Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

उदरं मुसलं पातु पृष्ठं मे पातु लाङ्गलम् / ऊर्ध्वं रक्षतु मे शार्ङ्गं जङ्घे रक्षतु नन्दकः

Transliteration

udaraṃ musalaṃ pātu pṛṣṭhaṃ me pātu lāṅgalam / ūrdhvaṃ rakṣatu me śārṅgaṃ jaṅghe rakṣatu nandakaḥ

Translation

میرا پیٹ مُسل سے محفوظ رہے؛ میری پیٹھ کی حفاظت ہل کرے۔ اوپر سے شارنگ دھنش حفاظت کرے؛ اور میری پنڈلیوں کی حفاظت نندک تلوار کرے۔

Word by Word

• उदरम्: belly/abdomen
• उदरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुसलम्: pestle/club
• मुसलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पातु: may protect
• पातु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु, पालन)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पृष्ठम्: back
• पृष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• पातु: may protect
• पातु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु, पालन)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• लाङ्गलम्: plough
• लाङ्गलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upper part/above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (दिशा/देशवाचक)

• रक्षतु: may protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

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

• शार्ङ्गम्: Śārṅga (bow)
• शार्ङ्गम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जङ्घे: the two shanks/legs
• जङ्घे: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (जङ्घे इति द्विवचनरूपम्)

• रक्षतु: may protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नन्दकः: Nandaka (sword)
• नन्दकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda as a protective prayer/stotra segment)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s śakti is invoked through specific forms (musala, lāṅgala, Śārṅga, Nandaka) to protect distinct bodily regions.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā through rūpa-dhyāna; the many powers are expressions of one Īśvara safeguarding the jīva.

Application: Recite with visualization: musala at the navel/abdomen, plough at the back, Śārṅga above the head, Nandaka along the legs; useful as a kavaca before risky work or travel.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: body-mandala (kavaca)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.7; Garuda Purana 1.194.9; Garuda Purana 1.194.10

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Musala
• Langala
• Sharnga
• Nandaka

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s weapons in the Garuda Purana?

This verse invokes Viṣṇu’s divine implements as living protectors of specific body-parts, expressing the Purāṇic idea that remembrance (smaraṇa) of the Lord’s śakti dispels fear and wards off harm.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by framing protection as alignment with divine power, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that spiritual safeguards—mantra, devotion, and dharma—help one face dangers and terrors described in post-death journeys.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as part of a Viṣṇu-kavacha style recitation for steadiness and protection, coupled with ethical conduct (dharma) and mindful remembrance of the Divine during anxiety, travel, illness, or ritual observances.