Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वा रक्षस्व मां विष्णो नमस्ते पुरुषोत्तम / एतदुक्तं शङ्कराय वैष्णवं पञ्जरं महत्

Transliteration

kṛtvā rakṣasva māṃ viṣṇo namaste puruṣottama / etaduktaṃ śaṅkarāya vaiṣṇavaṃ pañjaraṃ mahat

Translation

यह करके, हे विष्णु, मेरी रक्षा करो; हे पुरुषोत्तम, आपको नमस्कार। यह महान वैष्णव पंजर (रक्षक स्तोत्र) शंकर को कहा गया था।

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• रक्षस्व: protect
• रक्षस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

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

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

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana/Discourse (Expression)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी, एकवचन; सम्प्रदान

• पुरुषोत्तम: O Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः पुरुष + उत्तम (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: 'best among men')

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma/Pratipadya (Referenced item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष्य-संबन्ध

• उक्तम्: said/spoken
• उक्तम्: Kriya (Predicative/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे 'said'

• शङ्कराय: to Śaṅkara
• शङ्कराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; सम्प्रदान

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava
• वैष्णवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (pañjaraṃ)

• पञ्जरम्: protective cage/armor
• पञ्जरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (pañjaraṃ)

Speaker

Narrator (within the Vishnu–Garuda discourse), attributing the hymn’s transmission

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stotra as upaya: performing/reciting the Vaishnava panjara invokes Vishnu’s protection; sanctity is reinforced by transmission to Shankara.

Vedantic Theme: Nama-rupa upasana leading to grace; harmony of deities under the Supreme (Purushottama) in puranic theology.

Application: Conclude a protective recitation by reaffirming surrender to Vishnu (Purushottama) and treating the hymn as a daily protective practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: textual/ritual setting (kavacha transmission)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.13.1-12 (Vaishnava panjara/kavacha)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Puruṣottama
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Vaiṣṇava Pañjara in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Vaiṣṇava Pañjara as a “great armor” (kavacha-like protection), meant to be performed/recited and then invoked for Viṣṇu’s safeguarding grace.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

While not describing after-death travel directly, it emphasizes devotional protection—seeking Viṣṇu as Puruṣottama—an approach Garuda Purana repeatedly presents as a support against fear, obstacles, and inauspicious influences affecting one’s spiritual journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a closing invocation after reciting a protective stotra: perform the recitation with intent, offer salutations to Viṣṇu, and mentally request protection for ethical living, steadiness in dharma, and freedom from भय (fear).