Prayers to Narayana

I came across this hymn while reading Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra. Reciting this makes me feel very humble because there are times when I have thought “I am an educated person and I know lot of things (by way of reading, interacting with others, etc). Thus sometimes reducing the other person to a dud. But in this hymn, Bheeshma, who is considered a very learned man himself, bows to Sage Vyasa and Goddess Saraswti to help him recite the mahastotra with devotion and complete understanding.

As the saying goes in Kannada “Tumbida Koda Thulkodilla” – the pot that is full will not spill or make noise. I am a mere mortal full of noise and nothing else…

Narayanam namaskrutyam naram chaiva narottamam |
devim saraswateem vyasam tatho jayamudeerayeth ||

Which means:

I bow to thee, Narayana, HE, who is everywhere and in everything

I bow to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Speech and Knowledge and to Sage Vyasa to help me understand this great hymn.