Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वोपवासमष्टम्यां नवम्यां स्नानमाचरेत् मासि मार्गशिरे स्नानं दध्नार्चा भद्रया स्मृता

Transliteration

kṛtvopavāsamaṣṭamyāṃ navamyāṃ snānamācaret māsi mārgaśire snānaṃ dadhnārcā bhadrayā smṛtā

Translation

Having observed a fast on the eighth lunar day (Aṣṭamī), one should perform the ritual bath on the ninth (Navamī). In the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, the prescribed bath is accompanied by worship with dadhi (curd); this observance is remembered as “Bhadrā”.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having done’

• उपवासम्: fast
• उपवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अष्टम्याम्: on the eighth (tithi)
• अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

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

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-car (चर् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

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

• मार्गशीर्षे: in Mārgaśīrṣa
• मार्गशीर्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दध्ना: with curd
• दध्ना: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• अर्चा: worship
• अर्चा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; पूजावाचक

• भद्रया: with bhadrā (auspicious herb/flower)
• भद्रया: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/सह (by/with Bhadrā—name of a plant/flower or auspicious item)

• स्मृता: is prescribed
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘is said/remembered’ (agreeing with अर्चा)

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (typical framing for this section; specific speaker not explicit in the given extract)

Primary Deities

• Viṣṇu (implied as recipient of vrata/pūjā in this ritual sequence)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Dāna (implied later in sequence)
• Bhakti (ritual devotion)
• Dharma (observance by tithi and month)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Discipline of body and mind (fasting, bathing, regulated worship) is presented as a dhārmic means to cultivate purity (śauca), steadiness (niyama), and devotional attentiveness through time-markers (tithi and māsa).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This material is best classified under ācāra/dharma-kathana (ritual and religious duty). Within pañcalakṣaṇa headings, it aligns most closely with ancillary dharma instruction rather than sarga/pratisarga/vamśa narratives.

What is the symbolic significance?

Aṣṭamī→Navamī sequencing symbolizes restraint followed by purification; curd (dadhi) as an offering signifies nourishment, auspiciousness, and ‘cooling’ sattvic support for devotion, hence the designation ‘Bhadrā’ (auspicious).