Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

दशम्यां भुजगेन्द्राश्च स्वपन्ते वायुभोजनाः एकादश्यां तु कृष्णायां साध्या ब्रह्मन् स्वपन्ति च

Transliteration

daśamyāṃ bhujagendrāśca svapante vāyubhojanāḥ ekādaśyāṃ tu kṛṣṇāyāṃ sādhyā brahman svapanti ca

Translation

ദശമി തിഥിയിൽ വായുഭോജനരായ ഭുജഗേന്ദ്രന്മാർ (നാഗരാജാക്കന്മാർ) ശയിക്കുന്നു; കൃഷ്ണപക്ഷ ഏകാദശിയിൽ, ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ, സാധ്യന്മാരും ശയിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• दशम्याम्: on the tenth (tithi)
• दशम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• भुजगेन्द्राः: lords of serpents
• भुजगेन्द्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhujaga + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—भुजग + इन्द्र (तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• स्वपन्ते: sleep
• स्वपन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √svap (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• वायुभोजनाः: air-eaters (wind-fed beings)
• वायुभोजनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—वायु + भोजन (तत्पुरुष)

• एकादश्याम्: on the eleventh (tithi)
• एकादश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• कृष्णायाम्: on the dark (tithi)
• कृष्णायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• साध्याः: the Sādhyas (a class of gods)
• साध्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• स्वपन्ति: sleep
• स्वपन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √svap (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speakers

• Narrative frame not explicit in excerpt; commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa

Primary Deities

• Nāga-kings (Bhujagendras)
• Sādhyas (celestial class)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Tithi calendar
• Cosmic classes of beings
• Ekādaśī (dark fortnight) framing

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse extends dharma-observance beyond human society: even celestial classes and nāgas are placed within sacred time, implying that restraint and rhythm are universal principles of order (ṛta/dharma).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It is calendrical/ritual instruction (ācāra), not a core pancalakṣaṇa unit. It may be used to support vrata practice (especially ekādaśī-related discipline) within the Purāṇic framework.

What is the symbolic significance?

Nāgas (subterranean/power/hidden forces) and Sādhyas (subtle celestial forces) ‘resting’ on specific tithis suggests periodic withdrawal of energies, making certain days ritually sensitive—hence prompting careful conduct, fasting, or worship.