Shloka 16

Viṣṇu-dharma Rakṣā: Nyāsa and Nārāyaṇa-Kavaca

Protective Invocation of Viṣṇu and His Avatāras

Devanagari script

एतद्धारयमाणश्च यं यं पश्यति चक्षुषा / स वशी स्याद्विपाप्मा च रोगमुक्तो दिवं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

etaddhārayamāṇaśca yaṃ yaṃ paśyati cakṣuṣā / sa vaśī syādvipāpmā ca rogamukto divaṃ vrajet

Translation

Whoever bears (keeps or wears) this, and with his eyes looks upon whomever he will—he becomes masterful and self-controlled; he is freed from sin, released from disease, and goes to the heavenly realms.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this (hymn/amulet)
• एतत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कर्मरूपेण—धारयमाणः एतत्)

• धारयमाणः: (one) bearing/reciting
• धारयमाणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) → धारयमाण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः)

• यम्: whomever
• यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः)

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु; पश्य-आदेशः)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• चक्षुषा: with (his) eyes
• चक्षुषा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वशी: self-controlled, powerful
• वशी: Karta-Complement (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्यात्: would become
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विपाप्मा: free from sin
• विपाप्मा: Karta-Complement (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपाप्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; वि + पाप्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• रोगमुक्तः: freed from disease
• रोगमुक्तः: Karta-Complement (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोगमुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; रोग + मुक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (रोगात् मुक्तः)

• दिवम्: heaven
• दिवम्: Karman (Object/Goal कर्म/गति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौस् (प्रातिपदिक; दिवम् = स्वर्गम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• व्रजेत्: would go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Efficacy of dhāraṇa/japa: sustained bearing of sacred protection yields pāpa-kṣaya, roga-nivṛtti, and svarga-gati.

Vedantic Theme: Purification (pāpa-kṣaya) as preparatory; grace mediated through disciplined practice; movement from vyavahāra benefits to higher gati.

Application: Keep the kavaca text on one’s person or memorize and recite daily; pair with ethical restraint to align claimed fruits (self-mastery, purity, health).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: soteriological trajectory (earth to heaven)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.196.12-15 (the kavaca content whose fruits are stated here)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of bearing (dhāraṇa) a sacred teaching in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that simply preserving/holding the sacred item or instruction grants protection-like results: mastery over oneself, purification from sin, relief from disease, and a heavenward destiny.

How does this verse explain spiritual purification and destiny after death?

It links inner purity (vipāpmā) and freedom from bodily affliction (rogamukta) with an elevated post-mortem destination (divam vrajet), reflecting the Purana’s theme that dharmic observances shape the soul’s trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a disciplined spiritual practice and keep sacred recitations/teachings with reverence; the verse emphasizes self-mastery, ethical purification, and health-supporting dharmic living as foundations for auspicious outcomes.