Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

शेषाहिभोगपर्यङ्कं कृत्वा संपूज्य केशवम् कृत्वोपवीतकं चैव सम्यक्संपूज्य वै द्विजान्

Transliteration

śeṣāhibhogaparyaṅkaṃ kṛtvā saṃpūjya keśavam kṛtvopavītakaṃ caiva samyaksaṃpūjya vai dvijān

Translation

เมื่อจัดทำแท่นบรรทมเป็นเตียงจากขดแห่งเศษนาค แล้วบูชาพระเกศวะโดยชอบ พร้อมทั้งสวมอุปวีต (สายศักดิ์สิทธิ์) แล้วพึงบูชาทวิชะ (พราหมณ์) ทั้งหลายให้ถูกต้องด้วย

Word by Word

• शेषाहिभोगपर्यङ्कम्: the couch made of Śeṣa-serpent’s coils
• शेषाहिभोगपर्यङ्कम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष + अहि + भोग + पर्यङ्क (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘शेषस्य अहेः भोगः’ इति ‘भोग-पर्यङ्कः’ (couch of coils of Śeṣa-serpent)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + √पूज् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund), ‘having worshipped’

• केशवम्: Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• केशवम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done / having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• उपवीतकम्: the sacred thread (upavīta)
• उपवीतकम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘उपवीत’ = sacred thread (worn over left shoulder)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• संपूज्य: having worshipped
• संपूज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + √पूज् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund)

• वै: indeed / surely
• वै: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), पदपूरण/अवधारण

• द्विजान्: the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजान्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (continuing the instruction)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Keśava)
• Śeṣa/Ananta (serpent of Viṣṇu)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Vaishnavism
• Temple/home worship protocol
• Brāhmaṇa-honoring as ritual completion

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Devotion is expressed through both God-centered worship (Keśava) and social-sacral responsibility (honoring the dvijas). The rite integrates personal piety with dharmic respect for custodians of Vedic learning.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is ācāra/dharma (ritual injunction) material. While not one of the five lakṣaṇas, such passages are a standard Purāṇic layer supporting lived religious practice.

What is the symbolic significance?

The Śeṣa-bed evokes Ananta-śayana: the Lord rests upon infinity, suggesting cosmic stability even in ‘sleep.’ The upavīta and dvija-pūjā underline purity, transmission, and the sanctification of the rite through Vedic order.