Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्दश्यां ततो यक्षाः स्वपन्ति सुखशीतले सौवर्णपङ्कजकृते सुखास्तीर्णोपधानके

Transliteration

caturdaśyāṃ tato yakṣāḥ svapanti sukhaśītale sauvarṇapaṅkajakṛte sukhāstīrṇopadhānake

Translation

Then, on Caturdaśī (the fourteenth lunar day), the Yakṣas sleep in a pleasantly cool place, upon bedding and pillows well laid out and fashioned with golden-lotus designs.

Word by Word

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

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

• यक्षाः: Yakṣas
• यक्षाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्वपन्ति: sleep
• स्वपन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• सुखशीतले: pleasant and cool
• सुखशीतले: विशेषण (Qualifier of locus)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + शीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Descriptive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण qualifying the implied 'शयने/तल्पे'

• सौवर्णपङ्कजकृते: made with golden lotuses
• सौवर्णपङ्कजकृते: विशेषण (Qualifier of locus)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्ण + पङ्कज + कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative; 'सौवर्णैः पङ्कजैः कृत' sense), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण qualifying the locus (bed/couch)

• सुख: comfortable/pleasant
• सुख: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg) used as first member in compound; here as compound-member (पूर्वपद)

• आस्तीर्णोपधानके: on a couch with spread-out pillows/bolsters
• आस्तीर्णोपधानके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location) with qualifiers
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + स्तॄ (धातु) → आस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त, क्त) + उपधानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative; 'आस्तीर्णं उपधानकं यस्मिन्/येन'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); 'आस्तीर्ण' = भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) qualifying 'उपधानक'

Speakers

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

Primary Deities

• Yakṣas (semi-divine beings; typically associated with Kubera traditionally, though not named here)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Tithi observance
• Cosmic ordering of beings by sacred time
• Auspicious symbols (lotus, gold)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Sacred time is portrayed as structuring not only human practice but the ordered life of various cosmic beings. Comfort and prosperity motifs are legitimate when situated within dharmic rhythm rather than indulgence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Again, this is primarily ācāra/vrata material (dharma instruction), peripheral to the strict pañcalakṣaṇa narrative categories.

What is the symbolic significance?

The lotus (paṅkaja) symbolizes purity and auspicious unfolding; ‘golden lotus’ adds the register of prosperity and divine splendor. The Yakṣas—often linked with wealth—are thus depicted in imagery consistent with their symbolic domain.