Shloka 18

Vasudeva Meets Nanda; Pūtanā’s Fall; Viṣṇu-Rakṣā (Protective Hymn) in Gokula

Devanagari script

शिरस् ते पातु गोविन्दः कण्ठं रक्षतु केशवः गुह्यं सजठरं विष्णुर् जङ्घे पादौ जनार्दनः

Transliteration

śiras te pātu govindaḥ kaṇṭhaṃ rakṣatu keśavaḥ guhyaṃ sajaṭharaṃ viṣṇur jaṅghe pādau janārdanaḥ

Translation

May Govinda guard your head; may Keśava protect your throat. May Viṣṇu safeguard your secret parts and your belly; and may Janārdana protect your shanks and feet.

Word by Word

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (singular)

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• गोविन्दः: Govinda
• गोविन्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

• कण्ठम्: throat
• कण्ठम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular)

• रक्षतु: may (he) protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• केशवः: Keshava
• केशवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

• गुह्यम्: the groin/secret part
• गुह्यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular)

• स-जठरम्: the belly along with (it)
• स-जठरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ; ‘सह’) + जठर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (अव्ययीभाव; जठरेण सह/जठरसमेतम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular)

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

• जङ्घे: (your) two shanks/legs
• जङ्घे: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), द्विवचन (dual)

• पादौ: (your) two feet
• पादौ: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), द्विवचन (dual)

• जनार्दनः: Janardana
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; verse presented as a protective invocation to Vishnu’s names)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s many names and aspects can be invoked as protective kavaca over the whole embodied life.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Use daily nāma-japa and mindful body-awareness as a devotional ‘armor’—sanctifying speech, conduct, and intimacy.

Vishishtadvaita: Personal relationship to the Supreme (many names, one Lord) supports prapatti/śaraṇāgati: the soul depends on Him as inner ruler and protector.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva (devotional)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Govinda

FAQs

What is the significance of a protective kavacha-style verse in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats Vishnu’s names as spiritual armour, mapping divine protection onto the body to express that the Supreme Lord pervades and safeguards all aspects of life.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the power of Vishnu’s names in this context?

By assigning specific epithets to specific limbs, the teaching frames remembrance (nāma-smaraṇa) as an active refuge—Vishnu’s sovereignty is invoked as immediate protection, not merely abstract theology.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as the supreme, all-encompassing protector: different names signify the same highest reality, accessible through devotion and capable of guarding the devotee in every dimension.