Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

ततो दिवाकरो राशिं संप्रयाति च कर्कटम् ततो ऽमराणां रजनी भवते दक्षिणायनम्

Transliteration

tato divākaro rāśiṃ saṃprayāti ca karkaṭam tato 'marāṇāṃ rajanī bhavate dakṣiṇāyanam

Translation

Dann tritt die Sonne in das Tierkreiszeichen Karkaṭa (Krebs) ein; von da an wird das Dakṣiṇāyana, der südliche Lauf, zur „Nacht“ der Unsterblichen (der Götter).

Word by Word

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

• दिवाकरः: the Sun
• दिवाकरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• राशिम्: zodiac sign
• राशिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संप्रयाति: goes/enters
• संप्रयाति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), समुच्चय (Conjunction)

• कर्कटम्: Cancer (Karkaṭa)
• कर्कटम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) in apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to 'राशिम्'

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

• अमराणाम्: of the immortals (gods)
• अमराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रजनी: night
• रजनी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवते: becomes
• भवते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• दक्षिणायनम्: the southern course (Dakṣiṇāyana)
• दक्षिणायनम्: प्रेडिकेट/विशेष्यपूरक (Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण + अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative: 'दक्षिणं अयनम्'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); predicate nominative with 'भवते'

Speakers

• Not specified in input (likely within the Purāṇic dialogue frame such as Pulastya → Nārada
• but unconfirmed here)

Primary Deities

• Sūrya (Divākara)
• Devas (Amarāḥ)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Ritual timekeeping
• Vrata/Rituals

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Human religious life is coordinated with cosmic order: aligning vows, restraint, and worship with the Sun’s course teaches attentiveness to ṛta (cosmic law) and disciplined timing in dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is calendrical cosmology adjacent to sarga/pratisarga; it supports Purāṇic cosmological framing but is primarily ācāra-oriented (ritual timing) rather than genealogical or manvantara narration.

What is the symbolic significance?

Calling Dakṣiṇāyana the ‘night of the gods’ expresses the Purāṇic time-scale reversal: divine and human temporalities interlock, making seasonal change a sign of shifts in subtle, sacred time.