Shloka 3

Viṣṇu-dharma Rakṣā: Nyāsa and Nārāyaṇa-Kavaca

Protective Invocation of Viṣṇu and His Avatāras

Devanagari script

नमो नारायणायेति विपर्यासमथापि च / करन्यासं ततः कुर्याद्द्वादक्षरविद्यया

Transliteration

namo nārāyaṇāyeti viparyāsamathāpi ca / karanyāsaṃ tataḥ kuryāddvādakṣaravidyayā

Translation

Tụng mantra “namo nārāyaṇāya”, lại cũng thực hành theo thứ tự đảo ngược; rồi sau đó hãy làm thủ-nyāsa (an trí nơi bàn tay) bằng thánh chú mười hai âm tiết.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात); नमस्कारार्थक

• नारायणाय: to Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative)

• विपर्यासम्: the reversal/inversion
• विपर्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक (also/even)

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

• करन्यासम्: hand-nyāsa (placing on the hands)
• करन्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर + न्यास (प्रातिपदिक); ‘कर-न्यास’ (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘करे न्यासः’ इति

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (thereafter)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया: with the twelve-syllable vidyā (mantra)
• द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अक्षर + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक); ‘द्वादश-अक्षर-विद्या’ (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणार्थे (instrumental)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dvadasakshari (twelve-syllable) Narayana-mantra as a complete devotional vidya; nyasa aligns speech, mind, and action.

Vedantic Theme: Nama as upasana leading to chitta-shuddhi; devotion as a means to steady the mind on Narayana.

Application: Chant “namo nārāyaṇāya” with attention; perform kara-nyasa on fingers/palms; optionally do viloma (reverse) recitation as a concentrative technique per tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (antar-vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.196.2 (anga-nyasa sequence); Garuda Purana 1.196.4 (finger-joint placements); Garuda Purana 1.196.5 (bhrumadhya placement; 'Oṁ Viṣṇave')

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dvādākṣarī-vidyā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the twelve-syllabled formula as a formal vidyā used for disciplined mantra-practice, prescribing nyāsa to sanctify the practitioner’s body and focus the mind in worship of Nārāyaṇa.

What does this verse instruct about the “namo nārāyaṇāya” mantra?

It instructs recitation of “namo nārāyaṇāya,” mentions a reversal (viparyāsa) of the sequence, and then directs performing kara-nyāsa using the twelve-syllabled mantra as part of the ritual method.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Chant “namo nārāyaṇāya” with steadiness and reverence, and if following a traditional sādhana, learn kara-nyāsa from a competent teacher to align speech, hands, and attention before japa or pūjā.