Narayana Stotram by Adi Shankaracharya
Shree naaraayana stotram'
Naaraayana naaraayana jaya govinda hare ||
Naaraayana naaraayana jaya gopaala hare ||
Karunaapaaraavaara varunaalaya gambheera naaraayana || 1
Navaneeradasankaasha kri'takalikalmashanaashana naaraayana || 2
Yamunaateeravihaara dhri'takaustubhamanihaara naaraayana || 3
Peetaambaraparidhaana surakal'yaananidhaana naaraayana || 4
Manjulagunjaabhoosha maayaamaanushavesha naaraayana || 5
Raadhaa'dharamadhurasika rajaneekarakulatilaka naaraayana || 6
Mural'eegaanavinoda vedastutabhoopaada naaraayana || 7
[* barhinibarhaapeed'a nat'anaat'akaphanikreed'a naaraayana *]
Vaarijabhooshaabharana raajeevarukmineeramana naaraayana || 8
Jalaruhadal'anibhanetra jagadaarambhakasootra naaraayana || 9
Paatakarajaneesam'haara karunaalaya maamuddhara naaraayana || 10
Aghabakakshayakam'saare keshava kri'shna muraare naaraayana || 11
Haat'akanibhapeetaambara abhayam' kuru me maavara naaraayana || 12
Dasharatharaajakumaara daanavamadasam'haara naaraayana || 13
Govardhanagiri ramana gopeemaanasaharana naaraayana || 14
Sarayooteeravihaara sajjanari'shimandaara naaraayana || 15
Vishvaamitramakhatra vividhaparaasucharitra naaraayana || 16
Dhvajavajraankushapaada dharaneesutasahamoda naaraayana || 17
Janakasutaapratipaala jaya jaya sam'smri'tileela naaraayana || 18
Dasharathavaagdhri'tibhaara dand'akavanasanchaara naaraayana || 19
Musht'ikachaanoorasam'haara munimaanasavihaara naaraayana || 20
Vaalinigrahashaurya varasugreevahitaarya naaraayana || 21
Maam' mural'eekara dheevara paalaya paalaya shreedhara naaraayana || 22
Jalanidhibandhanadheera raavanakant'havidaara naaraayana || 23
Taat'akamardana raama nat'agunavividhadhanaad'hya naaraayana || 24
Gautamapatneepoojana karunaaghanaavalokana naaraayana || 25
Sambhramaseetaahaara saaketapuravihaara naaraayana || 26
Achaloddhri'tichanchatkara bhaktaanugrahatatpara naaraayana || 27
Naigamagaanavinoda rakshitasuprahlaada naaraayana || 28
[* bhaaratiyativarashankara naamaamri'tamakhilaantara naaraayana *]
Iti shreemachchhankaraachaarya virachita naaraayanastotram |
Meaning
This stotram, composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, is a beautiful devotional praise of Lord Narayana in His many divine manifestations. It begins with melodious invocation — “Narayana Narayana, Jaya Govinda Hare” — symbolizing complete surrender. The hymn then describes the Lord’s infinite compassion, deep like the ocean, His dark-blue cloud-like form, and His role as the remover of sins and destroyer of worldly afflictions.
It lovingly narrates Krishna’s enchanting form: His play on the banks of Yamuna, His radiance with the Kaustubha gem, His yellow garments, flute music, interaction with gopas and gopis, and the sweetness of Radha-Krishna lila. Every verse captures Krishna’s charm — His eyes like lotus petals, His moonlike face, His playful dance with peacock feathers, and His eternal youthfulness.
The stotram later shifts to Lord Rama’s glorious deeds: the slaying of demoness Tataka, protecting Vishvamitra’s yajna, redeeming Ahalya, the exile, the forest wanderings, Sita’s abduction, the building of the ocean bridge, the war with Ravana, and the ultimate restoration of dharma. Each avatar is shown as an expression of the same supreme Narayana.
The hymn praises Him as the protector of Prahlada, destroyer of Kamsa, Varaha, Kesava, Murari, Sri Dhara — all pointing to His infinite roles as savior of the universe. In the end, the devotee pleads for divine protection: “Protect me, O Narayana, uplift me, save me.”
Benefits:
• Offers deep spiritual peace and divine protection
• Removes obstacles, suffering, negative influences
• Strengthens devotion, surrender, and mental clarity
• Invokes grace from Krishna and Rama simultaneously
• Brings auspiciousness, protection, and family wellbeing
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