Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

तद्वदाश्वयुजे मासि उपवासी जितेन्द्रियः नवम्यां गोमयस्नानं कुर्यात्पूजां तु पङ्कजैः धूपयेत् सर्जनिर्यासं नैवेद्यं मधुमोदकैः

Transliteration

tadvadāśvayuje māsi upavāsī jitendriyaḥ navamyāṃ gomayasnānaṃ kuryātpūjāṃ tu paṅkajaiḥ dhūpayet sarjaniryāsaṃ naivedyaṃ madhumodakaiḥ

Translation

Likewise, in the month of Āśvayuja, fasting and with the senses restrained, on the ninth lunar day (Navamī) one should perform a purificatory bath with gomaya (cow-dung) and worship with lotus flowers; one should offer incense of sarja-resin and present as naivedya honey-sweet modaka cakes.

Word by Word

• तद्वत्: likewise / in the same way
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक (manner-adverb)

• आश्वयुजे: in (the month of) Āśvayuja
• आश्वयुजे: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśvayuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कालवाचक (locative of time)

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• उपवासी: fasting
• उपवासी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upavāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (one who is fasting)

• जितेन्द्रियः: self-controlled
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jitendriya (जित-इन्द्रिय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (indriyāṇi jitāni yasya/one whose senses are conquered)

• नवम्याम्: on the ninth (tithi)
• नवम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: navamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक (on the ninth lunar day)

• गोमय-स्नानम्: bath with cow-dung (purificatory bath)
• गोमय-स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gomaya + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष (snānaṃ gomayena/of cow-dung bath)

• कुर्यात्: should do / should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तु: and / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• पङ्कजैः: with lotuses
• पङ्कजैः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• धूपयेत्: should incense / fumigate
• धूपयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhūp (धूप् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative sense not required here (to fumigate/incense)

• सर्ज-निर्यासम्: sarja-resin
• सर्ज-निर्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarja + niryāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (niryāsaḥ sarjasya/resin of the sarja tree)

• नैवेद्यम्: food offering
• नैवेद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naivedya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मधु-मोदकैः: with honey-modakas (sweet balls)
• मधु-मोदकैः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu + modaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (madhu-modakāḥ = honey-sweet modakas)

Speakers

• Not explicit in the given verses (commonly Pulastya → Nārada as the instruction layer)

Primary Deities

• Śiva

Key Themes

• Śaivism
• Vrata/Rituals
• Āśvina/Āśvayuja observance
• Navamī tithi
• Fasting and sense-control
• Pūjā materials (lotus, resin incense, modaka)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse stresses tapas through restraint (upavāsa, jitendriyatā) and disciplined observance on a calendrically significant tithi, presenting devotion as a structured practice that refines character.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is vrata-kathana/ācāra instruction, typically housed in tīrtha-māhātmya sections of Purāṇas; it is supportive dharma material rather than sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita/manvantara narration.

What is the symbolic significance?

Gomaya and gomūtra function as traditional purifiers in ritual grammar; lotus (paṅkaja) symbolizes purity arising unstained; resin incense suggests the offering of subtle essence; sweet modakas signify auspicious completion and devotional delight (ānanda) offered back to the deity.