महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-209, verse-4

अत्राह को न्वयं भावः स्वप्ने विषयवानिव ।
प्रलीनैरिन्द्रियैर्देही वर्तते देहवानिव ॥४॥

4. atrāha ko nvayaṁ bhāvaḥ svapne viṣayavāniva ,
pralīnairindriyairdehī vartate dehavāniva.

4. atra āha kaḥ nu ayam bhāvaḥ svapne viṣayavān
iva pralīnaiḥ indriyaiḥ dehī vartate dehavān iva

4. kaḥ nu ayam bhāvaḥ atra āha dehī pralīnaiḥ
indriyaiḥ svapne viṣayavān iva dehavān iva vartate

4. Here, one asks: What indeed is this state (bhāva) where the embodied being (dehī), with its senses withdrawn, functions in a dream as if it were experiencing objects and possessed a body?

Words meanings summery:

• अत्र (atra) - in this context, regarding this point (of discussion) (here, in this matter, on this point)

• आह (āha) - one asks (here, implying a question is posed) (he said, one says)

• कः (kaḥ) - what (who, what)

• नु (nu) - indeed (emphasizing the question) (indeed, now, then)

• अयम् (ayam) - this (referring to the state being discussed) (this, this one)

• भावः (bhāvaḥ) - state, condition (referring to the state of dreaming) (state, condition, existence, nature, emotion)

• स्वप्ने (svapne) - in a dream (in a dream, during sleep)

• विषयवान् (viṣayavān) - experiencing (sense) objects (possessing objects, having sense objects, experiencing objects)

• इव (iva) - as if (like, as, as if)

• प्रलीनैः (pralīnaiḥ) - by (senses) withdrawn (by those dissolved, by those withdrawn, by those merged)

• इन्द्रियैः (indriyaiḥ) - by the senses (by the senses, by the sense organs)

• देही (dehī) - the embodied being (dehī) (the embodied one, the soul, the living being)

• वर्तते (vartate) - functions, operates, exists (he exists, he functions, he is, he remains)

• देहवान् (dehavān) - possessing a body (possessing a body, embodied)

• इव (iva) - as if (like, as, as if)

Words meanings and morphology

अत्र (atra) - in this context, regarding this point (of discussion) (here, in this matter, on this point)

(indeclinable)

आह (āha) - one asks (here, implying a question is posed) (he said, one says)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of ah

Perfect 3rd singular

Irregular perfect form, meaning 'he said' or 'one says'

Root: ah (class 2)

कः (kaḥ) - what (who, what)

(interrogative pronoun)

नु (nu) - indeed (emphasizing the question) (indeed, now, then)

(indeclinable)

अयम् (ayam) - this (referring to the state being discussed) (this, this one)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

भावः (bhāvaḥ) - state, condition (referring to the state of dreaming) (state, condition, existence, nature, emotion)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhāva

bhāva - state, condition, existence, nature, becoming, emotion, disposition

Derived from root bhū (to be, to exist).

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Follows translation instruction for bhāva.

स्वप्ने (svapne) - in a dream (in a dream, during sleep)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of svapna

svapna - sleep, dream

From root svap (to sleep).

Root: svap (class 2)

विषयवान् (viṣayavān) - experiencing (sense) objects (possessing objects, having sense objects, experiencing objects)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of viṣayavat

viṣayavat - having objects of sense, having concerns, full of topics

Formed with suffix -vat from viṣaya.

Note: Qualifies dehī.

इव (iva) - as if (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

Particle expressing comparison or doubt.

प्रलीनैः (pralīnaiḥ) - by (senses) withdrawn (by those dissolved, by those withdrawn, by those merged)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of pralīna

pralīna - dissolved, absorbed, merged, withdrawn, disappeared

Past Passive Participle

From pra- + lī (to dissolve, merge).

Prefix: pra

Root: lī (class 4)

Note: Qualifies indriyaiḥ.

इन्द्रियैः (indriyaiḥ) - by the senses (by the senses, by the sense organs)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, plural of indriya

indriya - sense organ, faculty of sense

Related to Indra, meaning 'belonging to Indra' or 'powerful'. In philosophy, refers to sense organs.

देही (dehī) - the embodied being (dehī) (the embodied one, the soul, the living being)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dehin

dehin - embodied, having a body, the soul

From deha (body) + -in (possessive suffix).

Note: Subject of vartate.

वर्तते (vartate) - functions, operates, exists (he exists, he functions, he is, he remains)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of vṛt

Present 3rd singular

Middle voice.

Root: vṛt (class 1)

देहवान् (dehavān) - possessing a body (possessing a body, embodied)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dehavat

dehavat - having a body, embodied

Formed with suffix -vat from deha.

Note: Qualifies dehī.

इव (iva) - as if (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

Particle expressing comparison or doubt.