महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-203, verse-37

यथा दीपः प्रकाशात्मा ह्रस्वो वा यदि वा महान् ।
ज्ञानात्मानं तथा विद्यात्पुरुषं सर्वजन्तुषु ॥३७॥

37. yathā dīpaḥ prakāśātmā hrasvo vā yadi vā mahān ,
jñānātmānaṁ tathā vidyātpuruṣaṁ sarvajantuṣu.

37. yathā dīpaḥ prakāśātmā hrasvaḥ vā yadi vā mahān
jñānātmānam tathā vidyāt puruṣam sarvajantuṣu

37. yathā dīpaḥ prakāśātmā hrasvaḥ vā yadi vā mahān,
tathā sarvajantuṣu puruṣam jñānātmānam vidyāt

37. Just as a lamp, whether small or large, is by nature light, so one should know the supreme cosmic person (puruṣa) in all living beings as the essence of knowledge (ātman).

Words meanings summery:

• यथा (yathā) - as, just as, in what manner

• दीपः (dīpaḥ) - lamp, light

• प्रकाशात्मा (prakāśātmā) - whose essence is light, whose nature is light

• ह्रस्वः (hrasvaḥ) - small, short, diminutive

• वा (vā) - or, either

• यदि (yadi) - if, whether

• वा (vā) - Paired with 'yadi' to mean 'whether... or...'. (or, either)

• महान् (mahān) - great, large, mighty

• ज्ञानात्मानम् (jñānātmānam) - Refers to the individual self (ātman) as being identical with pure consciousness. (the self of knowledge, whose essence is knowledge)

• तथा (tathā) - so, similarly, thus

• विद्यात् (vidyāt) - one should know, may know

• पुरुषम् (puruṣam) - The supreme cosmic person (puruṣa) as the indwelling spirit. (man, person, the supreme cosmic person (puruṣa))

• सर्वजन्तुषु (sarvajantuṣu) - in all living beings/creatures

Words meanings and morphology

यथा (yathā) - as, just as, in what manner

(indeclinable)

दीपः (dīpaḥ) - lamp, light

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dīpa

dīpa - lamp, light, illuminating

From root 'dīp' (to shine, burn).

Root: dīp (class 4)

प्रकाशात्मा (prakāśātmā) - whose essence is light, whose nature is light

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of prakāśātman

prakāśātman - having light as its essence, self-luminous

Compound of 'prakāśa' (light) and 'ātman' (self, essence).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (prakāśa+ātman)

• prakāśa – light, brightness, manifestation
  noun (masculine)
  From root 'kāś' (to shine) with prefix 'pra-'.
  Prefix: pra
  Root: kāś (class 1)
• ātman – self, soul, essence, spirit (ātman)
  noun (masculine)
  Root: an (class 2)

ह्रस्वः (hrasvaḥ) - small, short, diminutive

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of hrasva

hrasva - small, short, dwarfish, slight

From root 'hras' (to shorten, diminish).

Root: hras (class 1)

वा (vā) - or, either

(indeclinable)

यदि (yadi) - if, whether

(indeclinable)

Note: Forms a pair with 'vā' for 'whether... or...'

वा (vā) - Paired with 'yadi' to mean 'whether... or...'. (or, either)

(indeclinable)

महान् (mahān) - great, large, mighty

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mahat

mahat - great, large, powerful, significant

Root 'mah' (to be great).

Root: mah (class 1)

Note: The nominative singular masculine form of 'mahat'.

ज्ञानात्मानम् (jñānātmānam) - Refers to the individual self (ātman) as being identical with pure consciousness. (the self of knowledge, whose essence is knowledge)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of jñānātman

jñānātman - the self of knowledge, intellect, pure consciousness

Compound of 'jñāna' (knowledge) and 'ātman' (self, essence).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (jñāna+ātman)

• jñāna – knowledge, wisdom, consciousness
  noun (neuter)
  From root 'jñā' (to know).
  Root: jñā (class 9)
• ātman – self, soul, essence, spirit (ātman)
  noun (masculine)
  Root: an (class 2)

Note: The object of 'vidyāt'.

तथा (tathā) - so, similarly, thus

(indeclinable)

Note: Paired with 'yathā' for 'just as... so...'.

विद्यात् (vidyāt) - one should know, may know

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (liṅ) of vid

Optative mood, active voice

Root 'vid' (to know), optative mood, 3rd person singular, parasmaipada.

Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Used impersonally, 'one should know'.

पुरुषम् (puruṣam) - The supreme cosmic person (puruṣa) as the indwelling spirit. (man, person, the supreme cosmic person (puruṣa))

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of puruṣa

puruṣa - man, human being, spirit, the supreme being, cosmic person (puruṣa)

Root: pṝ (class 3)

Note: Object of 'vidyāt'.

सर्वजन्तुषु (sarvajantuṣu) - in all living beings/creatures

(noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of sarvajantu

sarvajantu - all living beings, all creatures

Compound of 'sarva' (all) + 'jantu' (living being).

Compound type : karmadhāraya (sarva+jantu)

• sarva – all, every, whole
  adjective (neuter)
• jantu – living being, creature, man
  noun (masculine)
  From root 'jan' (to be born).
  Root: jan (class 4)