Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

आषाढे स्नानमुदितं श्रीफलैरर्चनं तथा धत्तूरकुसुमैः शुक्लैर्धूपयेत् सिल्हकं तथा

Transliteration

āṣāḍhe snānamuditaṃ śrīphalairarcanaṃ tathā dhattūrakusumaiḥ śuklairdhūpayet silhakaṃ tathā

Translation

In the month of Āṣāḍha, bathing is prescribed; and arcana (worship) should be performed with śrīphala (coconuts). One should also offer incense or fumigation using white dhattūra flowers and likewise with silhaka (a fragrant resin, benzoin-like incense).

Word by Word

• आषाढे: in (the month of) Āṣāḍha
• आषाढे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आषाढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (मास-नाम), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेष्य/कर्म)

• उदितम्: declared/prescribed
• उदितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √उद्/√वद्? here √उद् ‘to arise/appear’ in sense ‘said/declared’ is conventional)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• श्री-फलैः: with coconuts (śrīphala)
• श्री-फलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रीफलानि = नारिकेलफलानि)

• अर्चनम्: worship/adoration
• अर्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेष्य/कर्म)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• धत्तूर-कुसुमैः: with dhattūra flowers
• धत्तूर-कुसुमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धत्तूर (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (धत्तूरस्य कुसुमानि)

• शुक्लैः: white
• शुक्लैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणं ‘धत्तूरकुसुमैः’

• धूपयेत्: should incense/fumigate
• धूपयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धूप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सिल्हकम्: Silhaka (a deity/linga-name)
• सिल्हकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिल्हक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (likely within Pulastya → Nārada instructional layer)

Primary Deities

• Deity not explicitly named in this verse; ritual context suggests a designated Lord in the surrounding passage

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Monthly observance
• Snāna (purificatory bath)
• Pūjā materials
• Bhakti

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Time (kāla) is sacralized: specific months carry prescribed disciplines that align bodily purity (snāna) with devotional offering (arcana). The ethic is regularity—devotion expressed through seasonal rhythm and mindful observance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This belongs to ritual-dharma instruction (vrata-kalpa) embedded in the Purāṇa, functioning as applied dharma rather than the core pañcalakṣaṇa categories like sarga or vaṃśa.

What is the symbolic significance?

Bathing signifies inner cleansing; coconut (śrīphala) symbolizes auspicious wholeness and offering of one’s ‘complete’ self. White flowers and fragrant incense signify purity and the uplifting of the mind through scent—an external aid to internal concentration.