Shloka 11

Viṣṇu-dharma Rakṣā: Nyāsa and Nārāyaṇa-Kavaca

Protective Invocation of Viṣṇu and His Avatāras

Devanagari script

बुद्धः पाषण्डसंघातात्कल्की रक्षतु कल्मषात् / पायान्मध्यन्दिने विष्णुः प्रातर्नारायणो ऽवतु

Transliteration

buddhaḥ pāṣaṇḍasaṃghātātkalkī rakṣatu kalmaṣāt / pāyānmadhyandine viṣṇuḥ prātarnārāyaṇo 'vatu

Translation

बुद्धः पाषण्डसंघातात् रक्षतु; कल्की कल्मषात्। मध्यन्दिने विष्णुः पायात्; प्रातर्नारायणोऽवतु॥

Word by Word

• बुद्धः: Buddha
• बुद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• पाषण्डसंघातात्: from the multitude of heretics
• पाषण्डसंघातात्: Apadana (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्डसंघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पाषण्ड + संघात)

• कल्की: Kalki
• कल्की: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्कि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• रक्षतु: may (he) protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कल्मषात्: from sin/impurity
• कल्मषात्: Apadana (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• पायात्: may (he) protect
• पायात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मध्यन्दिने: at midday
• मध्यन्दिने: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यन्दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मध्य + दिन)

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• नारायणः: Narayana
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अवतु: may (he) protect
• अवतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda in a protective-stotra context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guard the mind from misleading doctrines and guard conduct from sin; structure the day with remembrance of Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) and śuddhi (purity) as supports for steady devotion; dharma-protection as divine function across ages.

Application: Adopt a daily rhythm: morning remembrance (prātaḥ-smaraṇa), midday recollection; cultivate discernment in beliefs and accountability in actions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: temporal guardianship (kāla-rakṣā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.196 (time-based protection clauses)

Characters & Entities

• Buddha (avatara)
• Kalki
• Vishnu
• Narayana

FAQs

What is the importance of protection prayers in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames remembrance of Vishnu’s avatāras as a spiritual safeguard—protecting the devotee from doctrinal confusion (pāṣaṇḍa) and inner impurity (kalmaṣa) through timed, daily recollection.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing after-death travel directly, it emphasizes purification and right orientation of the mind—key prerequisites in Garuda Purana teachings for a favorable destiny and freedom from sin-born suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short daily prayer: recite in the morning and at midday to cultivate clarity in belief and conduct, and to reinforce ethical living aligned with dharma.