Indrajit’s Binding, Restoration by Viśalyā, and Counsel Restraining Rāvaṇa (Āraṇyaka Parva 273)
आपो नारास्तत्तनव इत्यपां नाम शुश्रुम । अयन तेन चैवास्ते तेन नारायण: स्मृत:,“जल भगवान्का शरीर है, इसीलिये उनका नाम “नार' सुनते आये हैं। वह नार ही उनका अयन (गृह) है अथवा उसके साथ एक होकर वे रहते हैं, इसीलिये उन भगवान्को नारायण कहा गया है”
āpo nārās tattanava ity apāṃ nāma śuśruma | ayanaṃ tena caivāste tena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ ||
Bhīmasena said: “We have heard that the waters are called ‘Nārāḥ’, for they are his very body. And since he abides in them as his resting-place—indeed, dwelling in union with them—therefore that Lord is remembered as Nārāyaṇa.”
भीमसेन उवाच