Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa
13 - Vishnupanjarastotra
Hari Said:
1-2. I shall now expound Vishnu's auspicious Panjara (protective cage) Obeisance, obeisance to Thee, O, Govinda. Taking up the discus Sudarshana protect me in the east. O Vishnu, I seek refuge in Thee. O Padmanabha, take up the club Kaumodaki, obeisance to Thee.
3-10. O Vishnu, protect me in the South. I seek refuge in Thee. Taking up the plough-share Saunanda protect me in the west, O Purushottama, obeisance to Thee. I seek refuge in Thee. Taking up the destructive Mortar o Pundarikaksha (lotus-eyed one) protect me in the north. O Jagannatha (lord of the universe) I seek refuge in Thee. Taking up the Sword the shield and the other weapons protect me, O Hari, killer of Rakshasas, in the north east, Obeisance to Thee. I have sought refuge in Thee, O Vishnu, taking up the great Conch Panchajanya1 and the lotus Anudbodha protect me in the South-east, O Boar, protect me. O Nrukesarin (Man-lion) of divine form. Taking up the sun and the moon and the Chandramas a (Lunar Sword,) protect me in the South west. Taking up Vaijayanti and the necklace Srivatsa2 protect me in the north-west. O Lord Hayagriva3, obeisance to Thee. Riding on Vainateya high over in the sky O Janardana, the unconquered, protect me always. O un-vanquished, obeisance to Thee. Riding on Vishalaksha protect me in the nether worlds, obeisance to Thee O shoreless Ocean, obeisance to Thee O Great Fish! O Truth! making the Bahupanjara (Protective Cage of Arms) protect me in the hands, fingers, head and other parts. O Vishnu, foremost among men, obeisance to Thee. Thus, was expounded to Shankara the Great Vaishnava Panjara formerly for the protection of Katyayani,4 the wife of Ishana. O Shankara, by this she destroyed Chamara, Mahishasura the demon Rakta-bija and other enemies of gods. By reciting this with devotion a man always conquers his enemies.
1. It is Krishna's conch. It derives its name from the sea-demon Panchajana.
2. A particular mark (a curl of hair) on the breast of Vishnu (and also Krishna).
3. According to some, Vishnu took this form to save the Vedas. Refer CDHM p. 120.
4. A name of the goddess Durga.
Summary of chapter 13 of the Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa is as follows:
The Supreme Being imparts the celebrated Vishṇupanjara Stotra, a formidable spiritual armor of divine Names and weapons designed to protect the devotee from dark entities, planetary afflictions, and physical dangers. Chanting this sacred hymn creates an impenetrable cage of divine light surrounding the practitioner across all ten directions.