महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-31, verse-34

यथा काष्ठेन वा काष्ठमश्मानं चाश्मना पुनः ।
अयसा चाप्ययश्छिन्द्यान्निर्विचेष्टमचेतनम् ॥३४॥

34. yathā kāṣṭhena vā kāṣṭhamaśmānaṁ cāśmanā punaḥ ,
ayasā cāpyayaśchindyānnirviceṣṭamacetanam.

34. yathā kāṣṭhena vā kāṣṭham aśmānam ca aśmanā punaḥ
ayasā ca api ayaḥ chindyāt nirviceṣṭam acetanam

34. Just as one might cut wood with wood, or stone with stone, and likewise cut iron with iron—all of which are inanimate and motionless.

Words meanings summery:

• यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, in which way)

• काष्ठेन (kāṣṭhena) - with wood (by wood, with wood, by a piece of wood)

• वा (vā) - or (or, either)

• काष्ठम् (kāṣṭham) - wood (wood, a piece of wood)

• अश्मानम् (aśmānam) - stone (stone, rock)

• च (ca) - or (and, also, moreover)

• अश्मना (aśmanā) - with stone (by stone, with stone, by a rock)

• पुनः (punaḥ) - again, likewise (again, further, moreover)

• अयसा (ayasā) - with iron (by iron, with metal)

• च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

• अपि (api) - likewise (also, even, moreover)

• अयः (ayaḥ) - iron (iron, metal)

• छिन्द्यात् (chindyāt) - might cut (one might cut, one should cut, he would cut)

• निर्विचेष्टम् (nirviceṣṭam) - motionless (motionless, inactive, inanimate)

• अचेतनम् (acetanam) - inanimate (unconscious, inanimate, devoid of consciousness)

Words meanings and morphology

यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, in which way)

(indeclinable)

काष्ठेन (kāṣṭhena) - with wood (by wood, with wood, by a piece of wood)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of kāṣṭha

kāṣṭha - wood, a piece of wood, timber, log

वा (vā) - or (or, either)

(indeclinable)

काष्ठम् (kāṣṭham) - wood (wood, a piece of wood)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of kāṣṭha

kāṣṭha - wood, a piece of wood, timber, log

Note: Direct object of the implied cutting action.

अश्मानम् (aśmānam) - stone (stone, rock)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of aśman

aśman - stone, rock, thunderbolt, cloud

Note: Direct object of the implied cutting action.

च (ca) - or (and, also, moreover)

(indeclinable)

Note: Used here to introduce another alternative, similar to 'or'.

अश्मना (aśmanā) - with stone (by stone, with stone, by a rock)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of aśman

aśman - stone, rock, thunderbolt, cloud

Note: Instrument for cutting.

पुनः (punaḥ) - again, likewise (again, further, moreover)

(indeclinable)

अयसा (ayasā) - with iron (by iron, with metal)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of ayas

ayas - iron, metal, copper, gold

Note: Instrument for cutting.

च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

(indeclinable)

अपि (api) - likewise (also, even, moreover)

(indeclinable)

अयः (ayaḥ) - iron (iron, metal)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of ayas

ayas - iron, metal, copper, gold

Note: Direct object of 'chindyāt'.

छिन्द्यात् (chindyāt) - might cut (one might cut, one should cut, he would cut)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of chid

Optative Mood

7th class, parasmaipada (active voice)

Root: chid (class 7)

निर्विचेष्टम् (nirviceṣṭam) - motionless (motionless, inactive, inanimate)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of nirviceṣṭa

nirviceṣṭa - motionless, inactive, inert, inanimate, without effort

Compound of 'nis' (without) and 'viceṣṭa' (movement, activity).

Compound type : prādi-samāsa (nis+viceṣṭa)

• nis – without, out, away, negation
  indeclinable
• viceṣṭa – moving, active, agitated, effort
  adjective (masculine)
  From root 'ceṣṭ' (to move, try) with prefix 'vi'.
  Prefix: vi
  Root: ceṣṭ (class 1)

Note: Agrees with the implied object of cutting (wood, stone, iron).

अचेतनम् (acetanam) - inanimate (unconscious, inanimate, devoid of consciousness)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of acetana

acetana - unconscious, insensible, inanimate, devoid of consciousness, inert

Compound of 'a' (not) and 'cetana' (conscious).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+cetana)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
• cetana – conscious, animate, sentient, mind
  adjective (masculine)
  From root 'cit' (to perceive, understand).
  Root: cit (class 1)

Note: Agrees with the implied object of cutting (wood, stone, iron).

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