Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

त्रिविक्रमस्तु मे देवः सर्वपापानि कृन्ततु / तथा नारायणो देवो बुद्धिं पालयतां मम

Transliteration

trivikramastu me devaḥ sarvapāpāni kṛntatu / tathā nārāyaṇo devo buddhiṃ pālayatāṃ mama

Translation

Möge Herr Trivikrama, mein Gott, all meine Sünden abschneiden; und möge Herr Nārāyaṇa meinen Geist behüten und festigen.

Word by Word

• त्रिविक्रमः: Trivikrama
• त्रिविक्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (त्रीणि विक्रमाणि यस्य/त्रिभिः विक्रमैः)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधबोधक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/but)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• देवः: god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सर्व-पापानि: all sins
• सर्व-पापानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि पापानि)

• कृन्ततु: may (he) cut off
• कृन्ततु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृत्/कृन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारबोधक-अव्यय (likewise)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• देवः: god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• बुद्धिम्: intellect
• बुद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पालयताम्: may (he) protect
• पालयताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (as a protective mantra/benediction within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Removal of pāpa supports steadiness of buddhi; divine aid stabilizes discernment (viveka) and right understanding.

Vedantic Theme: Buddhi-śuddhi as a prerequisite for jñāna; grace supports inner instrument (antaḥkaraṇa) purification.

Application: Pair recitation with self-examination and ethical correction; use before study, meditation, or decision-making to cultivate steady discernment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194 (sequence invoking multiple Viṣṇu aspects for purification and protection)

Characters & Entities

• Trivikrama
• Narayana
• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Trivikrama in the Garuda Purana?

Trivikrama is invoked as the sin-destroying form of Vishnu—this verse frames purification as a decisive “cutting away” of pāpa, preparing the devotee for a protected spiritual course.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death themes in the Garuda Purana?

By praying for pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sin) and for buddhi-rakṣaṇa (protection of discernment), the verse supports the core Garuda Purana emphasis that one’s moral burden and clarity of mind shape post-death outcomes and fearlessness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a daily prayer: seek ethical purification (reduce harmful actions) and cultivate steady discernment (buddhi) through truthful living, restraint, and remembrance of Nārāyaṇa—especially before rituals, travel, or major life decisions.