Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

प्रतिसुप्ते विभौ तस्मिन् देवगन्धर्वगुह्यकाः देवानां मातरश्चापि प्रसुप्ताश्चाप्यनुक्रमात्

Transliteration

pratisupte vibhau tasmin devagandharvaguhyakāḥ devānāṃ mātaraścāpi prasuptāścāpyanukramāt

Translation

عندما ينام ذلك الربّ الشامل لكلّ شيء، فإنّ الديفات والغاندهرفات والغوهيَكات، وكذلك أمهات الآلهة، ينامون أيضًا تباعًا على الترتيب.

Word by Word

• प्रतिसुप्ते: when (he) was asleep
• प्रतिसुप्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिसुप्त (कृदन्त; √स्वप् धातु)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘प्रतिसुप्त’ = ‘fallen asleep’

• विभौ: in the Lord / in the mighty one
• विभौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular)

• तस्मिन्: in him / in that (state)
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• देवगन्धर्वगुह्यकाः: the gods, Gandharvas, and Guhyakas
• देवगन्धर्वगुह्यकाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गन्धर्व + गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural)

• मातरः: the mothers
• मातरः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem.), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also’

• प्रसुप्ताः: were asleep
• प्रसुप्ताः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसुप्त (कृदन्त; √स्वप् धातु)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (plural), पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अनुक्रमात्: in due order / successively
• अनुक्रमात्: हेतु/रीति (Hetu/Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘in due order/ क्रमशः’ (ablative of manner/source)

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (dialogue frame implied)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (implied as Vibhu/Deveśa)
• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Guhyakas
• Divine Mothers (Devamātṛs/Mātṛs)

Key Themes

• Cosmic Order
• Deva-śayana
• Ritual Time (Kāla)
• Interdependence of divine hierarchies

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

All hierarchies—celestial and terrestrial—are portrayed as dependent on the supreme Lord’s ordinance; this supports humility and disciplined observance, since even divine hosts follow the rhythm set by the Absolute.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Didactic/theological instruction tied to ritual calendrics rather than the five core marks. It complements Purāṇic cosmology by illustrating functional dependence, but is not a sarga/pratisarga narration.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘sleep’ spreading through devas and attendant beings symbolizes a cosmic pause: a sacralized interval in which outward activity quiets and inner restraint (vrata, niyama) becomes especially potent.