Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

मां रक्षस्वाजित सदा नमस्ते ऽस्त्वपराजित / विशालाक्षं समारुह्य रक्ष मां त्वं रसातले

Transliteration

māṃ rakṣasvājita sadā namaste 'stvaparājita / viśālākṣaṃ samāruhya rakṣa māṃ tvaṃ rasātale

Translation

हे अजित, सदैव माझे रक्षण कर; हे अपराजित, तुला नमस्कार. विशालाक्ष (गरुड)ावर आरूढ होऊन, रसातळातही माझे रक्षण कर.

Word by Word

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• रक्षस्व: protect (me)
• रक्षस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अजित: O Unconquered One
• अजित: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• 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 (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अपराजित: O Unvanquished One
• अपराजित: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• विशालाक्षम्: the large-eyed one (Garuḍa)
• विशालाक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशालाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म; समासः विशाल + अक्षि (बहुव्रीहि: 'whose eyes are large')

• समारुह्य: having mounted
• समारुह्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

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

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

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• रसातले: in Rasātala (netherworld)
• रसातले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant invoking Lord Vishnu for protection (a protective prayer within the Vishnu–Garuda context of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord as Ajita/Aparajita is unconquerable; remembrance grants protection in all realms, including the most fear-associated spaces.

Vedantic Theme: Sarva-loka-niyantritva of Ishvara; refuge in the invincible Lord transcends spatial/ontological boundaries.

Application: Recite as a protective line when facing deep fear, oppression, or ‘underworld’ situations (literal travel, psychological darkness), visualizing Vishnu on Garuda guarding below.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: nether-region (patala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.13 (direction/realm-based protective panjara)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Rasatala

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Ajita (Vishnu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu as the unconquered, invincible protector whose guardianship extends to all realms, making His remembrance a safeguard against fear and danger in liminal or otherworldly states.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

By explicitly mentioning Rasātala, the verse emphasizes that divine protection is sought even across lower cosmic regions—echoing the text’s broader concern with protection and guidance through perilous post-death terrains.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a daily protective remembrance: cultivate steadiness through devotion and ethical living, and recite/reflect on Vishnu’s invincibility when facing fear, uncertainty, or transitions.