Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

प्रतीच्यां रक्ष मां विष्णो ! त्वामह शरणं गतः / मुसलं शातनं गृह्य पुण्डरीकाक्ष रक्ष माम्

Transliteration

pratīcyāṃ rakṣa māṃ viṣṇo ! tvāmaha śaraṇaṃ gataḥ / musalaṃ śātanaṃ gṛhya puṇḍarīkākṣa rakṣa mām

Translation

In the west, protect me, O Viṣṇu! To You I have come for refuge. O lotus‑eyed Lord, taking up the crushing mace (musala), protect me.

Word by Word

• प्रतीच्यां: in the west
• प्रतीच्यां: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतीची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• रक्ष: protect
• रक्ष: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विष्णो: O Vishnu
• विष्णो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (Goal as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (to/towards as refuge)

• गतः: gone; having taken (refuge)
• गतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (agreeing with अहम्)

• मुसलम्: mace
• मुसलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शातनम्: destroying; crushing
• शातनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मुसलम्)

• गृह्य: having taken
• गृह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्), ‘having taken/after taking’

• पुण्डरीकाक्ष: O lotus-eyed one
• पुण्डरीकाक्ष: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्डरीक + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pundarīka-ākṣa: ‘lotus-eyed’)

• रक्ष: protect
• रक्ष: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Devotee/reciter invoking Lord Vishnu for directional protection (a protective prayer within the Garuda Purana’s discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as the immediate means to divine protection.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-śaraṇāgati and rakṣakatva of Bhagavān; the devotee’s dependence (āśraya) on the Lord.

Application: Use as a protective prayer during travel, fear, or daily sandhyā; cultivate inner refuge rather than panic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: directional quarter (dik)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.13 (directional protection/kavaca sequence continuing through the quarters)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of taking refuge (śaraṇāgati) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse models śaraṇāgati—seeking Viṣṇu as the sole protector—emphasizing that divine refuge is a primary spiritual safeguard against fear and harm.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it reflects the Garuda Purana’s broader theme that protection and guidance come through devotion and surrender to Viṣṇu—especially relevant in contexts of fear, transition, and vulnerability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a daily protective prayer (especially when anxious or traveling), reinforcing disciplined refuge in dharma and remembrance of Viṣṇu as one’s protector.