Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 3

The Caturmasya Observances and the Rite of Vishnu’s Sleep (Aśūnya-Śayana) and Shiva’s Monthly Vows

Devanagari script

यदा त्वाषाढी संयाति व्रजते चोत्तरायणम् तदा स्वपिति देवेशो भोगिभोगे श्रियः पतिः

Transliteration

yadā tvāṣāḍhī saṃyāti vrajate cottarāyaṇam tadā svapiti deveśo bhogibhoge śriyaḥ patiḥ

Translation

When the (time of) Āṣāḍha arrives and the course turns to the northern solstice (Uttarāyaṇa), then the Lord of the gods—the पति of Śrī (Vishnu)—sleeps upon the couch of the serpent (Śeṣa).

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, temporal conjunction/adverb (यदा-तदा)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, particle (निपात)

• आषाढी: Āṣāḍhī (Āṣāḍhā time/asterism)
• आषाढी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नक्षत्र/तिथि-नाम)

• संयाति: comes/arrives
• संयाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√yā (या)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्रजते: moves/goes
• व्रजते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (व्रज्)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction

• उत्तरायणम्: the northward course (Uttarāyaṇa)
• उत्तरायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara-ayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उत्तरं अयनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (object of ‘व्रजते’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, temporal adverb (यदा-तदा)

• स्वपिति: sleeps
• स्वपिति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √svap (स्वप्)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवेशः: Lord of the gods
• देवेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानाम् ईशः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भोगिभोगे: in the enjoyment of the enjoyers (serpents’ couch)
• भोगिभोगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhogin-bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भोगिनां भोगः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• श्रियः: of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्रियः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पतिः: lord/husband
• पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘देवेशः’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (dialogue frame implied)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Śrīpati, Deveśa)
• Śrī/Lakṣmī (by epithet)
• Śeṣa/Ananta (implied by serpent couch)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Sacred Time (Kāla)
• Deva-śayana
• Vaishnavism

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Cosmic time governs religious practice: the Lord’s ‘sleep’ marks a ritually significant season, encouraging devotees to align vows and restraint with the rhythms of kāla (sacred calendrics).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is not genealogical/cosmogonic (sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa). It is calendrical-ritual instruction (vrata-kalpa), a common Purāṇic didactic layer alongside the five marks.

What is the symbolic significance?

Vishnu sleeping on the serpent-couch signifies the maintenance of cosmic order even in apparent withdrawal: the universe rests on dharma (Śeṣa as ‘remainder/support’), while devotion continues through regulated observance.