Sama Veda teaches.

pratyag-ānandaṁ brahma puruṣaṁ praṇava̍ svarū̱paṁ |

akāra ukāra makā̍ra i̱ti |

tan-ekadhā samabharat tad-eta̍d-om̐ i̱ti |

yam-uktvā̍ mucya̍te yo̱gī̱ ja̱nma̱ saṁsā̍ra ba̱ndhanāt |

om̐ namo nārāyaṇāyeti ma̍ntropā̲sakaḥ |

vaikuṇṭha bhuvana loka̍ṁ gami̱ṣyati |

tad-idaṁ paraṁ puṇḍarīkaṁ vi̍jñāna̱-ghanam |

tasmāt tad-idā̍van mā̱tram |

brahmaṇyo deva̍kī pu̱tro̱ brahmaṇyo ma̍dhusū̱dan-om̐ |

sarva bhūtastham-eka̍ṁ nārā̱yaṇam |

kāraṇa puruṣaṁ-akāraṇam pa̍rabra̱hm’ om̐ |

etad-atharva śiro̍ yo ‘dhī̲te || 4 ||

The Yogi that recites the name of Him, who is Bliss Absolute, The Great Purusha, who is represented by OM comprised of the three letters A, U, and M, is released from the bondage of birth and repeated transmigration. He who chants the mantra ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ reaches the realm of Vaikunta. That is this Lotus; it is replete with transcendental wisdom and bright as lightning. The son of Devaki (Krishna) is the Supreme, Madhusudana is the Supreme, Narayana who pervades all beings, who is ONE only, the Cause of all, being Himself causeless is the Supreme Being (Parabrahma). This, the Atharva Veda teaches.

prā̱tar-a̍dhīyā̱no̱ rātri-kṛtaṁ pāpa̍ṁ nāśa̱yati |

sā̱yam-a̍dhiyā̱no̱ divas-kṛtaṁ pāpa̍ṁ nāśa̱yati |

mādhyandinam-āditya ‘bhimukho̍ ‘dhiyā̱na̱ḥ pañca pātakopa pātakā̎t

pramu̱cyate |

sarva veda pārāyaṇa pu̍ṇyaṁ la̱bhate |

nārāyaṇa sāyujya̍m-avāpno̱ti̱ nārāyaṇa sāyujya̍m-avāpno̱ti |

ya e̍vaṁ ve̱da | ityu̍pa̱niṣa̍tɘ || 5 ||

Whoever recites this Upanishad in the morning destroys thereby the sins committed during the night. Whoever recites it in the evening destroys thereby the sins committed during the day. Whoever recites it at midday facing the sun is freed from the five heinous sins and all minor ones. He derives the same merit produced by the recitation of all the Vedas. Whoever knows this attains Union with Narayana. He attains Union with Narayana. This is the Secret Teaching.

sa̱ha nā̍v-avatu | sa̱ha na̍u bhunaktu | sa̱ha vīrya̍ṁ karavāvahai |

te̱ja̱svi nā̲v-adhī̍tam-astu̱ mā vi̍dviṣā̱vahai̎ ||

om̐ śānti̱ḥ śānti̱ḥ śānti̍ḥ ǀ śrī̱ gu̱ru̱bhyo̱ nama̱ḥ | hari̍ḥ om̐ ||