Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा प्रतिपदि तथा नीलोत्पलमये ऽनघ तल्पे स्वपिति लोकानां दर्शयन् मार्गमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

brahmā pratipadi tathā nīlotpalamaye 'nagha talpe svapiti lokānāṃ darśayan mārgamuttamam

Translation

同様に、プラティパド（陰暦一日）に、ブラフマーは青蓮で作られた無垢の寝台に眠りつつ、諸世界に最上の道を示す。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रतिपदि: on the first lunar day (pratipadā)
• प्रतिपदि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपद्/प्रतिपदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb) — 'likewise/also'

• नीलोत्पलमये: made of blue lotuses
• नीलोत्पलमये: विशेषण (Qualifier of locus)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + उत्पल + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative: 'नीलोत्पलैः मयः' = made of blue lotuses), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण qualifying 'तल्पे'

• अनघ: O sinless one
• अनघ: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); संबोधन (address to listener)

• तल्पे: on a couch/bed
• तल्पे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वपिति: sleeps
• स्वपिति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada); variant present stem 'स्वपि-'

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/of people
• लोकानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दर्शय (णिच् causative) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); agrees with 'ब्रह्मा'

• मार्गम्: path/way
• मार्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) of 'दर्शयन्'
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण qualifying 'मार्गम्'

Speakers

• Not specified in input (likely within the Purāṇic dialogue frame such as Pulastya → Nārada
• but unconfirmed here)

Primary Deities

• Brahmā

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Ritual timekeeping
• Ethics/Dharma instruction

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even ‘rest’ in the divine register is pedagogical: Brahmā’s posture signifies that the cosmos is sustained by ordered cycles, and that beings should follow an ‘uttama-mārga’—a disciplined, dharmic way of life.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It is supportive cosmological-ritual material rather than a direct instance of the five characteristics; it contextualizes dharma and cosmic cycles (often placed near cosmology/pratisarga discussions in Purāṇic composition).

What is the symbolic significance?

The blue-lotus couch evokes purity and sattva amid cyclic change; the juxtaposition of ‘sleep’ with ‘showing the highest path’ suggests that cosmic cycles themselves instruct: stability (order) enables liberation-oriented practice.