नारायण सूक्तम् — Word-by-Word Meaning
नारायण सूक्तम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
सहस्रशीर्षं
Sahasrashirsham
With a thousand heads
विश्वाक्षं
Vishvaksham
Eyes everywhere, all-seeing
विश्वशम्भुवम्
Vishvashambhuvam
Source of the universe's well-being
नारायणं
Narayanam
Narayana — the supreme refuge of all
अक्षरं
Aksharam
Imperishable, eternal
परमं पदम्
Paramam Padam
The supreme abode
हरिम्
Harim
Hari — remover of sorrow
आत्मेश्वरं
Atmeshvaram
Lord of all souls
शाश्वतं
Shashvatam
Eternal
अच्युतम्
Achyutam
The infallible one
ज्योतिः
Jyotih
Light, radiance
ब्रह्म
Brahma
The absolute truth
तत्त्वं
Tattvam
The ultimate reality
ध्याता
Dhyata
The meditator
ध्यानं
Dhyanam
The meditation itself
व्याप्य
Vyapya
Pervading, encompassing
Complete Translation
The divine Narayana has a thousand heads, sees everything, is the source of universal well-being. Narayana is the universe, the imperishable, the supreme abode.
Beyond the universe, eternal, Narayana is the universe itself, he is Hari. This entire universe is the Purusha, and the universe lives through him.
He is the lord of the universe, the ruler of all souls, eternal, auspicious, infallible. Narayana is the great object of knowledge, the universal soul, the supreme refuge.
The supreme light is Narayana. The supreme soul is Narayana. The supreme Brahman is Narayana. The ultimate truth is Narayana.
The supreme meditator is Narayana. The supreme meditation is Narayana. Whatever exists in this universe — seen or heard — inside and outside, all of that is pervaded by Narayana.
Origin & History
Source: Taittiriya Aranyaka (Yajurveda)
Author: Vedic Rishis
Period: 1200-800 BCE
The Narayana Suktam is found in the Taittiriya Aranyaka of the Krishna Yajurveda. It is one of the Pancha Suktams (Five Hymns) chanted daily in Vaishnava tradition. The hymn systematically establishes that Narayana is the ultimate reality — he is the light, the soul, the truth, the meditator, and the meditation itself. Nothing exists apart from Narayana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Narayana Suktam?▼
A Vedic hymn from the Taittiriya Aranyaka (Yajurveda) declaring that Narayana (Vishnu) is the supreme reality that pervades everything. It is one of the foundational texts of Vaishnavism.
What does Narayana mean?▼
'Nara' means the collection of all beings, and 'Ayana' means refuge or abode. So Narayana means 'the refuge of all beings' — the ultimate shelter for all of existence.
How is it different from Purusha Suktam?▼
Purusha Suktam describes how the Cosmic Being sacrificed himself to create the universe. Narayana Suktam declares that this Cosmic Being IS Narayana and that he pervades everything. They are complementary — one describes creation, the other identifies the creator.
Ready to start chanting?
See Benefits & How to Chant →