Sri Narayana Ashtakam
Shree naaraayanaasht'akam'
Vaatsalyaadabhayapradaanasamayaadaartaartinirvaapanaa-
-daudaaryaadaghashoshanaadaganitashreyah' padapraapanaat |
Sevyah' shreepatireka eva jagataamete'bhavatsaakshinah'
Prahlaadashcha vibheeshanashcha kariraat' paanchaalyahalyaadhruvah' || 1 ||
Prahlaadaasti yadeeshvaro vada harih' sarvatra me darshaya
Stambhe chaivamiti bruvantamasuram' tatraaviraaseeddharih' |
Vakshastasya vidaarayannijanakhairvaatsalyamaapaadaya-
-naartatraanaparaayanah' sa bhagavaannaaraayano me gatih' || 2 ||
Shreeraamo'tra vibheeshano'yamanagho rakshobhayaadaagatah'
Sugreevaanaya paalayainamadhunaa paulastyamevaagatam |
Ityuktvaa'bhayamasya sarvaviditam' yo raaghavo dattavaan
Aartatraanaparaayanah' sa bhagavaannaaraayano me gatih' || 3 ||
Nakragrastapadam' samuddhri'takaram' brahmaadayo bhoh' suraa
Rakshantaamiti deenavaakyakarinam' deveshvashakteshu yah' |
Maa bhaisheeriti tasya nakrahanane chakraayudhah' shreedharo
Hyaartatraanaparaayanah' sa bhagavaannaaraayano me gatih' || 4 ||
Bho kri'shnaachyuta bho kri'paalaya hare bho paand'avaanaam' sakhe
Kvaasi kvaasi suyodhanaadyapahri'taam' bho raksha maamaaturaam |
Ityukto'kshayavastrasambhri'tatanuryo'paalayaddraupadeem'
Aartatraanaparaayanah' sa bhagavaannaaraayano me gatih' || 5 ||
Yatpaadaabjanakhodakam' trijagataam' paapaughavidhvam'sanam'
Yannaamaamri'tapoorakam' cha pibataam' sam'saarasantaarakam |
Paashaano'pi yadanghripadmarajasaa shaapaanmunermochito
Hyaartatraanaparaayanah' sa bhagavaannaaraayano me gatih' || 6 ||
Pitraa bhraataramuttamaasanagatam' hyauttaanapaadirdhruvo
Dri'sht'vaa tatsamamaarurukshuradhikam' maatraa'vamaanam' gatah' |
Yam' gatvaa sharanam' yadaapa tapasaa hemaadrisim'haasanam'
Hyaartatraanaparaayanah' sa bhagavaannaaraayano me gatih' || 7 ||
Aartaa vishannaah' shithilaashcha bheetaa
Ghoreshu cha vyaadhishu vartamaanaah' |
Sankeertya naaraayanashabdamaatram'
Vimuktaduh'khaah' sukhino bhavanti || 8
Iti shree kooreshasvaami kri'ta shree naaraayanaasht'akam |
Meaning
The Sri Narayanashtakam beautifully declares that Lord Narayana is the eternal protector of all distressed devotees. Through the stories of Prahlada, Vibhishana, Gajendra, Draupadi, Ahalya, and Dhruva, this hymn shows the boundless compassion of the Lord who responds instantly to sincere prayer.
The first verse states that He gives fearlessness, removes sorrow, dries up sins, and grants supreme welfare. These truths are witnessed directly by great devotees such as Prahlada, Vibhishana, the elephant-king Gajendra, Panchali, Ahalya, and Dhruva.
In Prahlada’s story, the child proclaims that God is everywhere—even in a pillar. To prove his devotion true, Narasimha appears and tears the demon apart with His nails, showing divine love and immediate protection.
Vibhishana, seeking refuge from Ravana’s cruelty, approaches Lord Rama. Rama declares “He who seeks refuge in Me is protected,” granting him fearlessness and acceptance.
The elephant Gajendra, caught by a crocodile, cries out helplessly. The gods are unable to save him, but the Lord rushes with the Sudarshana Chakra to free him.
Similarly, Draupadi’s desperate cry “Krishna! Save me!” grants her unending garments in the assembly.
Ahalya is freed from her curse by the dust of Rama’s feet. Dhruva, hurt by insult, undertakes penance and receives divine vision and eternal status from the Lord.
The final verse proclaims that anyone—fearful, distressed, sick, suffering—simply by chanting “Narayana,” becomes free from sorrow and attains peace.
Benefits:
• Removes fear, grief, danger, distress
• Strengthens faith in divine protection
• Brings peace, devotion, and spiritual upliftment
• Helps during difficult times, illness, emotional suffering
• Enhances the power of chanting “Narayana”
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