Shloka 8

Vaiṣṇava-kavaca: Vishnu’s Protective Armor Against Fear, Disease, Poison, and Hostile Forces

Devanagari script

उदरं मुसलं पातु पृष्ठं मे पातु लाङ्गलम् / ऊर्ध्वं रक्षतु मे शार्ङ्गं जङ्घे रक्षतु नन्दकः

Transliteration

udaraṃ musalaṃ pātu pṛṣṭhaṃ me pātu lāṅgalam / ūrdhvaṃ rakṣatu me śārṅgaṃ jaṅghe rakṣatu nandakaḥ

Translation

ليحمِ المُسَلُ بطني، وليحمِ المحراثُ (لانغَلا) ظهري. ومن فوق، فليحرسني قوسُ شارنغا؛ ولتحمِ ساقَيَّ سيفُ نندكا الإلهي.

Word by Word

• उदरम्: belly/abdomen
• उदरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुसलम्: pestle/club
• मुसलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पातु: may protect
• पातु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु, पालन)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पृष्ठम्: back
• पृष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पातु: may protect
• पातु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु, पालन)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• लाङ्गलम्: plough
• लाङ्गलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upper part/above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (दिशा/देशवाचक)

• रक्षतु: may protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शार्ङ्गम्: Śārṅga (bow)
• शार्ङ्गम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जङ्घे: the two shanks/legs
• जङ्घे: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (जङ्घे इति द्विवचनरूपम्)

• रक्षतु: may protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नन्दकः: Nandaka (sword)
• नन्दकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda as a protective prayer/stotra segment)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s śakti is invoked through specific forms (musala, lāṅgala, Śārṅga, Nandaka) to protect distinct bodily regions.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā through rūpa-dhyāna; the many powers are expressions of one Īśvara safeguarding the jīva.

Application: Recite with visualization: musala at the navel/abdomen, plough at the back, Śārṅga above the head, Nandaka along the legs; useful as a kavaca before risky work or travel.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: body-mandala (kavaca)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.7; Garuda Purana 1.194.9; Garuda Purana 1.194.10

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Musala
• Langala
• Sharnga
• Nandaka

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s weapons in the Garuda Purana?

This verse invokes Viṣṇu’s divine implements as living protectors of specific body-parts, expressing the Purāṇic idea that remembrance (smaraṇa) of the Lord’s śakti dispels fear and wards off harm.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by framing protection as alignment with divine power, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that spiritual safeguards—mantra, devotion, and dharma—help one face dangers and terrors described in post-death journeys.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as part of a Viṣṇu-kavacha style recitation for steadiness and protection, coupled with ethical conduct (dharma) and mindful remembrance of the Divine during anxiety, travel, illness, or ritual observances.