Shloka 5

Viṣṇu-dharma Rakṣā: Nyāsa and Nārāyaṇa-Kavaca

Protective Invocation of Viṣṇu and His Avatāras

Devanagari script

ओङ्कारन्तु भ्रुवोर्मध्ये शिकानेत्रादिमूर्धतः / ॐ विष्णवे इति इमं मन्त्रन्यासमुदीरयेत्

Transliteration

oṅkārantu bhruvormadhye śikānetrādimūrdhataḥ / oṃ viṣṇave iti imaṃ mantranyāsamudīrayet

Translation

ओङ्कारं भ्रुवोर्मध्ये न्यसेत्, शिखानेत्रादिमूर्धतः। “ॐ विष्णवे” इति वदन् एतं मन्त्रन्यासं सम्यगुदीरयेत्॥

Word by Word

• ओङ्कारम्: the Oṅkāra syllable
• ओङ्कारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोधार्थक (but/indeed)

• भ्रुवोः: of the two eyebrows (i.e., between them)
• भ्रुवोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; स्थाननिर्देशे

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शिकानेत्रादि-मूर्धतः: starting from the śikhā and eyes up to the crown
• शिकानेत्रादि-मूर्धतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शिखा + नेत्र + आदि + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक); ‘शिखा-नेत्र-आदि’ + ‘मूर्धतः’
• Form: अव्यय; पञ्चमी-अर्थे (ablatival adverb) ‘from/starting at’; मूर्धतः = मूर्धन्-तस् (तसिल्)

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Sambandha (Mantra element/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रणव (sacred syllable)

• विष्णवे: to Viṣṇu
• विष्णवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणार्थक

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मन्त्रन्यासम्: the mantra-nyāsa
• मन्त्रन्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + न्यास (प्रातिपदिक); ‘मन्त्र-न्यास’ (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उदीरयेत्: should utter/recite
• उदीरयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-nyasa culminates in direct Vishnu-address (‘Oṁ Viṣṇave’), turning inner consecration into explicit surrender and worship.

Vedantic Theme: Ekatva-bhavana through mantra: directing buddhi (ajna focus) toward the Supreme as the inner ruler.

Application: Place Oṁ at the space between eyebrows; proceed with head-region nyasa (śikhā/eyes onward) while reciting ‘Oṁ Viṣṇave’, keeping gaze soft and mind steady.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: brow center (bhrumadhya) and head region (shikha, eyes, crown)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.196.2-4 (progressive nyasa culminating in head/heart/crown); Garuda Purana 1.196.6 (protective prayer following nyasa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Om

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-nyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents nyāsa as a disciplined way to ‘install’ the mantra in the body—centering awareness (between the brows and at the head) and dedicating the act to Viṣṇu for sanctity and protection.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes inner purification and devotion to Viṣṇu; such practices are taught in the Garuda Purana as supportive disciplines that strengthen dharma and spiritual readiness, themes linked to the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recite “Oṃ Viṣṇave” with focused attention at the ājñā (between the brows) and a sense of consecration at the crown, using it as a brief daily centering ritual before prayer or ethical resolve.