Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

नदीसन्तारणे घोरे संप्राप्ते प्राणसंशये / अग्निचौरनिपातेषु सर्वग्रहनिवारणे

Transliteration

nadīsantāraṇe ghore saṃprāpte prāṇasaṃśaye / agnicauranipāteṣu sarvagrahanivāraṇe

Translation

Beim schrecklichen Durchqueren eines Flusses, wenn das Leben selbst in Gefahr ist; inmitten von Bedrohungen durch Feuer, Diebe und plötzliche Unheile; und zur Abwehr aller feindlichen planetaren Einflüsse—(dies sei als Schutzbeistand anzuwenden).

Word by Word

• नदीसन्तारणे: in river-crossing
• नदीसन्तारणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी + सन्तारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘नद्याः सन्तारणम्’ = crossing of a river)

• घोरे: terrible, dreadful
• घोरे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘नदीसन्तारणे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• संप्राप्ते: when (it) has occurred
• संप्राप्ते: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘संप्राप्त’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘(काले/अवस्थायाम्) संप्राप्ते’ = when it has come/occurred

• प्राणसंशये: in danger to life
• प्राणसंशये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘प्राणानां संशयः’ = danger to life)

• अग्निचौरनिपातेषु: in (times of) fire, thieves, and attacks
• अग्निचौरनिपातेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + चौर + निपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (‘अग्निः च चौरः च निपातः च’—fire, thieves, and calamities/attacks)

• सर्वग्रहनिवारणे: in warding off all afflictions/evil influences
• सर्वग्रहनिवारणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ग्रह + निवारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘सर्वेषां ग्रहाणां निवारणम्’ = warding off all seizers/planets/afflictions)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In extreme danger and uncertainty, one should employ protective sacred means while acting prudently; acknowledges graha influences as part of lived cosmology.

Vedantic Theme: Acceptance of contingency in saṃsāra; taking refuge in the divine while performing right action (kartavya) amid peril.

Application: Before risky travel or emergencies, combine prayer/mantra with practical precautions; for ‘graha’ anxiety, use devotion and responsible choices rather than fatalism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: river/liminal passage

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.25 (danger contexts); Garuda Purana 1.194.22-24 (Vishnu remembrance and chakra protection)

Characters & Entities

• Grahas

FAQs

What is the importance of protective applications in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames specific crisis-situations—river-crossing, fear of death, fire, theft, and calamity—where a prescribed spiritual protection (mantra/prayoga) is traditionally applied to remove obstacles and fear.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or fear of death?

By mentioning "prāṇasaṃśaya" (doubt about life), the text acknowledges moments when survival feels uncertain and recommends sacred protection as a dharmic support to steady the mind and avert danger.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In modern life, it can be taken as guidance to combine prudent action with prayerful focus during emergencies, and to seek traditional remedies for anxiety around perceived “negative influences,” while maintaining ethical conduct.