Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

यस्यां तिथ्यां प्रस्वपिति विश्वकर्मा प्रजापतिः द्वितीया सा शुभा पुण्या अशून्यशयनोदिता

Transliteration

yasyāṃ tithyāṃ prasvapiti viśvakarmā prajāpatiḥ dvitīyā sā śubhā puṇyā aśūnyaśayanoditā

Translation

ヴィシュヴァカルマン、すなわち衆生の主プラジャーパティが眠りに就くそのティティ（月日）—それが第二日ドヴィティーヤであり、吉祥にして功徳ある日として「アシューニャシャヤナ」と宣言される。

Word by Word

• yasyām: in which
• yasyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम)

• tithyām: on the lunar day
• tithyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• prasvapiti: falls asleep
• prasvapiti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√svap (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• viśvakarmā: Viśvakarmā
• viśvakarmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvakarman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound: viśva + karman (विश्व + कर्मन्)

• prajāpatiḥ: the Lord of creatures (Prajāpati)
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to viśvakarmā; compound: prajā + pati (प्रजा + पति)

• dvitīyā: the second (lunar day)
• dvitīyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvitīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tithi-name (तिथिसंज्ञा)

• sā: that
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• śubhā: auspicious
• śubhā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with dvitīyā

• puṇyā: meritorious, holy
• puṇyā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with dvitīyā

• aśūnyaśayanoditā: called ‘Non-empty-bed’ (tithi)
• aśūnyaśayanoditā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śūnya-śayana-uditā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound: aśūnya + śayana + uditā (अशून्य + शयन + उदिता), i.e., ‘arisen/known as (uditā) [the tithi] of non-empty bed’

Speakers

• Not explicit in the provided verse; likely within the Purāṇic dialogue frame (commonly Pulastya ↔ Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa).

Primary Deities

• Viśvakarmā
• Prajāpati

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Tithi observance
• Sacred Time (lunar calendar)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Merit (puṇya) is pursued by harmonizing personal conduct with sacred time: the tithi is not merely astronomical but a dharmic ‘window’ for vows, restraint, and right intention.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It belongs to Purāṇic dharma-śikṣā (instruction on vows and observances) rather than the five defining topics; it functions as applied religion embedded within Purāṇic narration.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Aśūnyaśayana’ (non-empty couch/bed) suggests fullness/auspicious completeness—countering ‘emptiness’ as inauspicious—mapped onto a calendrical observance via the figure of Viśvakarmā as cosmic orderer and maker.