Shloka 25

Vaiṣṇava-kavaca: Vishnu’s Protective Armor Against Fear, Disease, Poison, and Hostile Forces

Devanagari script

राक्षसेषु पिशाचेषु कान्तारेष्वटवीषु च / विवादे राजमार्गेषु द्यूतेषु कलहेषु च

Transliteration

rākṣaseṣu piśāceṣu kāntāreṣvaṭavīṣu ca / vivāde rājamārgeṣu dyūteṣu kalaheṣu ca

Translation

രാക്ഷസന്മാരുടെയും പിശാചുകളുടെയും ഇടയിൽ, നിർജന കാന്താരങ്ങളിലും വനങ്ങളിലും; തർക്കങ്ങളിൽ, രാജമാർഗങ്ങളിൽ, ചൂതാട്ടത്തിൽ, കലഹങ്ങളിലും കൂടി।

Word by Word

• राक्षसेषु: among/at (times of) demons
• राक्षसेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• पिशाचेषु: among goblins
• पिशाचेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• कान्तारेषु: in wildernesses
• कान्तारेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• अटवीषु: in forests
• अटवीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अटवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विवादे: in dispute
• विवादे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• राजमार्गेषु: on highways
• राजमार्गेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘राज्ञः मार्गः’ = king’s road/highway)

• द्यूतेषु: in gambling (situations)
• द्यूतेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• कलहेषु: in quarrels
• कलहेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Human life contains external (bhūta/spirits, wilderness) and internal-social (kalaha, dyūta) dangers; protection is sought while navigating adharma-prone contexts.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka in saṃsāra: recognizing perilous environments and anchoring the mind in the divine to remain steady.

Application: Avoid high-risk settings (gambling, quarrels) when possible; when unavoidable (travel/roads), employ prayer and prudent conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: forest/roadway/social-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.26 (river crossing, fire, thieves, graha-warding); Garuda Purana 1.194.22-24 (source mantra and protective agencies)

Characters & Entities

• Rakshasas
• Pishachas

FAQs

What is the importance of listing places like forests, highways, and gambling in the Garuda Purana?

The verse groups common “risk-zones” where fear, temptation, and harmful influences arise—external (hostile beings/spirits) and internal (anger, greed, addiction)—to underline where vigilance and dharmic restraint are most needed.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on karma and downfall?

By pointing to quarrels, disputes, and gambling, it highlights behaviors that generate harmful karma—violence, deception, and obsession—often leading to further suffering and deterioration of one’s moral path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid gambling and escalation in conflicts, practice self-control in public and stressful settings, and choose safer, sattvic company and environments—especially when traveling or facing disputes.