Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

विष्णुर्मामग्रतः पातु कृष्णो रक्षतु पृष्ठतः / हरिर्मे रक्षतु शिरो हृदयञ्च जनार्दनः

Transliteration

viṣṇurmāmagrataḥ pātu kṛṣṇo rakṣatu pṛṣṭhataḥ / harirme rakṣatu śiro hṛdayañca janārdanaḥ

Translation

ขอพระวิษณุปกป้องข้าพเจ้าจากเบื้องหน้า; ขอพระกฤษณะคุ้มครองจากเบื้องหลัง. ขอพระหริปกป้องศีรษะของข้าพเจ้า และขอพระชนารทนะพิทักษ์ดวงใจด้วย

Word by Word

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

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

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रक्षतु: may (he) protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पृष्ठतः: from behind/at the back
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

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

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• रक्षतु: may (he) protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• जनार्दनः: Janardana
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हरिणा सह समानाधिकरणम् (appositional)

Speaker

Garuda Purana narrator (within a protective stotra context, invoking Lord Vishnu’s names)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati through nāma: invoking Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa/Hari/Janārdana to guard directions and vital centers.

Vedantic Theme: One Lord appearing as many names/functions; īśvara as antaryāmin (inner ruler) safeguarding heart and consciousness.

Application: Recite as a daily kavaca: visualize protection in front/behind and over head/heart before travel, sleep, or meditation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.5-6 (sense-organ protection; vyūha names)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Hari
• Janardana

FAQs

What is the importance of a protective prayer (kavacha-style) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows a directional and bodily protection practice—invoking Vishnu’s names to establish spiritual safeguarding over one’s entire being.

How does this verse relate to fear, danger, or unseen forces described in the Garuda Purana?

By assigning divine guardianship to the front, back, head, and heart, it functions as a spiritual shield—useful in contexts where the Purana discusses vulnerability to suffering, fear, or harmful influences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recite the verse with attention (especially before travel, sleep, or rituals), cultivating steadiness of heart and remembrance of Dharma through devotion to Vishnu.