Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

पार्श्वं रक्षतु मे चक्रं वामं दैत्यनिवारणम् / दक्षिणन्तु गदा देवी सर्वासुरनिवारिणी

Transliteration

pārśvaṃ rakṣatu me cakraṃ vāmaṃ daityanivāraṇam / dakṣiṇantu gadā devī sarvāsuranivāriṇī

Translation

എന്റെ പാർശ്വത്തെ ചക്രം കാക്കട്ടെ—ഇടത്തുവശം ദൈത്യനിവാരണം. വലത്തുവശം ദേവീസ്വരൂപമായ ഗദ എന്നെ കാക്കട്ടെ, സർവ്വ അസുരനിവാരിണി.

Word by Word

• पार्श्वम्: side/flank
• पार्श्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रक्षतु: may (he/it) protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/विधिलिङ्गसदृश), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• चक्रम्: discus (chakra)
• चक्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• वामम्: left (side)
• वामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• दैत्यनिवारणम्: remover of demons
• दैत्यनिवारणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैत्य + निवारण (प्रातिपदिक); निवारण < नि+वृ (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वामम् इति)

• दक्षिणम्: right (side)
• दक्षिणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तु: and/but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• गदा: mace
• गदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• देवी: goddess
• देवी: Karta (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गदाया अप्पोजिशन (समानााधिकरण)

• सर्वासुरनिवारिणी: remover of all asuras
• सर्वासुरनिवारिणी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + असुर + निवारिणी (प्रातिपदिक); निवारिणी < नि+वृ (धातु) + णिनि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (गदा/देवी इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda a protective recitation involving his divine weapons)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati through remembrance of Viṣṇu’s āyudhas as living protectors that repel adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-rakṣa (divine guardianship) and smaraṇa as upāya; the Lord’s śakti operates through nāma-rūpa (weapons) for the devotee’s welfare.

Application: Use as a daily protective prayer before travel, conflict, or ritual; mentally place cakra on the left and gadā on the right while reciting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: body-mandala (kavaca)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.8; Garuda Purana 1.194.9; Garuda Purana 1.194.10

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sudarshana Chakra
• Gada
• Daityas
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s weapons in Garuda Purana protection verses?

This verse treats the chakra and gada as living divine protectors, invoked to guard specific directions of the body and to repel hostile forces (daityas/asuras).

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing spiritual protection, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that the subtle journey and ritual life require safeguarding from obstructive forces, both external and internal.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short protective prayer—mentally placing the chakra on the left and the gada on the right—cultivating vigilance, courage, and devotion when facing fear, negativity, or temptation.