Chapter XIII - The prayer of Vishnu Panjaram

Hari said:— I will now describe the most auspicious mantram of Vishnu called Panjara.^[1]

Salutation unto thee, O Govinda. Take up thy discus, Sudarshana and protect me in the west, O Vishnu. I have taken refuge with thee. Take up thy club Kaumodaki, O lotus-navelled deity, salutation unto thee. Protect me in the south, O Vishnu, I have taken refuge with thee. Salutation unto thee, O Purusottama. Taking up thy plough-share Sunanda, protect me in the east, O Vishnu, I have taken refuge with thee. Taking up thy mace Shatana, O thou having lotus eyes, protect me in the north, O lord of the universe, I have taken refuge with thee. O Hari, taking up thy sword, leathern fence, and other weapons, protect me, O destroyer of Rakshasas. I bow unto thee, I am under thy protection. Taking up thy great conch-shell Panchajanya and thy lotus Anudbodha, protect me, O Vishnu, O Boar, in the south-east. Taking up the sun, and moon as well as the sword Chandramasu do thou protect me in the south-west, O thou of a celestial form, O man-lion. Taking up Vaijayanti^[2] and Srivatsa, the ornament of thy throat do thou protect me in the north-west, O god, O Hayagriva. I bow unto thee.

O Janarddana, having ridden Vinata’s son do thou protect me in the sky, O thou unvanquished by the Rakshas. I bow unto thee, O thou never defeated. Having ridden Vishalaksha^[3] do thou protect me in the nether region, O tortoise,^[4] salutation unto thee. Salutation unto thee, O great fish. O truth, making thy Vahupanjaram in the hand, and fingers, do thou protect me, O Vishnu. Salutation unto thee, O Purusottama.

This great Vishnu Panjara was thus described unto Shankara, who again described it unto Katyayani. By this she killed the immortal Asura Mahisha, the Danava Raktavija and other thorns of the celestials. By reciting it with reverential faith a man always destroys his enemies.