Shloka 2

Viṣṇu-dharma Rakṣā: Nyāsa and Nārāyaṇa-Kavaca

Protective Invocation of Viṣṇu and His Avatāras

Devanagari script

पादयोर्जानुनोरूर्वोरुदरे हृद्यथोरसि / मुखे शिरस्यानुपूर्वमोङ्का रादीनि विन्यसेत्

Transliteration

pādayorjānunorūrvorudare hṛdyathorasi / mukhe śirasyānupūrvamoṅkā rādīni vinyaset

Translation

Upon the feet, the knees, the thighs, the belly, the heart and the chest—and then upon the mouth and the head—one should, in due order, place (mentally or ritually) the sacred syllables beginning with Oṁ.

Word by Word

• पादयोः: at/on the two feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; स्थाननिर्देशे (locative sense by genitive)

• जानुनोः: at/on the two knees
• जानुनोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; स्थाननिर्देशे

• ऊर्वोः: at/on the two thighs
• ऊर्वोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; स्थाननिर्देशे

• उदरे: in the belly
• उदरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/next)

• उरसि: on the chest
• उरसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• मुखे: in the mouth/face
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अनुपूर्वम्: in order, sequentially
• अनुपूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थे)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘क्रमेण’

• ओङ्कारादीनि: (the syllables) beginning with Oṅkāra
• ओङ्कारादीनि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार + आदि (प्रातिपदिक); ‘ओङ्कार-आदि’ (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; ‘ओङ्कारः आदिः येषाम्’ इत्यर्थे (oṅkāra etc.)

• विन्यसेत्: should place/assign (nyāsa)
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anga-nyasa as embodied devotion: installing pranava and related syllables to make the body fit for Vishnu-oriented worship.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryamin-bhavana (the Lord as indwelling presence) and deha as upadhi to be sanctified for sadhana.

Application: Perform systematic nyasa before japa/puja: mentally touch each limb in sequence while placing the syllables beginning with Oṁ, maintaining steady breath and attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: body-mandala (adhyatmika kshetra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.196.3-6 (continuation: mantra, kara-nyasa, hridaya/murdha placement, protection-dhyana)

Characters & Entities

• Om

FAQs

What is the importance of placing Oṁ and other syllables on the body in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches nyāsa—sanctifying the body by assigning sacred syllables in sequence—so the practitioner’s limbs and vital centers are ritually purified and aligned with mantra-power.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and Garuda Purana death rituals?

Nyāsa is a preparatory purification practice often connected with rites for protection and spiritual steadiness; in Garuda Purana contexts it supports orderly ritual conduct that aids the subtle orientation of mind and prāṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use mindful mantra-recitation with a simple nyāsa (feet to head) as a daily purification practice, cultivating discipline, reverence, and mental clarity before prayer or ancestral rites.