Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

एष व्रतस्तु प्रथमः प्रोक्तस्तव महामुने यस्मिंश् चीर्णे वियोगस्तु न भवेदिह कस्यचित्

Transliteration

eṣa vratastu prathamaḥ proktastava mahāmune yasmiṃś cīrṇe viyogastu na bhavediha kasyacit

Translation

يا أيها الحكيم العظيم، إن هذا النذر قد أُعلن لك بأنه أسمى (وأول) النذور؛ فإذا أُدِّي على وجهه الصحيح فلا يقع هنا انفصالٌ (فيوغا) على أحدٍ كائنًا من كان.

Word by Word

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• व्रतः: vow, observance
• व्रतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• प्रथमः: first
• प्रथमः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying व्रतः)

• प्रोक्तः: declared, stated
• प्रोक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (said/declared)

• तव: of you, your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समास: महा + मुनि (great sage)

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चीर्णे: when (it is) performed/observed
• चीर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) → चीर्ण (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (when it is performed)

• वियोगः: separation
• वियोगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थक

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• भवेत्: would be, should occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इह: here, in this (world/rite)
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• कस्यचित्: of anyone
• कस्यचित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (typical Vāmana Purāṇa dialogue frame; chapter context presumed)

Primary Deities

• Śiva

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Śaivism
• Bhakti
• Merit of observances
• Auspicious timing (implied continuation)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames vrata as a discipline that stabilizes relationships and well-being; ‘viyoga’ can be read as both social separation and spiritual disconnection, implying that sustained devotion and restraint cultivate harmony and continuity.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This passage belongs to ācāra/dharma-nirdeśa material (vrata-vidhi). In pañcalakṣaṇa terms it most closely aligns with ancillary Purāṇic instruction supporting dharma; it is not primarily sarga/pratisarga/vamśa/manvantara/vamśānucarita narrative.

What is the symbolic significance?

Calling it the ‘foremost vow’ elevates ritual time-discipline into a symbol of binding and reunifying power—countering ‘viyoga’ as the archetype of fragmentation; devotion functions as the agent of re-integration.