Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा प्रतिपदि तथा नीलोत्पलमये ऽनघ तल्पे स्वपिति लोकानां दर्शयन् मार्गमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

brahmā pratipadi tathā nīlotpalamaye 'nagha talpe svapiti lokānāṃ darśayan mārgamuttamam

Translation

అదేవిధంగా ప్రతిపదనాడు బ్రహ్మదేవుడు నీలకమలాలతో చేసిన నిర్మలమైన తల్పంపై నిద్రిస్తాడు; లోకాలకు ఉత్తమ మార్గాన్ని చూపిస్తూ ఉంటాడు।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रतिपदि: on the first lunar day (pratipadā)
• प्रतिपदि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपद्/प्रतिपदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb) — 'likewise/also'

• नीलोत्पलमये: made of blue lotuses
• नीलोत्पलमये: विशेषण (Qualifier of locus)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + उत्पल + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative: 'नीलोत्पलैः मयः' = made of blue lotuses), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण qualifying 'तल्पे'

• अनघ: O sinless one
• अनघ: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); संबोधन (address to listener)

• तल्पे: on a couch/bed
• तल्पे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वपिति: sleeps
• स्वपिति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada); variant present stem 'स्वपि-'

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/of people
• लोकानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दर्शय (णिच् causative) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); agrees with 'ब्रह्मा'

• मार्गम्: path/way
• मार्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) of 'दर्शयन्'
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण qualifying 'मार्गम्'

Speakers

• Not specified in input (likely within the Purāṇic dialogue frame such as Pulastya → Nārada
• but unconfirmed here)

Primary Deities

• Brahmā

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Ritual timekeeping
• Ethics/Dharma instruction

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even ‘rest’ in the divine register is pedagogical: Brahmā’s posture signifies that the cosmos is sustained by ordered cycles, and that beings should follow an ‘uttama-mārga’—a disciplined, dharmic way of life.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

It is supportive cosmological-ritual material rather than a direct instance of the five characteristics; it contextualizes dharma and cosmic cycles (often placed near cosmology/pratisarga discussions in Purāṇic composition).

What is the symbolic significance?

The blue-lotus couch evokes purity and sattva amid cyclic change; the juxtaposition of ‘sleep’ with ‘showing the highest path’ suggests that cosmic cycles themselves instruct: stability (order) enables liberation-oriented practice.