Shloka 8

Vaiṣṇava Pañjara: Directional Kavacha of Viṣṇu, His Weapons, and Avatāras

Devanagari script

नैरृत्यां मां च रक्षस्व दिव्यमूर्ते नृकेसरिन् / वैजयन्तीं स्मप्रगृह्य श्रीवत्सं कण्ठभूषणम्

Transliteration

nairṛtyāṃ māṃ ca rakṣasva divyamūrte nṛkesarin / vaijayantīṃ smapragṛhya śrīvatsaṃ kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam

Translation

నైరృత (దక్షిణ-పడమర) దిశ నుండి కూడా నన్ను రక్షించు, ఓ దివ్యమూర్తి నృకేసరీ (నరసింహా)! వైజయంతీ మాల ధరించి, కంఠభూషణంగా శ్రీవత్స చిహ్నం కలిగిన ప్రభూ, నన్ను కాపాడు.

Word by Word

• नैरृत्यां: in the southwest
• नैरृत्यां: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (southwest direction)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• रक्षस्व: protect
• रक्षस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• दिव्यमूर्ते: O divine-formed one
• दिव्यमूर्ते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘of divine form’)

• नृकेसरिन्: O Narasiṃha (man-lion)
• नृकेसरिन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ + केसरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘man-lion’, Narasiṃha)

• वैजयन्तीम्: Vaijayantī garland
• वैजयन्तीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैजयन्ती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; माला-नाम

• स्म: indeed; (particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्मरण/पादपूरणार्थक (particle; often metrical/expletive)

• प्रगृह्य: having taken up
• प्रगृह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्), ‘having taken up’

• श्रीवत्सम्: Śrīvatsa mark
• श्रीवत्सम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विष्णोर्लाञ्छन-नाम

• कण्ठभूषणम्: neck-ornament
• कण्ठभूषणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘ornament of the neck’); appositional to श्रीवत्सम्

Speaker

A devotee reciting a protective directional prayer (invoking Lord Narasiṁha); framed within the Vishnu–Garuda discourse context of the Garuda Purana

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s terrifying-protective aspect (Narasiṁha) safeguards devotees; auspicious marks (Śrīvatsa, Vaijayantī) signify victory and grace.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavān as both ugra and anugraha—fierce to adharma, tender to the surrendered; śrī (Lakṣmī) inseparable from Nārāyaṇa (Śrīvatsa).

Application: In moments of intense fear or injustice, invoke Narasiṁha for courage and moral clarity; remember that divine power is guided by compassion for the devotee.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: directional quarter (dik)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.13 (kavaca sequence; Narasiṁha assigned to a quarter for protection)

Characters & Entities

• Nirṛti (direction/guardian concept)
• Lord Narasiṁha
• Vaijayantī
• Śrīvatsa

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Narasiṁha for the south-west direction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses a directional protection (dik-rakṣā) motif: Narasiṁha is invoked to guard the south-west, a direction traditionally associated with obstructive forces, reinforcing spiritual security through remembrance of Viṣṇu’s fierce protective form.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: Garuda Purana often emphasizes protection, purity, and right remembrance during liminal states (fear, danger, death-related rites). Directional invocations like this support steadiness of mind and sacred orientation, which the text links to safe passage and auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as part of daily prayer or during anxious times—mentally placing Narasiṁha’s protection in the south-west—while focusing on ethical conduct and devotion, which the Purana consistently presents as the foundation of true protection.