Vamana Purana — Caturmasya Observances, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

कौशिका रात्रिसमयं बुद्ध्वा निरगमन् किल तान् वायसास्तदा ज्ञात्वा दिवा निघ्नन्ति कौशिकान्

Transliteration

kauśikā rātrisamayaṃ buddhvā niragaman kila tān vāyasāstadā jñātvā divā nighnanti kauśikān

Translation

గుడ్లగూబలు (కౌశికాః) రాత్రి సమయమని తెలుసుకొని నిజంగా బయటికి వచ్చెను; అప్పుడు కాకులు వాటిని గుర్తించి పగలు గుడ్లగూబలను చంపెదరు।

Word by Word

• कौशिकाः: the Kauśikas (owls)
• कौशिकाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; (context: owls)

• रात्रिसमयम्: the time of night
• रात्रिसमयम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि + समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘time of night’

• बुद्ध्वा: having realized
• बुद्ध्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having understood/realized’

• निरगमन्: went out
• निरगमन्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; Vedic/epic ending -न् for -न् (niragaman = niragaman)

• किल: indeed, it is said
• किल: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle indicating report/indeed)

• तान्: them
• तान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; pronoun

• वायसाः: crows
• वायसाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having known’

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (by day)

• निघ्नन्ति: they kill/strike down
• निघ्नन्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) उपसर्ग नि-
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कौशिकान्: the owls
• कौशिकान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (often Pulastya ↔ Nārada framework in Vāmana Purāṇa
• but not asserted here)

Key Themes

• Dharma as right timing (kāla-dharma)
• Conduct according to day/night (niyama)
• Didactic natural imagery

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "hasya", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse uses a natural example to stress kāla-dharma—actions must be aligned with proper time and circumstance. Moving against one’s proper sphere (night-creature acting by day) invites harm; similarly, ritual and conduct require appropriate timing and discipline.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Not a direct sarga/pratisarga passage; it functions as didactic instruction within an ongoing narration, aligning most closely with ācāra/dharma teaching embedded in itihāsa-style exempla (often treated under ancillary dharma material rather than the core five lakṣaṇas).

What is the symbolic significance?

Owls and crows symbolize domains of night and day. The image conveys that violating one’s ordained rhythm (svabhāva/niyama) leads to downfall—an admonition relevant to vrata rules (night vigils, dawn baths, etc.).