Narayaneeyam Dasakam 16

 

Narayaneeyam Dasakam - 16 - Incarnation of Nara & Narayana

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One of the daughters of Swayambhuva Manu was Devahuti, mother of Kapila. Yet another daughter of Swayambhu Manu was Prasuti. She was married to the son of Brahma, Daksha Prajapathi. 

Daksha and Prasuti had 16 daughters. Out of these 16, thirteen were married to Dharma Deva. Swadhaa was married to Pitrus; Swaaha to Agni and another named Sati was married to Siva. 

Out of the thirteen married to Dharmadeva, one was Murthy by name. She gave birth to the divine twins - NARA and NARAYANA. These twin brothers were the forms of the Lord and they were always together.

The secret of the birth of the twin brothers, who were for all purposes considered as 'one’, even though possessing two bodies was to kill Karna or popularly known as Sahasra Kavacha, born protected by a thousand coats of armor (Kavacha). No one could break them without performing thousand years of penance and at the same time fighting with him simultaneously for the same thousand years. This explains the secret of the birth of Nara and Narayana.

Nara and Narayana did penance for thousand years and fought with Asura for another thousand years and finally killed the Asura-Sahasra Kavacha.

After slaying of Sahasra Kavacha, Nara and Narayana went to Badarika Ashrama to settle down for teaching and practicing the path to "MOKSHA". Indra could not stand this and wanted to see their spiritual downfall. He sent Manmatha and celestial women to distract them but to in vain. With their will, they not only withstood the distraction but also presented them a gift to Indra, "URVASI", whose beauty put to shame the beauty of all the celestial damsels. The pride of Indra was thus removed forever by the Divine Twins.

Daksha was arrogant due to his dominating rajo guna, developed hatred for Lord Shiva, and went to the extent of insulting his daughter Sati in the due course. Lord Shiva, angry at the insult of his wife, destroyed Daksha's sacrifice, cut Daksha's head. Lord Shiva restored Daksha's life again after being requested by other Gods. By the grace of Lord, Daksha completed his sacrifice and attained mental peace. 

Bhattathiri requested Lord Guruvayurappa who brings peace to the devotee's heart to free him from ailments. Lord acknowledged his request immediately.

THE DIVINE TWINS- "NARA & NARAYANA"

Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 01

दक्षो विरिञ्चतनयोऽथ मनोस्तनूजां
लब्ध्वा प्रसूतिमिह षोडश चाप कन्या: ।
धर्मे त्रयोदश ददौ पितृषु स्वधां च
स्वाहां हविर्भुजि सतीं गिरिशे त्वदंशे ॥१॥

dakshO viri~nchatanayO(a)tha manOstanuujaaM
labdhvaa prasuutimiha ShODasha chaapa kanyaaH |
dharme trayOdasha dadau pitR^iShu svadhaaM cha
svaahaaM havirbhuji satiiM girishe tvadamshe ||1

Another daughter of Swayambhuva Manu was PRASUTI. She was married to the son of Brahma-DAKSHA PRAJAPATI. Daksha and Prasuti had 16 daughters. Out of these 16, thirteen were married to DHARMA DEVA. Swadhaa  was married to PITRUS; Swaahaa to AGNI and another named SATI was married to SIVA. who was a part of Thine own self, in marriage.

Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 02

मूर्तिर्हि धर्मगृहिणी सुषुवे भवन्तं
नारायणं नरसखं महितानुभावम् ।
यज्जन्मनि प्रमुदिता: कृततूर्यघोषा:
पुष्पोत्करान् प्रववृषुर्नुनुवु: सुरौघा: ॥२॥

muurtirhi dharmagR^ihiNii suShuve bhavantaM
naaraayaNaM narasakhaM mahitaanubhaavam |
yajjanmani pramuditaaH kR^itatuuryaghOShaaH
puShpOtkaraan pravavR^iShurnunuvuH suraughaaH ||2

Out of the thirteen married to Dharmadeva, one was MURTHY by name. She gave birth to the divine twins - - NARA and NARAYANA. The devas who were overjoyed at this incarnation of Thee, sounded drums, showered flowers and sang Thy praises.

Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 03

दैत्यं सहस्रकवचं कवचै: परीतं
साहस्रवत्सरतपस्समराभिलव्यै: ।
पर्यायनिर्मिततपस्समरौ भवन्तौ
शिष्टैककङ्कटममुं न्यहतां सलीलम् ॥३॥

daityaM sahasrakavachaM kavachaiH pariitaM
saahasravatsaratapassamaraabhilavyaiH |
paryaayanirmitatapassamarau bhavantau
shiShTaikakankaTamamuM nyahataaM saliilam || 3

Karna was an Asura named SAHASRA KAVACHA. He was so named because he was born protected by a thousand coats of armor (Kavacha). The specialty of these 'Kavachas' was that no one could break them without performing thousand years of penance and at the same time fighting with him simultaneously for the same thousand years. This explains the secret of the birth of the twin brothers, who were for all purposes considered as 'one’, even though possessing two bodies. Nara and Narayana, in turn, did "Tapas" (penance)as well as the fighting for thousand years and finally killed the Asura, Sahasra Kavacha.

Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 04

अन्वाचरन्नुपदिशन्नपि मोक्षधर्मं
त्वं भ्रातृमान् बदरिकाश्रममध्यवात्सी: ।
शक्रोऽथ ते शमतपोबलनिस्सहात्मा
दिव्याङ्गनापरिवृतं प्रजिघाय मारम् ॥४॥

anvaacharannupadishannapi mOkshadharmaM
tvaM bhraatR^imaan badarikaashramamadhyavaatsiiH |
shakrO(a)tha te shamatapObalanissahaatmaa
divyaanganaaparivR^itaM prajighaaya maaram ||4

After the killing of the Asura, Nara and Narayana went to Badarika Ashrama where they settled down for teaching and practicing the path to "MOKSHA". Indra, who was jealous of Thy spiritual powers, which Thou had acquired by penance and discipline, sent Manmatha, the god of love, along with celestial maidens to disturb Thy peace and penance.

 Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 05

कामो वसन्तमलयानिलबन्धुशाली
कान्ताकटाक्षविशिखैर्विकसद्विलासै: ।
विध्यन्मुहुर्मुहुरकम्पमुदीक्ष्य च त्वां
भीरुस्त्वयाऽथ जगदे मृदुहासभाजा ॥५॥

kaamOvasantamalayaanilabandhushaalii
kaantaakaTaakshavishikhairvikasadvilaasaiH |
vidhyanmuhurmuhurakampamudiikshya cha tvaaM
bhiitastvayaa(a)tha jagade mR^iduhaasabhaajaa || 5

Manmatha, accompanied by the spring season and the Malaya breeze, aimed his arrows, which consisted of erotic glances and graceful dance. They could not tempt Nara and Narayana even slightly. Finding Thee unaffected, they were frightened by their will's strength.  Thou then smilingly spoke to them.

Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 06

भीत्याऽलमङ्गज वसन्त सुराङ्गना वो
मन्मानसं त्विह जुषध्वमिति ब्रुवाण: ।
त्वं विस्मयेन परित: स्तुवतामथैषां
प्रादर्शय: स्वपरिचारककातराक्षी: ॥६॥

bhiityaalamangaja vasanta suraanganaa vO
manmaanasaM tviha juShadhvamiti bruvaaNaH |
tvaM vismayena paritaH stuvataamathaiShaaM
praadarshayaH svaparichaarakakaataraakshiiH || 6

"O Kaamadeva, Spring and damsels! Do not fear. Look at these products of my mind." So saying, Thou revealed to them the beautiful handmaids attending on Thee. The Lord then created a projection of his mind, which the invaders had a vision of Nara and Narayana, attended by many maids of Thee. The beauty of the maids in attendance enchanted even Kama Deva and his bevy of celestial damsels.

Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 07

सम्मोहनाय मिलिता मदनादयस्ते
त्वद्दासिकापरिमलै: किल मोहमापु: ।
दत्तां त्वया च जगृहुस्त्रपयैव सर्व-
स्वर्वासिगर्वशमनीं पुनरुर्वशीं ताम् ॥७॥

sammOhanaaya militaa madanaadayaste
tvaddaasikaaparimalaiH kila mOhamaapuH |
dattaaM tvayaa cha jagR^ihustrapayaiva sarva-

svarvaasigarvashamaniiM punarurvashiiM taam || 7

The beauty of the maids in attendance enchanted even Kama Deva and his bevy of celestial damsels. The tempters who came to overpower were themselves tempted and captivated by the beauty of those who served the Lord. The Lord thereafter presented them a gift to Indra, "URVASI", whose beauty put to shame the beauty of all the celestial damsels. Indra was thus humiliated forever by the Divine Twins.

Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 08

दृष्ट्वोर्वशीं तव कथां च निशम्य शक्र:
पर्याकुलोऽजनि भवन्महिमावमर्शात् ।
एवं प्रशान्तरमणीयतरावतारा-
त्त्वत्तोऽधिको वरद कृष्णतनुस्त्वमेव ॥८॥

dR^iShTvOrvashiiM tava kathaaM cha nishamya shakraH
paryaakulO(a)jani bhavanmahimaavamarshaat |
evaM prashaantaramaNiiyataraavataaraat-

tvattO(a)dhikO varada kR^iShNatanustvameva ||8

Seeing Urvashi and hearing about Thy achievements, Indra was perplexed, and thus realized Thy glory. O Bestower of Boons! This incarnation of Thee as Nara Narayana which is so gentle and beautiful, is excelled only by Thy incarnation as Krishna. 

Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 09

दक्षस्तु धातुरतिलालनया रजोऽन्धो
नात्यादृतस्त्वयि च कष्टमशान्तिरासीत् ।
येन व्यरुन्ध स भवत्तनुमेव शर्वं
यज्ञे च वैरपिशुने स्वसुतां व्यमानीत् ॥९॥

dakshastu dhaaturatilaalanayaa rajO(a)ndhO

naatyaadR^itastvayi cha kaShTamashaantiraasiit |
yena vyarundha sa bhavattanumeva sharvaM
yaj~ne cha vairapishune svasutaaM vyamaaniit ||9

Daksha, who was overly indulged by Brahma, became blinded by arrogance due to Rajo Guna's predominance in his mind. Unfortunately, he had no respect or devotion for Thee and was without any peace of mind. Due to this taint in his nature, he developed a hatred for Lord Siva, who too is a form of Thee and projected his hatred by insulting his own daughter, Sati.

Dasakam: 016 -- Shlokam: 10

क्रुद्धेशमर्दितमख: स तु कृत्तशीर्षो
देवप्रसादितहरादथ लब्धजीव: ।
त्वत्पूरितक्रतुवर: पुनराप शान्तिं
स त्वं प्रशान्तिकर पाहि मरुत्पुरेश ॥१०॥

kruddheshamarditamakhaH sa tu kR^ittashiirShO
devaprasaaditaharaadatha labdhajiivaH |
tvatpuuritakratuvaraH punaraapa shaantiM
sa tvaM prashaantikara paahi marutpuresha ||10
 

Enraged, Shiva disrupted the sacrifice of Daksha and also cut off his head. However, on being propitiated by the gods, Shiva restored Daksha to life again. His sacrifice was then completed by Thy grace, and he also achieved mental peace. O Lord of Guruvaayur! O Bestower of calmness! Thou who brings peace to the devotee's heart,  protect me.