Shloka 6

Viṣṇu-dharma Rakṣā: Nyāsa and Nārāyaṇa-Kavaca

Protective Invocation of Viṣṇu and His Avatāras

Devanagari script

आत्मानं परमं ध्यायेच्छेषं यच्छक्तिभिर्युतम् / मम रक्षां हरिः कुर्यान्मत्स्यमूर्तिर्जले ऽवतु

Transliteration

ātmānaṃ paramaṃ dhyāyeccheṣaṃ yacchaktibhiryutam / mama rakṣāṃ hariḥ kuryānmatsyamūrtirjale 'vatu

Translation

आत्मानं परमं ध्यायेत्, शेषं शक्तिभिर्युतम्। मम रक्षां हरिः कुर्यात्; मत्स्यमूर्तिर्जलेऽवतु॥

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to आत्मानम्)

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate upon
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शेषम्: Śeṣa (Ananta)
• शेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अनन्त-शेषनाम

• यत्: whom/which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (relative pronoun)

• शक्तिभिः: with powers/energies
• शक्तिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• युतम्: endowed/connected
• युतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to यत्/शेषम्)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मत्स्यमूर्तिः: (as) the fish-incarnation
• मत्स्यमूर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक); ‘मत्स्य-मूर्ति’ (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; हरिणः विशेषणरूपेण (appositional)

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अवतु: may (he) protect
• अवतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari), in instruction to Garuda (Vinata-putra) within a protective/remembering context

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) through dhyana and protective prayer; the Supreme Self is approached as Hari who safeguards devotees via avatara-power.

Vedantic Theme: Paramatman as protector and ground (adhiṣṭhāna) symbolized by Śeṣa; devotion stabilizes the mind amid samsaric ‘waters’.

Application: After nyasa, meditate on the Supreme with Śeṣa imagery; recite a personal raksha-prarthana; contemplate Matsya as saving intelligence in times of overwhelm (literal or metaphorical).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-ocean / archetypal element (water)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.196.2-5 (nyasa as preparation for this dhyana/raksha prayer)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Matsya (avatara)
• Shesha (Ananta)

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Matsya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Matsya—Vishnu’s fish-form—as a specific protector in watery danger, emphasizing targeted remembrance (smaraṇa) of the Lord for safety.

How does this verse connect meditation on the Supreme Self with protection?

It links inner contemplation of the Supreme (paramātman) and cosmic support (Śeṣa) with an outward prayer for Hari’s guarding power, showing devotion and dhyāna working together.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short daily remembrance or before travel near water—centering the mind on the Supreme and offering a focused prayer for protection and steadiness.