Shloka 15

Viṣṇu-dharma Rakṣā: Nyāsa and Nārāyaṇa-Kavaca

Protective Invocation of Viṣṇu and His Avatāras

Devanagari script

शेषः सर्पस्वरूपश्च सदा सर्वत्र पातु माम् / विदिक्षु दिक्षु च सदा नारसिंहश्च रक्षतु

Transliteration

śeṣaḥ sarpasvarūpaśca sadā sarvatra pātu mām / vidikṣu dikṣu ca sadā nārasiṃhaśca rakṣatu

Translation

സർപ്പസ്വരൂപനായ ശേഷൻ സദാ എല്ലായിടത്തും എന്നെ കാക്കട്ടെ. ദിക്കുകളിലും വിദിക്കുകളിലും എന്നും നരസിംഹൻ എന്നെ രക്ഷിക്കട്ടെ.

Word by Word

• शेषः: Śeṣa
• शेषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्पस्वरूपः: of serpent-form
• सर्पस्वरूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पस्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक; सर्प + स्वरूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (सर्पः इव स्वरूपः/सर्पस्वरूपः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Time अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (always)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana (Location अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय; सर्व + त्र)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: everywhere)

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु; पा रक्षणे)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

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

• विदिक्षु: in the intermediate directions
• विदिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Time अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• नारसिंहः: Narasimha (man-lion)
• नारसिंहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारसिंह (प्रातिपदिक; नर + सिंह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (नर-सिंहः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice within a protective invocation context, as taught to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Surrender to the Lord’s cosmic forms yields fearlessness and a sense of being held everywhere.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat-ādhāra (world-support) symbolism of Śeṣa; Nārasiṁha as protective grace that annihilates adharma and inner fear.

Application: Recite before travel or entering uncertain situations; visualize Śeṣa as a protective coil beneath/around you and Nārasiṁha stationed in each direction and inter-direction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: directions (dik/vidik)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.196.12-14 (time and weapon protections); Garuda Purana 1.196.16 (phalaśruti)

Characters & Entities

• Shesha (Ananta)
• Narasimha

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Śeṣa and Nārasiṁha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a protective invocation: Śeṣa symbolizes cosmic support and stability, while Nārasiṁha represents fierce divine safeguarding against dangers, together covering protection everywhere.

How does this verse explain protection in all directions (dikṣu and vidikṣu)?

It explicitly asks for protection not only in the main cardinal directions (dikṣu) but also in the intermediate directions (vidikṣu), indicating complete, all-around spiritual security.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short daily prayer or part of a kavacha-style recitation for mental steadiness and remembrance of divine protection, especially before travel or during fear and uncertainty.