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

Vào ngày trăng thứ mười (daśamī), các chúa tể loài rắn (các vua Nāga) ngủ—những vị được gọi là “kẻ ăn gió” (vāyubhojanāḥ). Và vào ngày thứ mười một, trong nửa tháng tối (kṛṣṇā ekādaśī), các Sādhyas cũng ngủ, hỡi Bà-la-môn.

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.