Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

श्रावणे मृगभोज्येन स्नानं कृत्वार्ऽचयेद्धरम् श्रीवृक्षपत्रः सफलैर्धूपं दद्यात् तथागुरुम्

Transliteration

śrāvaṇe mṛgabhojyena snānaṃ kṛtvār'cayeddharam śrīvṛkṣapatraḥ saphalairdhūpaṃ dadyāt tathāgurum

Translation

In the month of Śrāvaṇa, having bathed, one should worship Dhara. With leaves of the śrī-tree, together with fruits, one should offer incense, and likewise offer aguru (fragrant aloe/agarwood).

Word by Word

• श्रावणे: in (the month of) Śrāvaṇa
• श्रावणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• मृग-भोज्येन: with food fit for deer
• मृग-भोज्येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + भोज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √भुज्/भुज् ‘to eat’ → ‘edible’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular); तत्पुरुषः (मृगाणां भोज्येन)

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular optative)

• हरम्: Hara (Śiva)
• हरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• श्री-वृक्ष-पत्रः: (one) leaf of the śrīvṛkṣa (bilva)
• श्री-वृक्ष-पत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीवृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); तत्पुरुषः (श्रीवृक्षस्य पत्रम्)

• स-फलैः: with fruits
• स-फलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-समासः: स + फल; नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural)

• धूपम्: incense
• धूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• दद्यात्: should give / offer
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (3rd person singular optative)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: ‘likewise’)

• अगुरुम्: aloeswood (aguru)
• अगुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

Speakers

• Narrative frame not explicit in the provided excerpt (often Pulastya → Nārada); here: ritual injunction

Primary Deities

• Dhara (as named in the verse; deity-epithet)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Śrāvaṇa observance
• Pūjā with leaves and fruits
• Dhūpa and fragrance offerings
• Purāṇic liturgical detail

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes purity (snāna) and mindful offering. Devotion is shown through simple, sattvic materials—leaves, fruits, fragrance—indicating that accessible, sincere worship is valued alongside formal ritual.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is ritual-ācāra (vrata-vidhi) instruction. It does not directly teach cosmogony or dynastic history; rather it reflects the Purāṇic function of prescribing dharma through calendrical worship.

What is the symbolic significance?

Śrāvaṇa is traditionally associated with heightened devotion and rain-season renewal. Leaves/fruits symbolize living abundance and regeneration; incense and aguru symbolize the ‘subtle offering’ of one’s inner disposition—fragrance as the metaphor for virtue.