महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-206, verse-12

रजस्तमसि पर्यस्तं सत्त्वं तमसि संस्थितम् ।
ज्ञानाधिष्ठानमज्ञानं बुद्ध्यहंकारलक्षणम् ॥१२॥

12. rajastamasi paryastaṁ sattvaṁ tamasi saṁsthitam ,
jñānādhiṣṭhānamajñānaṁ buddhyahaṁkāralakṣaṇam.

12. rajaḥ tamasi paryastam sattvam tamasi saṃsthitam
jñānādhiṣṭhānam ajñānam buddhyahaṅkāralakṣaṇam

12. rajaḥ tamasi paryastam sattvam tamasi saṃsthitam
ajñānam jñānādhiṣṭhānam buddhyahaṅkāralakṣaṇam

12. Passion (rajas) is overwhelmed by inertia (tamas), and goodness (sattva) is contained within inertia (tamas). This ignorance, which serves as the foundation for knowledge, is characterized by the intellect (buddhi) and ego (ahaṅkāra).

Words meanings summery:

• रजः (rajaḥ) - passion, the quality of activity and desire (rajas guṇa) (passion, activity, dust, impurity)

• तमसि (tamasi) - in inertia, in the quality of dullness and ignorance (tamas guṇa) (in darkness, in inertia, in ignorance)

• पर्यस्तम् (paryastam) - overwhelmed, overpowered (overwhelmed, overpowered, thrown down, laid out)

• सत्त्वम् (sattvam) - goodness, the quality of purity and clarity (sattva guṇa) (goodness, purity, reality, existence, essence)

• तमसि (tamasi) - in inertia, in the quality of dullness and ignorance (tamas guṇa) (in darkness, in inertia, in ignorance)

• संस्थितम् (saṁsthitam) - established, contained (established, situated, existing, placed)

• ज्ञानाधिष्ठानम् (jñānādhiṣṭhānam) - the foundation for knowledge (the basis of knowledge, the foundation for knowledge)

• अज्ञानम् (ajñānam) - ignorance (ignorance, nescience)

• बुद्ध्यहङ्कारलक्षणम् (buddhyahaṅkāralakṣaṇam) - characterized by intellect (buddhi) and ego (ahaṅkāra) (characterized by intellect and ego, having intellect and ego as its characteristic)

Words meanings and morphology

रजः (rajaḥ) - passion, the quality of activity and desire (rajas guṇa) (passion, activity, dust, impurity)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of rajas

rajas - passion, activity, dust, impurity, menstruation

तमसि (tamasi) - in inertia, in the quality of dullness and ignorance (tamas guṇa) (in darkness, in inertia, in ignorance)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of tamas

tamas - darkness, inertia, ignorance, quality of dullness

पर्यस्तम् (paryastam) - overwhelmed, overpowered (overwhelmed, overpowered, thrown down, laid out)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of paryasta

paryasta - overwhelmed, overpowered, thrown down, laid out

Past Passive Participle

from pari- + √as (throw)

Prefix: pari

Root: as (class 4)

Note: Agrees with 'rajaḥ' (neuter nominative singular).

सत्त्वम् (sattvam) - goodness, the quality of purity and clarity (sattva guṇa) (goodness, purity, reality, existence, essence)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of sattva

sattva - goodness, purity, reality, existence, essence, the quality of purity and knowledge

तमसि (tamasi) - in inertia, in the quality of dullness and ignorance (tamas guṇa) (in darkness, in inertia, in ignorance)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of tamas

tamas - darkness, inertia, ignorance, quality of dullness

संस्थितम् (saṁsthitam) - established, contained (established, situated, existing, placed)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of saṃsthita

saṁsthita - established, situated, existing, placed, standing with

Past Passive Participle

from sam- + √sthā (stand)

Prefix: sam

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'sattvam' (neuter nominative singular).

ज्ञानाधिष्ठानम् (jñānādhiṣṭhānam) - the foundation for knowledge (the basis of knowledge, the foundation for knowledge)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jñānādhiṣṭhāna

jñānādhiṣṭhāna - the basis of knowledge, the foundation for knowledge

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (jñāna+adhiṣṭhāna)

• jñāna – knowledge, wisdom, understanding
  noun (neuter)
  Root: jñā (class 9)
• adhiṣṭhāna – foundation, basis, abode, seat, presiding over
  noun (neuter)
  from adhi- + √sthā (stand)
  Prefix: adhi
  Root: sthā (class 1)

अज्ञानम् (ajñānam) - ignorance (ignorance, nescience)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of ajñāna

ajñāna - ignorance, nescience, spiritual ignorance

from a- (negative prefix) + jñāna (knowledge)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (a+jñāna)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
  negative prefix
• jñāna – knowledge, wisdom, understanding
  noun (neuter)
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Acts as the subject of the second sentence.

बुद्ध्यहङ्कारलक्षणम् (buddhyahaṅkāralakṣaṇam) - characterized by intellect (buddhi) and ego (ahaṅkāra) (characterized by intellect and ego, having intellect and ego as its characteristic)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of buddhyahaṅkāralakṣaṇa

buddhyahaṅkāralakṣaṇa - characterized by intellect and ego

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (buddhi+ahaṅkāra+lakṣaṇa)

• buddhi – intellect, understanding, reason, discernment
  noun (feminine)
  from √budh (know, understand)
  Root: budh (class 1)
• ahaṅkāra – ego, egotism, self-consciousness, I-making
  noun (masculine)
• lakṣaṇa – characteristic, mark, sign, definition
  noun (neuter)
  from √lakṣ (perceive, mark)
  Root: lakṣ (class 10)

Note: Agrees with 'ajñānam' (neuter nominative singular).