Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

मनो मम हृषीकेशो जिह्वां रक्षतु केशवः / प्रातु नेत्रे वासुदेवः श्रोत्रे सङ्कर्षणो विभुः

Transliteration

mano mama hṛṣīkeśo jihvāṃ rakṣatu keśavaḥ / prātu netre vāsudevaḥ śrotre saṅkarṣaṇo vibhuḥ

Translation

मनो मम हृषीकेशो जिह्वां रक्षतु केशवः । पातु नेत्रे वासुदेवः श्रोत्रे सङ्कर्षणो विभुः ॥

Word by Word

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• हृषीकेशः: Hrishikesha
• हृषीकेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीक + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हृषीकाणाम् ईशः = lord of the senses)

• जिह्वाम्: tongue
• जिह्वाम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• रक्षतु: may (he) protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• केशवः: Keshava
• केशवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रातु: may (he) protect
• प्रातु: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; (पातु इत्यस्य पाठभेदः/रूपभेदः)

• नेत्रे: (two) eyes
• नेत्रे: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), द्विवचन

• वासुदेवः: Vasudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रोत्रे: (two) ears
• श्रोत्रे: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), द्विवचन

• सङ्कर्षणः: Sankarshana
• सङ्कर्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्कर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विभुः: the all-powerful one
• विभुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण (appositional epithet of सङ्कर्षणः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (as a protective stotra instruction within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indriya-saṃyama (sense discipline) through devotional guardianship: mind (Hṛṣīkeśa), tongue (Keśava), eyes (Vāsudeva), ears (Saṅkarṣaṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin governance of indriyas; bhakti as support for pratyāhāra-like restraint and sattvic conduct.

Application: Before speaking or consuming media, recite and pause: dedicate mind/speech/vision/hearing to dharmic use; practice mindful speech and attentive listening.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.6 (smell/skin/throat/below protection; vyūha continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Hṛṣīkeśa
• Keśava
• Vāsudeva
• Saṅkarṣaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting the senses in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames spiritual safety as mastery and sanctification of the inner instruments—mind, speech, sight, and hearing—by invoking Viṣṇu’s names, aligning conduct with dharma.

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

Garuda Purana repeatedly emphasizes that the mind and senses shape karma; invoking divine protection for them supports purity of actions and remembrance, which influences one’s post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a daily prayer before speaking or consuming media: pause, recite, and commit to truthful speech, disciplined attention, and ethical listening.