Nārāyaṇa Sūktam — the Vedic Hymn to Nārāyaṇa (Taittirīya Āraṇyaka), which contemplates Nārāyaṇa as the supreme Being who pervades the whole universe and dwells within the lotus of the heart. It is traditionally recited alongside the Puruṣa and Śrī Sūktas.
oṃ saha nāvavatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai | tejasvināvadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahai || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
May He protect us both; may He nourish us both; may we work together with vigour; may our study be radiant; may we never quarrel. Om, peace, peace, peace.
The thousand-headed God, whose eyes are all eyes, the source of every blessing — the universe itself is Nārāyaṇa, the God, the imperishable, the supreme goal.
The Lord of the universe, ruler of the self, everlasting, auspicious, undecaying — Nārāyaṇa, the supremely knowable, the Self of all, the final refuge.
— pervading all of it, within and without, Nārāyaṇa abides: the infinite, the changeless, the all-knowing, whose bound is the (cosmic) ocean, the source of all good.
At its tip is a subtle opening, and in that all is established; within its centre is the great fire, its flames spread everywhere, facing in every direction.
Enjoying first (of all offerings), it stands apportioning its food, the undecaying, the wise; lying athwart, above and below, its rays stretch out unbroken.
tasyāḥ śikhāyā madhye paramātmā vyavasthitaḥ | sa brahma sa śivaḥ sa hariḥ sendraḥ so'kṣaraḥ paramaḥ svarāṭ ||
in the middle of that flame the Supreme Self abides. He is Brahmā, He is Śiva, He is Hari, He is Indra; He is the imperishable, the supreme, the self-luminous sovereign.
ṛta~ satyaṃ paraṃ brahma puruṣaṃ kṛṣṇapiṅgalam | ūrdhvaretaṃ virūpākṣaṃ viśvarūpāya vai namo namaḥ ||
The cosmic Order, the Truth, the supreme Brahman, the Puruṣa dark-and-tawny, the ever-continent, of extraordinary eyes — to Him of universal form, salutation, salutation.
Om. May we know Nārāyaṇa; for that let us meditate on Vāsudeva; may that Viṣṇu impel us onward. (the Nārāyaṇa Gāyatrī)
Verse 18 — ௐ ஶாந்திஃ ஶாந்திஃ ஶாந்திஃ ॥
ௐ ஶாந்திஃ ஶாந்திஃ ஶாந்திஃ ॥
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
Oṃ — peace, peace, peace.
About Nārāyaṇa Sūktam
Nārāyaṇa Sūktam is a Sanskrit stotra, composed by Vedic Rishis (Shruti), addressed to Vishnu — a Sukta. It is presented here in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, each verse with its English meaning. Source text: sanskritdocuments.org.
The Durgā Sūktam is a Vedic hymn to the Goddess drawn from the Taittirīya Āraṇyaka and the Ṛgveda; as śruti it is anonymous, ancient revelation and wholly in the public domain.
Nārāyaṇa Sūktam is a Vedic hymn identifying Nārāyaṇa as the supreme being, pervading past, present and future. Its 18 verses describe Nārāyaṇa as the foundation of all existence — the lord who rests on the cosmic waters.
What does the Narayana Suktam say?
Nārāyaṇa Sūktam opens by declaring Nārāyaṇa as the highest, the ultimate — the one who pervades everything, who is all this and beyond. The hymn is often recited alongside the Puruṣa Sūkta and is a cornerstone of Vaiṣṇava Vedic worship.
Is the Narayana Suktam from the Vedas?
Yes — Nārāyaṇa Sūktam is a Vedic sūkta, traditionally associated with the Taittirīya Saṃhitā. It is one of the principal Vedic hymns to Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa and predates the later Purāṇic literature by centuries.
How do I read the Narayana Suktam on Avabodhak?
Every verse of Nārāyaṇa Sūktam is shown in Devanagari, Roman (IAST) and English meaning. Free to read, no login required; the practice view lets you chant along verse by verse.