Vamana Purana — Vishnu's Sleep (Ashunya-Shayana), Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

यथा त्वशून्यं तव देव तल्पं समं हि लक्ष्म्या वरदाच्युतेश सत्येन तेनामितवीर्य विष्णो गार्हस्थ्यनाशो मम नास्तु देव

Transliteration

yathā tvaśūnyaṃ tava deva talpaṃ samaṃ hi lakṣmyā varadācyuteśa satyena tenāmitavīrya viṣṇo gārhasthyanāśo mama nāstu deva

Translation

Như, hỡi Thần, sàng thiêng của Ngài không bao giờ “trống vắng” và luôn ở cùng Lakṣmī, hỡi Acyuteśa ban ân—bởi chân thật ấy, hỡi Viṣṇu có uy lực vô lượng, xin cho đạo đời gia chủ của con không bị tiêu hoại, lạy Chúa tể.

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/यथातथा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction/adverb (अव्यय), correlating with implied tathā

• tvā: you
• tvā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Vedic/poetic form) Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) used for tvam in sandhi context; here part of tvāśūnyam = tvam + aśūnyam (intended)

• aśūnyam: not empty
• aśūnyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with talpam

• tava: your
• tava: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• deva: O god
• deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• talpam: bed, couch
• talpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: talpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samam: together (with)
• samam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with talpam; ‘together/equal’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• lakṣmyā: with Lakṣmī
• lakṣmyā: Sahakarana (सहकारण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• varada: O giver of boons
• varada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• acyuteśa: O lord Acyuta
• acyuteśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta-īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); compound: acyuta + īśa (अच्युत + ईश)

• satyena: by truth
• satyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘by truth’

• tena: by that
• tena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); refers to satyena (‘by that’)

• amita-vīrya: O of immeasurable power
• amita-vīrya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amita-vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: amita (अमित) qualifying vīrya (वीर्य)

• viṣṇo: O Viṣṇu
• viṣṇo: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• gārhasthya-nāśaḥ: destruction of household life
• gārhasthya-nāśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gārhasthya-nāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound: gārhasthya + nāśa (गार्हस्थ्य + नाश)

• mama: of me, my
• mama: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• astu: let it be
• astu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• deva: O god
• deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Narrative frame not specified in input (commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa
• but not asserted here)

Primary Deities

• Vishnu (Acyuta)
• Lakshmi

Key Themes

• Bhakti
• Vrata/Rituals
• Gārhasthya-dharma (householder welfare)
• Satya (truth as spiritual efficacy)
• Vaishnavism

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse uses satya (truth) as a sacred force: aligning one’s prayer with an acknowledged divine reality (Viṣṇu inseparable from Lakṣmī) is presented as efficacious for stabilizing gārhasthya—ethical household life sustained by devotion and integrity.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classified under Ācāra/Dharma-oriented material (ritual/vow instruction) rather than the core five (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita). In pancalakṣaṇa terms it is ancillary dharma/vrata content supporting lived religion.

What is the symbolic significance?

The inseparability of Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī symbolizes the unity of spiritual authority (Nārāyaṇa) and auspicious prosperity/order (Śrī). The devotee seeks that same non-separation—stability and wholeness—in household life.