Vamana Purana — Caturmasya Observances, Shloka 51

The Cāturmāsya Observances and the Sleeping–Awakening Cycle of the Gods (Hari–Hara Worship)

Devanagari script

योगशायिनमारभ्य यावत् केशवदर्शनम् एतत् क्षेत्रं हरेः पुण्यं नाम्ना वाराणसी पुरी

Transliteration

yogaśāyinamārabhya yāvat keśavadarśanam etat kṣetraṃ hareḥ puṇyaṃ nāmnā vārāṇasī purī

Translation

யோகசாயினின் தலத்திலிருந்து கேசவ தரிசனம் வரை இது ஹரியின் புனிதக் க்ஷேத்திரம்; இந்தப் புரியின் பெயர் வாராணசி.

Word by Word

• योगशायिनम्: the one who lies in yogic sleep (Viṣṇu)
• योगशायिनम्: Apadana/Arambha-bindu (आरम्भ-बिन्दु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + शायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (योगस्य शायी/शायिन्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Genitive Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आरभ्य: starting from
• आरभ्य: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√रभ् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय — gerund: ‘starting from’

• यावत्: up to
• यावत्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि-अव्यय — indeclinable of limit ‘up to/as far as’

• केशवदर्शनम्: the sight of Keśava
• केशवदर्शनम्: Adhikarana/Avadhi (अधिकरण/अवधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (केशवस्य दर्शनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Genitive Tatpuruṣa; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Demonstrative; Neuter Nom./Acc. Singular (qualifying क्षेत्रम्)

• क्षेत्रम्: sacred place
• क्षेत्रम्: Karta/Pratijna (कर्ता/प्रतिज्ञा-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter Nom./Acc. Singular

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पुण्यम्: holy
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter Nom./Acc. Singular (qualifying क्षेत्रम्)

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; ‘by name/as named’

• वाराणसी: Vārāṇasī
• वाराणसी: Samjna (संज्ञा/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular (apposition/name of पुरी/क्षेत्रम्)

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Karta/Pratijna (कर्ता/प्रतिज्ञा-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speakers

• Munis describing the kṣetra to Sūrya (as per previous verse)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Hari/Keśava/Yogaśāyin)

Key Themes

• Sacred Geography
• Pilgrimage boundaries
• Vaishnavism
• Darśana as sanctifying act

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The sanctity of place is mapped through devotional access (darśana). The ethical thrust is pilgrimage as disciplined movement through a sacral landscape—anchored in reverence, restraint, and remembrance of the deity.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is ancillary purāṇic material (not sarga/pratisarga). It functions as kṣetra-vyavasthā (defining a holy jurisdiction) within an anucarita-like descriptive layer common to tīrtha-māhātmyas.

What is the symbolic significance?

Marking Kāśī from ‘Yogaśāyin’ to ‘Keśava-darśana’ symbolically frames the city as a continuum of Viṣṇu-presence—spiritual life is ‘bounded’ by contemplative repose (Yogaśāyin) and direct vision (darśana) of the Lord.