Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

तत्र दानं द्वितीयायां मूर्त्तिर्लक्ष्मीधरस्य तु सशय्यास्तरणोपेता यथा विभवमात्मनः

Transliteration

tatra dānaṃ dvitīyāyāṃ mūrttirlakṣmīdharasya tu saśayyāstaraṇopetā yathā vibhavamātmanaḥ

Translation

In dieser Observanz soll man am zweiten Mondtag (Dvitīyā) als Gabe ein Bildnis Lakṣmīdharas (Viṣṇus) spenden, versehen mit Bett und Bedeckungen, entsprechend den eigenen Mitteln.

Word by Word

• tatra: there / in that rite
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘there/in that context’

• dānam: the gift (donation)
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता/subject of nominal sentence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dvitīyāyām: on the second (day)
• dvitīyāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvitīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘on the second (tithi/day)’

• mūrtiḥ: the image (idol)
• mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/identifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• lakṣmīdharasya: of Lakṣmīdhara (Viṣṇu)
• lakṣmīdharasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive/6th), एकवचन; समासः: लक्ष्मीं धरति इति

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• sa-śayyā-staraṇa-upetā: provided with a bed and bedding
• sa-śayyā-staraṇa-upetā: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + śayyā (प्रातिपदिक) + staraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् for ‘mūrtiḥ’; समासः: शय्यया स्तरणेन च उपेता (endowed with bed and covering)

• yathā: according to
• yathā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/adverb) ‘according to/as’

• vibhavam: means / capacity
• vibhavam: Karma (कर्म/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस? here accusative; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; used adverbially ‘according to one’s means’

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (dialogue framework; speaker attribution typical for this Purāṇa section)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Lakṣmīdhara)
• Lakṣmī

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Dāna (charitable giving)
• Vaishnavism (icon of Lakṣmīdhara)
• Dharma (giving according to capacity)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The vow is completed by generosity: ritual restraint is paired with dāna, and the phrase ‘according to one’s means’ frames dharma as accessible—merit arises from sincerity and proportionate sacrifice, not extravagance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is dharma-ācāra instruction (vrata with prescribed dāna). It is ancillary Purāṇic material rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vamśa/vamśānucarita narration.

What is the symbolic significance?

Donating Lakṣmīdhara with bedding symbolizes offering both prosperity (Lakṣmī) and shelter/comfort (śayyā, āstaraṇa) to the divine—ritually training the devotee to become a support for others, reflecting Viṣṇu’s sustaining function in the world.