Narayaneeyam Dasakam 9
“Origin of the Universe”
Sarvatra Govinda Nama Sankeertanam Govinda Govinda
स्थितस्स कमलोद्भवस्तव हि नाभिपङ्केरुहे
कुत: स्विदिदमम्बुधावुदितमित्यनालोकयन् ।
तदीक्षणकुतूहलात् प्रतिदिशं विवृत्तानन-
श्चतुर्वदनतामगाद्विकसदष्टदृष्ट्यम्बुजाम् ॥१॥
sthitassa kamalōdbhavastava hi nābhipaṅkēruhē
kutaḥ svididamambudhāvuditamityanālōkayan ।
tadīkṣaṇakutūhalāt pratidiśaṃ vivṛttānana-
śchaturvadanatāmagādvikasadaṣṭadṛṣṭyambujām ॥1॥
In the first verse of the Ninth Dashakam of the Narayaneeyam, Bhattathiri beautifully narrates the story of how Lord Brahma came to have four faces. According to him, while seated atop the fully expanded lotus that emerged from Lord Vishnu’s lotus-like navel, Brahma turned his face in every direction in search of the lotus’s source. As a result of this, he was blessed with four faces and eight exquisite eyes resembling lotuses.
महार्णवविघूर्णितं कमलमेव तत्केवलं
विलोक्य तदुपाश्रयं तव तनुं तु नालोकयन् ।
क एष कमलोदरे महति निस्सहायो ह्यहं
कुत: स्विदिदम्बुजं समजनीति चिन्तामगात् ॥२॥
mahārṇavavighūrṇitaṃ kamalamēva tatkēvalaṃ
vilōkya tadupāśrayaṃ tava tanuṃ tu nālōkayan ।
ka ēṣa kamalōdarē mahati nissahāyō hyahaṃ
kutaḥ svididambujaṃ samajanīti chintāmagāt ॥2॥
In the expansive expanse of causal waters, Brahma found himself within a colossal lotus gently bobbing on the ocean’s surface. As he pondered his existence, he realized he was completely alone. Despite feeling helpless and isolated, he also marveled at the sight of the lotus stem, which seemed to extend endlessly into the depths, yet he was unable to perceive the body of the divine Lord to whom it belonged.
अमुष्य हि सरोरुह: किमपि कारणं सम्भ्वे-
दिति स्म कृतनिश्चयस्स खलु नालरन्ध्राध्वना ।
स्वयोगबलविद्यया समवरूढवान् प्रौढधी –
स्त्वदीयमतिमोहनं न तु कलेवरं दृष्टवान् ॥३॥
amuṣya hi sarōruhaḥ kimapi kāraṇaṃ sambhvē-
diti sma kṛtaniśchayassa khalu nālarandhrādhvanā ।
svayōgabalavidyayā samavarūḍhavān prauḍhadhī –
stvadīyamatimōhanaṃ na tu kalēvaraṃ dṛṣṭavān ॥3॥
In the third sloka, Bhattathiri describes Brahma using his powerful intellect to search for the source of the lotus. With his yogic abilities, Brahma descended through the hollow of the lotus stem in an attempt to find its root. Despite his efforts, he was unable to behold the enchanting form of the Lord.
तत: सकलनालिकाविवरमार्गगो मार्गयन्
प्रयस्य शतवत्सरं किमपि नैव संदृष्टवान् ।
निवृत्य कमलोदरे सुखनिषण्ण एकाग्रधी:
समाधिबलमादधे भवदनुग्रहैकाग्रही ॥४॥
tataḥ sakalanālikāvivaramārgagō mārgayan
prayasya śatavatsaraṃ kimapi naiva sandṛṣṭavān ।
nivṛtya kamalōdarē sukhaniṣaṇṇa ēkāgradhīḥ
samādhibalamādadhē bhavadanugrahaikāgrahī ॥4॥
“O Lord Guruvayoorappa,” exclaimed Bhattathiri, “Brahma spent a hundred divine years painstakingly searching through every orifice of the lotus stem, but to no avail.” Disheartened, Brahma returned to the lotus, where he sat quietly and focused intently. Falling into a deep samaadhi, he sought your grace alone with utmost devotion.
शतेन परिवत्सरैर्दृढसमाधिबन्धोल्लसत्-
प्रबोधविशदीकृत: स खलु पद्मिनीसम्भव: ।
अदृष्टचरमद्भुतं तव हि रूपमन्तर्दृशा
व्यचष्ट परितुष्टधीर्भुजगभोगभागाश्रयम् ॥५॥
śatēna parivatsarairdṛḍhasamādhibandhōllasat-
prabōdhaviśadīkṛtaḥ sa khalu padminīsambhavaḥ ।
adṛṣṭacharamadbhutaṃ tava hi rūpamantardṛśā
vyachaṣṭa parituṣṭadhīrbhujagabhōgabhāgāśrayam ॥5॥
For a hundred divine years, the lotus-born Brahma remained in a continuous state of samaadhi. During this period, he experienced a profound realization of the ultimate truth. In this state, he had a vision of the awe-inspiring form of the Lord, which is beyond the perception of ordinary humans, resting on Aadishesha’s body. This extraordinary experience filled him with overwhelming joy and contentment.
