Shloka 11

Viṣṇu-dharma Rakṣā: Nyāsa and Nārāyaṇa-Kavaca

Protective Invocation of Viṣṇu and His Avatāras

Devanagari script

बुद्धः पाषण्डसंघातात्कल्की रक्षतु कल्मषात् / पायान्मध्यन्दिने विष्णुः प्रातर्नारायणो ऽवतु

Transliteration

buddhaḥ pāṣaṇḍasaṃghātātkalkī rakṣatu kalmaṣāt / pāyānmadhyandine viṣṇuḥ prātarnārāyaṇo 'vatu

Translation

بدھ مجھے پاشنڈیوں کے ہجوم سے بچائیں؛ کلکی مجھے کلمش (گناہ) سے بچائیں۔ دوپہر میں وِشنو میری نگہبانی کریں، اور صبح کے وقت نارائن میری حفاظت کریں۔

Word by Word

• बुद्धः: Buddha
• बुद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• पाषण्डसंघातात्: from the multitude of heretics
• पाषण्डसंघातात्: Apadana (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्डसंघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पाषण्ड + संघात)

• कल्की: Kalki
• कल्की: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्कि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• रक्षतु: may (he) protect
• रक्षतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कल्मषात्: from sin/impurity
• कल्मषात्: Apadana (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• पायात्: may (he) protect
• पायात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मध्यन्दिने: at midday
• मध्यन्दिने: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यन्दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मध्य + दिन)

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• नारायणः: Narayana
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अवतु: may (he) protect
• अवतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda in a protective-stotra context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guard the mind from misleading doctrines and guard conduct from sin; structure the day with remembrance of Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) and śuddhi (purity) as supports for steady devotion; dharma-protection as divine function across ages.

Application: Adopt a daily rhythm: morning remembrance (prātaḥ-smaraṇa), midday recollection; cultivate discernment in beliefs and accountability in actions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: temporal guardianship (kāla-rakṣā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.196 (time-based protection clauses)

Characters & Entities

• Buddha (avatara)
• Kalki
• Vishnu
• Narayana

FAQs

What is the importance of protection prayers in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames remembrance of Vishnu’s avatāras as a spiritual safeguard—protecting the devotee from doctrinal confusion (pāṣaṇḍa) and inner impurity (kalmaṣa) through timed, daily recollection.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing after-death travel directly, it emphasizes purification and right orientation of the mind—key prerequisites in Garuda Purana teachings for a favorable destiny and freedom from sin-born suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short daily prayer: recite in the morning and at midday to cultivate clarity in belief and conduct, and to reinforce ethical living aligned with dharma.