Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वोपवासमष्टम्यां नवम्यां स्नानमाचरेत् मासि मार्गशिरे स्नानं दध्नार्चा भद्रया स्मृता

Transliteration

kṛtvopavāsamaṣṭamyāṃ navamyāṃ snānamācaret māsi mārgaśire snānaṃ dadhnārcā bhadrayā smṛtā

Translation

Having observed a fast on the eighth lunar day (Aṣṭamī), one should perform a ritual bath on the ninth (Navamī). In the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, the prescribed bath is accompanied by worship with curd (dadhi); this observance is remembered as ‘Bhadrā’.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having done’

• उपवासम्: fast
• उपवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अष्टम्याम्: on the eighth (tithi)
• अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• नवम्याम्: on the ninth (tithi)
• नवम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: navamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-car (चर् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• मार्गशीर्षे: in Mārgaśīrṣa
• मार्गशीर्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दध्ना: with curd
• दध्ना: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• अर्चा: worship
• अर्चा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; पूजावाचक

• भद्रया: with bhadrā (auspicious herb/flower)
• भद्रया: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/सह (by/with Bhadrā—name of a plant/flower or auspicious item)

• स्मृता: is prescribed
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘is said/remembered’ (agreeing with अर्चा)

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (typical framing for this section; specific speaker not explicit in the given extract)

Primary Deities

• Viṣṇu (implied as recipient of vrata/pūjā in this ritual sequence)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Dāna (implied later in sequence)
• Bhakti (ritual devotion)
• Dharma (observance by tithi and month)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Discipline of body and mind (fasting, bathing, regulated worship) is presented as a dhārmic means to cultivate purity (śauca), steadiness (niyama), and devotional attentiveness through time-markers (tithi and māsa).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This material is best classified under ācāra/dharma-kathana (ritual and religious duty). Within pañcalakṣaṇa headings, it aligns most closely with ancillary dharma instruction rather than sarga/pratisarga/vamśa narratives.

What is the symbolic significance?

Aṣṭamī→Navamī sequencing symbolizes restraint followed by purification; curd (dadhi) as an offering signifies nourishment, auspiciousness, and ‘cooling’ sattvic support for devotion, hence the designation ‘Bhadrā’ (auspicious).