Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

शेषाहिभोगपर्यङ्कं कृत्वा संपूज्य केशवम् कृत्वोपवीतकं चैव सम्यक्संपूज्य वै द्विजान्

Transliteration

śeṣāhibhogaparyaṅkaṃ kṛtvā saṃpūjya keśavam kṛtvopavītakaṃ caiva samyaksaṃpūjya vai dvijān

Translation

Having prepared a couch made of the coils (hoods) of Śeṣa, and having duly worshiped Keśava, and also having properly put on the sacred thread (upavīta), one should likewise worship the twice-born (brāhmaṇas) in the proper manner.

Word by Word

• शेषाहिभोगपर्यङ्कम्: the couch made of Śeṣa-serpent’s coils
• शेषाहिभोगपर्यङ्कम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष + अहि + भोग + पर्यङ्क (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘शेषस्य अहेः भोगः’ इति ‘भोग-पर्यङ्कः’ (couch of coils of Śeṣa-serpent)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + √पूज् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund), ‘having worshipped’

• केशवम्: Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• केशवम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done / having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• उपवीतकम्: the sacred thread (upavīta)
• उपवीतकम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘उपवीत’ = sacred thread (worn over left shoulder)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• संपूज्य: having worshipped
• संपूज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + √पूज् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund)

• वै: indeed / surely
• वै: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), पदपूरण/अवधारण

• द्विजान्: the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजान्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (continuing the instruction)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Keśava)
• Śeṣa/Ananta (serpent of Viṣṇu)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Vaishnavism
• Temple/home worship protocol
• Brāhmaṇa-honoring as ritual completion

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Devotion is expressed through both God-centered worship (Keśava) and social-sacral responsibility (honoring the dvijas). The rite integrates personal piety with dharmic respect for custodians of Vedic learning.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is ācāra/dharma (ritual injunction) material. While not one of the five lakṣaṇas, such passages are a standard Purāṇic layer supporting lived religious practice.

What is the symbolic significance?

The Śeṣa-bed evokes Ananta-śayana: the Lord rests upon infinity, suggesting cosmic stability even in ‘sleep.’ The upavīta and dvija-pūjā underline purity, transmission, and the sanctification of the rite through Vedic order.