Shloka 7

Devanagari script

प्रगृह्य रक्ष मां विष्णो आग्न्येय्यां रक्ष सूकर / चन्द्रसूर्यं समागृह्य खड्गं चान्द्रमसं तथा

Transliteration

pragṛhya rakṣa māṃ viṣṇo āgnyeyyāṃ rakṣa sūkara / candrasūryaṃ samāgṛhya khaḍgaṃ cāndramasaṃ tathā

Translation

Taking hold of me, protect me, O Viṣṇu; in the southeast let Varāha, the Boar Incarnation, protect. Holding the Moon and the Sun together, and likewise the moon‑like sword, may You guard me.

Word by Word

• प्रगृह्य: having taken up
• प्रगृह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्), ‘having seized/taken up’

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

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

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

• आग्न्येय्यां: in the southeast
• आग्न्येय्यां: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (southeast direction)

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

• सूकर: O Boar (Varāha)
• सूकर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; वराहावतार-नाम

• चन्द्रसूर्यम्: moon and sun
• चन्द्रसूर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (‘moon and sun’ as a pair)

• समागृह्य: having taken up
• समागृह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्), ‘having taken together/fully’

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• आन्द्रमसम्: lunar; moon-like
• आन्द्रमसम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आन्द्रमस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying खड्गम्)

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinātā-putra), addressing Lord Viṣṇu as a protective invocation

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avatāra-smaraṇa (remembering the Lord’s forms) as a living protection; cosmic forces (sun/moon) are subordinated to Viṣṇu’s guardianship.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the inner ruler of cosmic functions (āditya/candra) and as avatāra sustaining dharma.

Application: When facing ‘fiery’ challenges (conflict, anger, crisis), invoke stabilizing remembrance of the Lord; align actions with clarity (sun) and calm (moon).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: directional quarter (dik)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.13 (directional guardianship with specific avatāra assignments)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Varaha (Sukara)
• Agni (directional deity by quarter)
• Chandra
• Surya
• Khadga (sword, as a protective emblem)

FAQs

What is the importance of directional protection (dik-rakṣā) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames protection as being established in specific quarters (here, the Agni/south‑east direction), showing a ritual logic of safeguarding one’s space through divine guardianship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes divine protection and ritual ordering (quarters, celestial powers) that, in Garuḍa Purāṇa practice, supports the devotee’s safety and purity—principles also applied in rites surrounding death and transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a brief protective prayer (kavaca-bhāva) before rites, travel, or daily worship—mentally placing Viṣṇu and his forms as guardians of one’s directions and inner steadiness.