Ep 09 | Śrīman Nārāyaṇīyam | Nārāyaṇa Bhaṭṭatiri | Daśhakaṃ 01 | Shloka 01 | Eng | Dushyanth Sridhar

Added: 2026-05-06

[00:00:03][music] [music] [music] [singing] [singing] [music] [music] [singing] [music] [singing] [music] [music] [music] [singing] [singing] [music] [music] >> Namaskaram to all the astikas.

[00:02:12]We have seen the greatness that has been attached to this thalam called as Guruvayur.

[00:02:21]The kshethra mahatmyam has been covered.

[00:02:25]Secondly, the importance of Paramatma who stands as a Lord Shri Vasudeva, Shri Krishna in the kshethram called Guruvayur has also been briefly discussed.

[00:02:40]We have also seen the greatness attached to the poet of this work called Shriman Narayaneeyam who is known through the name of his village, Melpathur.

[00:02:52]So, Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri's greatness has also been discussed.

[00:03:00]Generally, when we take up a kaavyam such as this, in the past, we have known Ramayanam, Shri Mahabharatam, Vishnu Puranam, Bhagavatam Mahapuranam, so on and so forth.

[00:03:15]There are four important features that feature for a work.

[00:03:21]Vaktru vaalakshanyam, shrotru vaalakshanyam, vishaya vaalakshanyam, and grantha vaalakshanyam.

[00:03:31]So, So, what are the special features?

[00:03:36]What is the special feature of grantha vaalakshanyam, which is Narayaneeyam?

[00:03:40]The vishayam, the topic is Narayaneeyam, which in itself means it talks about Narayana, Paramapurusha.

[00:03:49]Where does it talk from? It is the essence of the Bhagavatam Mahapuranam that we discuss in this work.

[00:03:58]So, essence of Bhagavatam Mahapuranam comes in the form of Narayaneeyam. So, there is vishayam.

[00:04:05]Vaktru vaalakshanyam, the greatness of the poet. What kind of a poet he is? A prolific poet who had knowledge in all branches of knowledge as told in Sanatana Dharma.

[00:04:18]So, Narayana Bhattathiri is the one who speaks. Vaktru vaalakshanyam, he speaks.

[00:04:24]So, vakta is Narayana Bhattathiri.

[00:04:27]Vishayam is Bhagavatam Saram Narayaneeyam. And next comes sthala vaalakshanyam. Kshethram, what place is that? It is a place revered in our Poorvacharya grantham called as Mummioor, Ambalapuzha, later and now known as Shri Guruvayur. So, there is a sthala kshethra vaalakshanyam. Greatness to the vishayam, greatness to the poet, greatness to the place. Above all, who is the listener? Today, we are all listeners, but when the grantham was written composed, there should have been a listener. The listener is Sakshat Shri Guruvayurappan, who's Krishna. So, Krishna is the shrota. Narayana Bhattathiri is the vakta. Vishayam is Bhagavatam Saram Narayaneeyam. Kshethram is Guruvayur. So, in Guruvayur, in the kshethram called Guruvayur, through the vishayam called Narayaneeyam, Bhattathiri spoke while Krishna listened. These four characteristics are so strong in this grantham that makes us feel like reading it, listening to it, and enjoying it again and again.

[00:05:38]Now that I have said much about the introduction to Narayaneeyam, we are now going to do the kaavya pravesham. We are going to enter the kaavyam. As I told you, it comprises of 100 chapters. Each chapter is called a dashakam. Remember, generally, the word dasha in Samskritam means 10.

[00:06:04]But if I assume that 10 alone comprises dashakam, then we will have a problem.

[00:06:10]10 into 100 will make it 1,000 shlokas, correct? Whereas, Narayaneeyam has a roughly, in one count, 1,034, in one count, larger count, 1,036 shlokas. So, there must be a few extra shlokas in a few chapters to make it 1,036. So, dashakam in general means it will comprise of 10 shlokas. It may comprise of 11, 12, and at times even 13. So, all put together, we have 1,036 shlokas, and we have grouped them in 100 dashakams.

[00:06:45]So, the first dashakam talks about the greatness of Bhagavan. It talks about the greatness of his mahima. What greatness is attached to Krishna? One.

[00:06:56]Second, it's It also talks about Bhagavat Swaroopam. What greatness is attached to his Swaroopam? So, the first dashakam, first shlokam.

[00:07:36]Yat Brahma.

[00:07:39]That Brahman. What does Brahma shabdam mean? We will come across this word Brahma every now and then.

[00:07:46]Please understand the difference between Brahmam, which is Brahman, and Brahma.

[00:07:54]Brahma has been created by Narayana, so says Veda. Narayanad Brahma Jayate. From the nabhi of Narayana came a padmam, a lotus. Seated on the lotus, on that lotus, was Brahma.

[00:08:12]So, Brahma is technically regarded as the creation, as the son of Narayana.

[00:08:19]So, Brahma, though we know him as a general creator, he himself has a creator. He has been created by someone.

[00:08:29]Whereas, Narayana, on the other side, as per our Poorvacharya granthas, is the causeless cause. He is the cause for everyone, but he doesn't have a cause for himself. Vishnu Puranam says, "Loko aguru." Guru means kaaranam, father.

[00:08:47]Aguru, the one whom we call as guru, doesn't have a guru for himself. So, Narayana created Brahma. So, Brahma is the Chaturmukha Brahma that we know.

