Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अनुज्ञानं ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च द्वादश्यां प्रयतः शुचिः लब्ध्वा पीताम्बरधरः स्वस्ति निद्रां समानयेत्

Transliteration

anujñānaṃ brāhmaṇebhyaśca dvādaśyāṃ prayataḥ śuciḥ labdhvā pītāmbaradharaḥ svasti nidrāṃ samānayet

Translation

ドヴァーダシー（第十二日）には、慎み清浄を保ち、ブラーフマナたちの許しを得て、黄衣（ピータームバラ）をまとい、吉祥と安寧のうちに休息（睡眠）へと入るべきである。

Word by Word

• अनुज्ञानम्: permission
• अनुज्ञानम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिकस्य नपुंसकलिङ्ग-रूप (action noun), द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘permission/leave’

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: from/for the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन

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

• द्वादश्याम्: on the Dvādaśī (day)
• द्वादश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• प्रयतः: disciplined / observant
• प्रयतः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (one who is restrained/observant)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √लभ् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having obtained’

• पीताम्बरधरः: wearing yellow garments
• पीताम्बरधरः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीत + अम्बर + धर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘पीत-अम्बर’ (yellow garment) + ‘धर’ (wearer) = ‘one who wears yellow garments’

• स्वस्ति: auspiciously / with blessings
• स्वस्ति: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वस्ति (अव्यय)
• Form: मङ्गलार्थक-अव्यय (benedictive particle/adverb)

• निद्राम्: sleep
• निद्राम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समानयेत्: should bring about / should enter (sleep)
• समानयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Likely Pulastya to Nārada (standard Vāmana Purāṇa dialogue frame; not explicit in the given excerpt)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (implicit via pītāmbara / tithi-based vrata context)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Śauca (purity)
• Brāhmaṇa-sanction in rites
• Vaiṣṇava observance

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Ritual discipline is grounded in purity, restraint, and deference to learned custodians of dharma (brāhmaṇas). Auspicious conduct is not merely personal preference but is framed as socially and scripturally regulated behavior.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classified under ācāra/dharma-prakaraṇa material (not one of the five strict pañcalakṣaṇa topics), though broadly it supports dharma and customary practice rather than sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa narratives.

What is the symbolic significance?

The yellow garment (pītāmbara) functions as a Vaiṣṇava signifier: aligning the observer’s body and mind with sattva and with Viṣṇu’s auspiciousness, so that even rest (nidrā) becomes a consecrated, orderly act.