इति महाभारते ।नाराणां जीवानामयनत्वात् प्रलये इति वा, 'यत्प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्ति' इति श्रुतेः ।'नाराणामयनं यस्मात्तस्मान्नारायणः स्मृतः' इति ब्रह्मवैवर्तात्, 'आपो नारा इति प्रोक्ता
In plain words
So says the Mahābhārata. Or take it this way: he is called Nārāyaṇa because he is the resting place of the nāras — the living beings — when everything dissolves. The śruti backs this: 'that into which they go forth and wholly enter.' And the Brahmavaivarta says: 'Since he is where the nāras come to rest, he is remembered as Nārāyaṇa.' And again: 'The waters are called nāra...'
Close to the Sanskrit
Thus in the Mahābhārata. Or, because of his being the resort of the nāras — that is, of the living beings — at the dissolution; from the śruti, 'that into which they go forth and wholly enter'. From the Brahmavaivarta: 'Since he is the resort of the nāras, therefore he is remembered as Nārāyaṇa.' 'The waters are called nāra...'