Shloka 14

Vaiṣṇava Pañjara: Directional Kavacha of Viṣṇu, His Weapons, and Avatāras

Devanagari script

दानवं रक्तबीजं च अन्यांश्च सुरकण्टकान् / एतज्जपन्नरो भक्त्या शत्रून्विजयते सदा

Transliteration

dānavaṃ raktabījaṃ ca anyāṃśca surakaṇṭakān / etajjapannaro bhaktyā śatrūnvijayate sadā

Translation

By chanting this with devotion, one always conquers enemies—such as the demon Raktabīja and other Dānavas who are thorns to the gods.

Word by Word

• दानवम्: the demon (Dānava)
• दानवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रक्तबीजम्: Raktabīja (the demon named ‘Blood-seed’)
• रक्तबीजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त + बीज (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (रक्तं बीजं यस्य/रक्तबीजः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यान्: other
• अन्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुरकण्टकान्: thorns to the gods; tormentors of the gods
• सुरकण्टकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुराणां कण्टकाः)

• एतत्: this (mantra/this)
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जपन्: chanting
• जपन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शतृप्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘जपन्’ = chanting/reciting

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• शत्रून्: enemies
• शत्रून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• विजयते: conquers
• विजयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + जि (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, within the Garuḍa Purāṇa narration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional japa as a means to overcome hostile forces (outer enemies and inner vices).

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-anugraha through nāma/japa; transformation of the mind by devotion.

Application: Daily japa with faith for protection, courage, and steadiness; interpret ‘enemies’ also as anger, fear, and harmful habits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khanda) Vishnu-nama/japa passages; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: protection through dharma and devotion (general thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Raktabīja
• Dānavas
• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents japa done with bhakti as a spiritually empowered practice that removes opposition and grants victory over hostile forces.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it highlights a living practice—devotional repetition—that strengthens dharmic protection and reduces obstacles.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt regular, sincere japa with devotion and ethical intent; the text frames inner steadiness and divine alignment as the basis for overcoming adversaries and hindrances.