Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

बध्नाम्यहं प्रतिसरं नमस्कृत्य जनार्दनम् / अमोघाप्रतिमं सर्वं सर्वदुः खनिवारणम्

Transliteration

badhnāmyahaṃ pratisaraṃ namaskṛtya janārdanam / amoghāpratimaṃ sarvaṃ sarvaduḥ khanivāraṇam

Translation

Setelah menunduk menyembah Janārdana, aku mengikat azimat pelindung ini—tidak pernah gagal, tiada bandingan, meliputi segalanya—yang menyingkirkan setiap dukacita.

Word by Word

• बध्नामि: I bind/tie
• बध्नामि: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष? (न), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रतिसरम्: an amulet/band
• प्रतिसरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; (amulet/band)

• नमस्कृत्य: having saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस्-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: कृ (to do) with उपपद/पूर्वपद: नमस् (salutation)

• जनार्दनम्: Janardana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम

• अमोघाप्रतिमम्: unfailing and incomparable
• अमोघाप्रतिमम्: Karman (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमोघ + अप्रतिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (अमोघश्च अप्रतिमश्च) एकवचन-नपुंसकं समाहारद्वन्द्ववत्; विशेषणम् (of प्रतिसरम्)

• सर्वम्: all(-protecting)/entire
• सर्वम्: Karman (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of प्रतिसरम्)

• सर्वदुःखनिवारणम्: remover of all sorrows
• सर्वदुःखनिवारणम्: Karman (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + दुःख + निवारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां दुःखानां निवारणम् = remover of all sorrows); विशेषणम् (of प्रतिसरम्)

Speaker

Narratorial/ritual voice invoking Lord Vishnu (Janardana) as a protective formula within the Garuda Purana context

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-bhakti expressed as apotropaic protection: remembrance and ritual binding remove duḥkha (sorrow).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (divine grace) as the remover of duḥkha; nāma/smṛti linked with rakṣā (protection).

Application: Use a Viṣṇu-mantra while tying a protective thread/amulet (pratiśara) with ethical resolve and steady mind; treat it as a reminder of refuge, not mere superstition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.4-6 (directional and limb-wise protection by Viṣṇu-nāmas)

Characters & Entities

• Janardana (Lord Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of pratisara (protective thread) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames pratisara as a Vishnu-centered protection rite: the amulet is sanctified by salutation to Janardana and is intended to remove all forms of suffering.

How does this verse relate to fear, suffering, and spiritual protection?

By calling the protection “unfailing” and “incomparable,” the verse teaches that refuge in Janardana is a primary means of warding off distress, especially in vulnerable moments addressed by Puranaic rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Pair any protective observance (like tying a sacred thread) with sincere reverence and ethical living, treating the act as a reminder to seek steadiness in Vishnu and to reduce causes of suffering through dharma.