महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-308, verse-48

यदि सत्यपि लिङ्गेऽस्मिञ्ज्ञानमेवात्र कारणम् ।
निर्मोक्षायेह दुःखस्य लिङ्गमात्रं निरर्थकम् ॥४८॥

48. yadi satyapi liṅge'smiñjñānamevātra kāraṇam ,
nirmokṣāyeha duḥkhasya liṅgamātraṁ nirarthakam.

48. yadi sati api liṅge asmin jñānam eva atra kāraṇam
nirmokṣāya iha duḥkhasya liṅgamātram nirarthakam

48. yadi asmin liṅge api sati atra jñānam eva duḥkhasya nirmokṣāya kāraṇam (asti),
(tarhi) iha liṅgamātram nirarthakam

48. If, even when these external signs (liṅga) are present, knowledge (jñāna) alone is the cause for liberation (mokṣa) from suffering (duḥkha) in this world, then the mere presence of these signs (liṅga) is meaningless.

Words meanings summery:

• यदि (yadi) - if

• सति (sati) - being, existing, present

• अपि (api) - even, also

• लिङ्गे (liṅge) - in these external signs of asceticism (in the sign, in the mark, in the symbol)

• अस्मिन् (asmin) - referring to 'this sign' (in this)

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge

• एव (eva) - only, indeed

• अत्र (atra) - here, in this matter

• कारणम् (kāraṇam) - cause, reason

• निर्मोक्षाय (nirmokṣāya) - for complete liberation

• इह (iha) - here, in this world

• दुःखस्य (duḥkhasya) - of suffering, from suffering

• लिङ्गमात्रम् (liṅgamātram) - only the external marks, without inner substance (mere sign, only a symbol)

• निरर्थकम् (nirarthakam) - meaningless, useless, senseless

Words meanings and morphology

यदि (yadi) - if

(indeclinable)

सति (sati) - being, existing, present

(adjective)

Locative, neuter, singular of sat

sat - being, existing, real, good

Present Participle

From root as (to be)

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Used here in an absolute locative construction, meaning 'while existing' or 'when existing'.

अपि (api) - even, also

(indeclinable)

लिङ्गे (liṅge) - in these external signs of asceticism (in the sign, in the mark, in the symbol)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of liṅga

liṅga - sign, mark, characteristic, symbol, gender, phallus

अस्मिन् (asmin) - referring to 'this sign' (in this)

(pronoun)

Locative, neuter, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom, understanding

Root: jñā (class 9)

एव (eva) - only, indeed

(indeclinable)

अत्र (atra) - here, in this matter

(indeclinable)

कारणम् (kāraṇam) - cause, reason

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kāraṇa

kāraṇa - cause, reason, instrument

From root kṛ (to do, make)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

निर्मोक्षाय (nirmokṣāya) - for complete liberation

(noun)

Dative, masculine, singular of nirmokṣa

nirmokṣa - complete liberation, release, discharge

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (nir+mokṣa)

• nir – out, forth, without, complete
  indeclinable
• mokṣa – liberation, release, emancipation, salvation
  noun (masculine)
  From root muc (to free, release)
  Root: muc (class 6)

इह (iha) - here, in this world

(indeclinable)

दुःखस्य (duḥkhasya) - of suffering, from suffering

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, singular of duḥkha

duḥkha - suffering, pain, sorrow, misery, difficulty

लिङ्गमात्रम् (liṅgamātram) - only the external marks, without inner substance (mere sign, only a symbol)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of liṅgamātra

liṅgamātra - mere sign, only a symbol

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (liṅga+mātra)

• liṅga – sign, mark, characteristic, symbol
  noun (neuter)
• mātra – mere, only, simply
  indeclinable

निरर्थकम् (nirarthakam) - meaningless, useless, senseless

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of nirarthaka

nirarthaka - meaningless, useless, futile, vain

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (nir+artha)

• nir – without
  indeclinable
• artha – meaning, purpose, object
  noun (masculine)