Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

अप्रधृष्यो ऽस्मि भूतानां सर्वदेवमयो ह्यहम् / स्मरणाद्देवदेवस्य विष्णोरमिततेजसः

Transliteration

apradhṛṣyo 'smi bhūtānāṃ sarvadevamayo hyaham / smaraṇāddevadevasya viṣṇoramitatejasaḥ

Translation

ข้าพเจ้าไม่อาจถูกครอบงำโดยสรรพสัตว์ เพราะข้าพเจ้าเปี่ยมด้วยเทพทั้งปวง—ด้วยการระลึกถึงเทพเหนือเทพ คือพระวิษณุผู้มีรัศมีอันหาประมาณมิได้।

Word by Word

• अप्रधृष्यः: invincible, unassailable
• अप्रधृष्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रधृष्य (प्रातिपदिक; a- + धृष् (धातु) + यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘अधृष्य’ (अजेय) इत्यस्य नकारार्थक-उपसर्गेण निषेधः

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सर्वदेवमयः: consisting of all gods
• सर्वदेवमयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + देव + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘सर्वदेवानां मयः’ = made of/consisting of all gods)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); अवधान/हेतु/निश्चयार्थे

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्मरणात्: from/through remembrance
• स्मरणात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मरण (प्रातिपदिक; स्मृ (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे—‘स्मरणात्’ = by/through remembrance

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘देवानां देवः’ = god of gods)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अमिततेजसः: of immeasurable radiance
• अमिततेजसः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘अमितं तेजः यस्य’ इति भावे—‘अमिततेजस्’ = of immeasurable splendor)

Speaker

A devotee/protected person speaking (power attributed to Vishnu-smaraṇa in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smaraṇa (remembrance) of Vishnu confers inviolability and divine presence.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-smṛti as upāya: turning the mind to the Supreme dissolves fear and establishes inner sovereignty.

Application: Use Vishnu-smaraṇa as a daily protective practice—especially before travel, conflict, or fear—reciting with focused attention and ethical intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.23-26 (protective mantra sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-smaraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents remembrance of Vishnu as a direct source of spiritual protection, making one “unassailable” and inwardly fortified by divine presence.

How does this verse explain protection from harmful beings or forces?

It frames protection not as personal strength but as the effect of recalling Vishnu—the devotee becomes, in a sense, aligned with (or filled by) the power of all the devas through that remembrance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regular Vishnu-nāma japa or mindful remembrance during fear or uncertainty is taught here as a stabilizing practice that cultivates courage, clarity, and ethical restraint.