Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

त्रयोदश्यां ततः कामः स्वपते शयने शुभे कदम्बानां सुगन्धानां कुसुमैः परिकल्पिते

Transliteration

trayodaśyāṃ tataḥ kāmaḥ svapate śayane śubhe kadambānāṃ sugandhānāṃ kusumaiḥ parikalpite

Translation

Then, on the Trayodaśī (thirteenth lunar day), Kāma sleeps upon an auspicious bed, prepared with the fragrant flowers of kadamba trees.

Word by Word

• त्रयोदश्याम्: on the thirteenth (lunar day)
• त्रयोदश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb) — 'thereafter/then'

• कामः: Kāma (the god of love)
• कामः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वपते: sleeps
• स्वपते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• शयने: on a bed
• शयने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: विशेषण (Qualifier of locus)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (Adjective) qualifying 'शयने'

• कदम्बानाम्: of kadamba (flowers/trees)
• कदम्बानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सुगन्धानाम्: fragrant
• सुगन्धानाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier in genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (Adjective) qualifying 'कदम्बानाम्'

• कुसुमैः: with flowers
• कुसुमैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• परिकल्पिते: arranged/decorated
• परिकल्पिते: विशेषण (Qualifier of locus)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + कृ (धातु) → परिकल्पित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण qualifying 'शयने'

Speakers

• Likely Pulastya to Nārada (not explicit in the given excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Kāma

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Tithi observance
• Auspiciousness (śubha)
• Symbolic personifications (Kāma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Desire (kāma) is acknowledged as a cosmic principle that must be placed within auspicious order (śubha-vidhi). The verse implies regulation and refinement of impulses rather than denial—channeling kāma through dharmic rhythm.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is ācāra-oriented (ritual/observance description). It does not directly advance sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita, but belongs to Purāṇic dharma and vrata instruction.

What is the symbolic significance?

Kadamba blossoms and fragrance symbolize sensory allure; placing Kāma on a ritually ‘auspicious bed’ suggests that sensory life is to be harmonized with sacred time (tithi), not allowed to become chaotic or harmful.