वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-3, chapter-54, verse-16

यदा विनाशो भूतानां दृश्यते कालचोदितः ।
तदा कार्ये प्रमाद्यन्ति नराः कालवशं गताः ॥१६॥

16. yadā vināśo bhūtānāṃ dṛśyate kālacoditaḥ ,
tadā kārye pramādyanti narāḥ kālavaśaṃ gatāḥ.

16. yadā vināśaḥ bhūtānām dṛśyate kālacoditaḥ
tadā kārye pramādyanti narāḥ kālavaśam gatāḥ

16. yadā bhūtānām kālacoditaḥ vināśaḥ dṛśyate,
tadā kālavaśam gatāḥ narāḥ kārye pramādyanti

16. When the destruction of beings, prompted by time, is seen, then people, having fallen under the influence of time, become heedless in their actions.

Words meanings summery:

• यदा (yadā) - when (when, at what time)

• विनाशः (vināśaḥ) - destruction (destruction, ruin, disappearance, perishing)

• भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of beings (of beings, of creatures, of elements)

• दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen (is seen, appears, becomes visible)

• कालचोदितः (kālacoditaḥ) - prompted by time (impelled by time, instigated by fate)

• तदा (tadā) - then (then, at that time)

• कार्ये (kārye) - in their actions (in duty, in action, in what should be done, in an affair)

• प्रमाद्यन्ति (pramādyanti) - become heedless (they neglect, they err, they are heedless, they are careless)

• नराः (narāḥ) - people (men, people, human beings)

• कालवशम् (kālavaśam) - under the influence of time (under the sway of time, subject to time)

• गताः (gatāḥ) - having fallen (gone, reached, attained, having gone)

Words meanings and morphology

यदा (yadā) - when (when, at what time)

(indeclinable)

विनाशः (vināśaḥ) - destruction (destruction, ruin, disappearance, perishing)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vināśa

vināśa - destruction, ruin, disappearance, loss, perishing

Derived from root naś (to perish) with prefix vi-.

Prefix: vi

Root: naś (class 4)

Note: Subject of 'dṛśyate'.

भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of beings (of beings, of creatures, of elements)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of bhūta

bhūta - being, creature, spirit, element, past

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root bhū (to be).

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Possessive, refers to the destruction of beings.

दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen (is seen, appears, becomes visible)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of dṛś

Root: dṛś (class 1)

Note: Passive voice, agreeing with 'vināśaḥ'.

कालचोदितः (kālacoditaḥ) - prompted by time (impelled by time, instigated by fate)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kālacodita

kālacodita - impelled by time, urged by destiny, prompted by fate

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (kāla+codita)

• kāla – time, season, fate, death
  noun (masculine)
• codita – impelled, urged, instigated, prompted
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root cud (to urge, impel) + kta (ta) suffix.
  Root: cud (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'vināśaḥ'.

तदा (tadā) - then (then, at that time)

(indeclinable)

कार्ये (kārye) - in their actions (in duty, in action, in what should be done, in an affair)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of kārya

kārya - to be done, duty, action, business, purpose, matter

Gerundive

Derived from root kṛ (to do) + ṇyat suffix.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Refers to the sphere of action or duty.

प्रमाद्यन्ति (pramādyanti) - become heedless (they neglect, they err, they are heedless, they are careless)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of pramād

Prefix: pra

Root: mad (class 4)

Note: Main verb of the 'tadā' clause.

नराः (narāḥ) - people (men, people, human beings)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of nara

nara - man, person, human being

Note: Subject of 'pramādyanti'.

कालवशम् (kālavaśam) - under the influence of time (under the sway of time, subject to time)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of kālavaśa

kālavaśa - under the control/sway of time, subject to fate

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (kāla+vaśa)

• kāla – time, season, fate, death
  noun (masculine)
• vaśa – power, control, sway, will
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from root vaś (to wish, desire, control).
  Root: vaś (class 1)

Note: Accusative, indicating the state or condition entered by 'gatāḥ'.

गताः (gatāḥ) - having fallen (gone, reached, attained, having gone)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of gata

gata - gone, reached, attained, fallen into, undergone

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root gam (to go) + kta (ta) suffix.

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'narāḥ'. In compound with kālavaśam to mean 'having come under the sway of time'.