किरीटमुकुटोल्लसत्कटकहारकेयूरयुङ्-
मणिस्फुरितमेखलं सुपरिवीतपीताम्बरम् ।
कलायकुसुमप्रभं गलतलोल्लसत्कौस्तुभं
वपुस्तदयि भावये कमलजन्मे दर्शितम् ॥६॥
kirīṭamukuṭōllasatkaṭakahārakēyūrayuṅ-
maṇisphuritamēkhalaṃ suparivītapītāmbaram ।
kalāyakusumaprabhaṃ galatalōllasatkaustubhaṃ
vapustadayi bhāvayē kamalajanmē darśitam ॥6॥
O Prabhu, as expressed by Bhattathiri, my thoughts are absorbed in the celestial manifestation of yours that was unveiled to the lotus-born Brahma. It encompasses a resplendent golden crown, a dazzling azure hue reminiscent of the exquisite Kalaaya flower (blue lily), a radiant Kaustubh jewel adorning your neck, ornate shoulder embellishments and wrist adornments, an adorned golden waistband, and a gracefully draped yellow silk attire (Peetaambara).
श्रुतिप्रकरदर्शितप्रचुरवैभव श्रीपते
हरे जय जय प्रभो पदमुपैषि दिष्ट्या दृशो: ।
कुरुष्व धियमाशु मे भुवननिर्मितौ कर्मठा-
मिति द्रुहिणवर्णितस्वगुणबंहिमा पाहि माम् ॥७॥
śrutiprakaradarśitaprachuravaibhava śrīpatē
harē jaya jaya prabhō padamupaiṣi diṣṭyā dṛśōḥ ।
kuruṣva dhiyamāśu mē bhuvananirmitau karmaṭhā-
miti druhiṇavarṇitasvaguṇabaṃhimā pāhi mām ॥7॥
In the seventh sloka, Bhattathiri depicts Lord Brahma calling out for Lord as Goddess Laxmi’s loving consort. Brahma says that abundant glories have been sung about you in the Vedas. “Hail, all-powerful Lord, remover of sorrows! It is fortunate for me that you have revealed your sacred form to me. O Lord! Give me the ability to create the world with my intelligence.” The sloka ends with Bhattathiri saying, “O Lord, whose infinite excellences were thus praised by Brahma, please be merciful to protect me.”
लभस्व भुवनत्रयीरचनदक्षतामक्षतां
गृहाण मदनुग्रहं कुरु तपश्च भूयो विधे ।
भवत्वखिलसाधनी मयि च भक्तिरत्युत्कटे-
त्युदीर्य गिरमादधा मुदितचेतसं वेधसम् ॥८॥
labhasva bhuvanatrayīrachanadakṣatāmakṣatāṃ
gṛhāṇa madanugrahaṃ kuru tapaścha bhūyō vidhē ।
bhavatvakhilasādhanī mayi cha bhaktiratyutkaṭē-
tyudīrya giramādadhā muditachētasaṃ vēdhasam ॥8॥
O Lord, you have bestowed upon Lord Brahma boundless capacity and knowledge in the creation of the three worlds. You granted him the boon of accomplishing everything by repeating the penance. Thus, you brought great happiness to Brahmaa’s mind.
शतं कृततपास्तत: स खलु दिव्यसंवत्सरा-
नवाप्य च तपोबलं मतिबलं च पूर्वाधिकम् ।
उदीक्ष्य किल कम्पितं पयसि पङ्कजं वायुना
भवद्बलविजृम्भित: पवनपाथसी पीतवान् ॥९॥
śataṃ kṛtatapāstataḥ sa khalu divyasaṃvatsarā-
navāpya cha tapōbalaṃ matibalaṃ cha pūrvādhikam ।
udīkṣya kila kampitaṃ payasi paṅkajaṃ vāyunā
bhavadbalavijṛmbhitaḥ pavanapāthasī pītavān ॥9॥
After a hundred divine years of penance, Brahma’s spiritual and mental abilities were greatly enhanced. Sitting on a lotus floating in the causal waters, he solemnly prepared for creation, drawing strength from the winds and waters and harnessing the powers bestowed upon him.
तवैव कृपया पुनस्सरसिजेन तेनैव स:
प्रकल्प्य भुवनत्रयीं प्रववृते प्रजानिर्मितौ ।
तथाविधकृपाभरो गुरुमरुत्पुराधीश्वर
त्वमाशु परिपाहि मां गुरुदयोक्षितैरीक्षितै: ॥१०॥
tavaiva kṛpayā punassarasijēna tēnaiva saḥ
prakalpya bhuvanatrayīṃ pravavṛtē prajānirmitau ।
tathāvidhakṛpābharō gurumarutpurādhīśvara
tvamāśu paripāhi māṃ gurudayōkṣitairīkṣitaiḥ ॥10॥
With great compassion, Brahma proceeded to create the three worlds from the lotus itself and initiated the process of creating different kinds of beings. Bhattathiri fervently pleads, “O Lord of Guruvaayur! Please gaze upon me with immense mercy and provide me with protection swiftly.”