[00:08:59]That is Brahma.

[00:09:01]Now, let's come to the word Brahman, or Brahmam. We say Parabrahman, Brahman.

[00:09:08]All this signifies the Paramapurusha.

[00:09:10]Shriman Narayana is called Parabrahman, Paramatma, because there is no one who is equal to him, nor is there anyone greater than him. Paroma, there is no one equal to it. There is no one who is over and above him. So, the one who doesn't have a parallel, equal, nor doesn't have anyone greater than him, is Paramatma. Now, Paramatma is referred to as Parabrahman, or Brahmam, or Brahman.

[00:09:40]Why? Bruhat shabdam. So, in Samskrita, bruhat shabdam denotes the largeness, the expanse of something. So, how is Brahman? Bruhatvat cha, Brahmanatvat cha, says our Acharya granthas, which means that which is big, that which makes people attain it big. So, it is already big. It makes people attain it big. So, Brahman Brahmam Parabramam means that which is big. I'll give you a very mundane example.

[00:10:15]In Bangalore, which is the capital of Karnataka, we call it Brihat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike. Brihat The city is big. Truly, it is big. If you go to Mumbai, it is called BMC Brihat Mumbai Corporation. So, if you go to a temple of Lord Shiva in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, he's called Brihadishvara.

[00:10:39]So, Brihat Brihat means big. That which is big, that which makes people attain it big is called Brahman.

[00:10:49]Brahmam. So, yet Brahma that Brahman Sandranandavabodhatmakam.

[00:10:56]That which is a repository of Sandranandavabodhatmakam.

[00:11:02]The one who is full of consciousness, the one who is full of bliss, the one who ensures that people also derive and get bliss when worship is Sandranandavabodhatmakam.

[00:11:16]Tatvam Anupamitam Anupamam. Anupamam means Upama comparison. Upama we say, right?

[00:11:23]Anupamam. There is no comparison. How is he? Tatvam Anupamam. So, this Brahman whom we know has no parallel, has no equal. Tatvam Anupamitam. When Prishni and Sutapas sought boon from Narayana, they said, "We want somebody like you."

[00:11:43]That is when Narayana said, "See, there is no one like me. If I have to grant this boon, I have to be born. There can be no clone made of me. So, the one who has no comparison, Tatvam Anupamitam. Does he have any limitation? Nirmuktam Kaladeshavadibhyam.

[00:12:01]Kala Desha, he is not controlled by time nor space. Nirbhasyamanam.

[00:12:08]He's very well expounded, very well covered.

[00:12:12]But, Nigama Shatasahastrena, you have to use the help of the Vedas and the Vedanta. Nigamam means Veda. Nigama Shatasahastram.

[00:12:22]Shata gently denotes the concept of Rigveda, Yajurveda together. Samaveda is thousand shakhas. Sahasra Shakham Yutrakshim. So, Shata Sahastram means Rig Yajuhu Sama Atharvanam all put together. Nigama Shatasahastrena Aspashtam. Even then, you cannot understand him that theory. Yes, Vedas and Vedanta will help, but not give too much clarity. Then, what do we do? Uru Purusharthatmakam. But, we know for sure from Vedas and Vedanta that the four Purusharthas Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha. The four Purusharthas are given by Bhagavan. In fact, when they refer to Parama Purushartha, they call Moksha.

[00:13:08]The one who grants Moksham can also grant Dharma Artha Kama Moksham. Uru Purusharthatmakam.

[00:13:15]What should I seek? See, this person called Brahman has to be understood by the Vedas. Is he completely understood?

[00:13:22]Not that clear. But, what does he grant?

[00:13:24]Dharma Artha Kama Moksham. So, where do I see such a person? Drishtamatre Punaha. The poet Bhattathiri says, "I will show you how you can see him. You will want to see him again and again."

[00:13:35]Drishtamatre Punaha. Where? Nityamuktam.

[00:13:39]He will surely give you Moksham. He will make you one amongst the Muktatmas standing along with the Nityatmas in Vaikuntam. Nityamuktam. Tattavatu Bhati Samsat. He now gives that location. That Brahman who is full of bliss, who is full of consciousness, who gives the four Purusharthas, the one who is not limited by space and time, the one who is not that clear through the Vedas and Upanishads, but the one who is surely to grant you the Phalam, I will tell you where you can see him, says Bhattathiri. Tattavatu Bhati Samsat. He just shines with a splendor. He comes with a resplendence. Where?

[00:14:21]Gurupavanapure.

[00:14:22]In the Kshetra of Guru and Pavana Vayu Guruvayu Gurupavanapure.

[00:14:28]Wow, what a delight it is for the people who already stay there in that town.

[00:14:33]Hanta he gives a Sambodhanam. Anas, what a greatness. Bhagyam Jananam. How lucky, how fortunate are the people who stay there morning to evening Udayastamanam.

[00:14:46]They have a Darshanam of Krishna in Guruvayu. How fortunate are the Bhaktas who come from different countries and different regions and different states to this Guruvayu to have a Darshanam of Krishna. Whether they are the residents of Guruvayu or non-residents who come to have a Darshanam of Bhagavan. Those who see the one who grants Purushartham.

[00:15:09]Hanta Bhagyam Jananam. How fortunate they are.

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