योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-1, chapter-17, verse-50

अपि मेरुसमं प्राज्ञमपि शूरमपि स्थिरम् ।
तृणीकरोति तृष्णैका निमेषेण नरोत्तमम् ॥ ५० ॥

api merusamaṃ prājñamapi śūramapi sthiram ,
tṛṇīkaroti tṛṣṇaikā nimeṣeṇa narottamam 50

50. api merusamam prājñam api śūram api sthiram
tṛṇīkaroti tṛṣṇā ekā nimeṣeṇa narottamam

50. Craving (tṛṣṇā) alone reduces even the wisest (prājña) of men, though he be brave and as firm as Mount Meru, to a mere blade of grass in an instant.

Words meanings summery:

• अपि (api) - even, though (even, also, though, indeed)

• मेरुसमम् (merusamam) - as firm as Mount Meru (like Mount Meru, equal to Meru)

• प्राज्ञम् (prājñam) - wisest (prājña) (wise, intelligent, knowing)

• अपि (api) - even, though (even, also, though, indeed)

• शूरम् (śūram) - brave (brave, valiant, heroic)

• अपि (api) - even, though (even, also, though, indeed)

• स्थिरम् (sthiram) - firm, steadfast (firm, steady, stable, constant)

• तृणीकरोति (tṛṇīkaroti) - reduces to a mere blade of grass, makes into a trifle (makes into grass, treats as a trifle, despises)

• तृष्णा (tṛṣṇā) - craving (tṛṣṇā) (craving, thirst, desire)

• एका (ekā) - alone (one, alone, only)

• निमेषेण (nimeṣeṇa) - in an instant (in a blink of an eye, in an instant, by a wink)

• नरोत्तमम् (narottamam) - best of men (best among men, excellent man)

Words meanings and morphology

अपि (api) - even, though (even, also, though, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Note: Repeated for emphasis.

मेरुसमम् (merusamam) - as firm as Mount Meru (like Mount Meru, equal to Meru)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of merusama

merusama - like Meru, equal to Meru

Tatpurusha compound meru + sama

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (meru+sama)

• meru – Mount Meru (mythical mountain)
  proper noun (masculine)
• sama – equal, like, similar, even, same
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Modifies narottamam.

प्राज्ञम् (prājñam) - wisest (prājña) (wise, intelligent, knowing)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of prājña

prājña - wise, intelligent, knowledgeable, learned

From pra (forth) + √jñā (to know)

Prefix: pra

Root: √jñā (class 9)

Note: Modifies narottamam.

अपि (api) - even, though (even, also, though, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Note: Repeated for emphasis.

शूरम् (śūram) - brave (brave, valiant, heroic)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of śūra

śūra - brave, valiant, heroic, a hero

Note: Modifies narottamam.

अपि (api) - even, though (even, also, though, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Note: Repeated for emphasis.

स्थिरम् (sthiram) - firm, steadfast (firm, steady, stable, constant)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of sthira

sthira - firm, steady, stable, constant, immovable

From √sthā (to stand) + suffix ira

Root: √sthā (class 1)

Note: Modifies narottamam.

तृणीकरोति (tṛṇīkaroti) - reduces to a mere blade of grass, makes into a trifle (makes into grass, treats as a trifle, despises)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of tṛṇīkṛ

Denominative verb from tṛṇa (grass) + √kṛ (to make) + ī formative.

Root: √kṛ (class 8)

Note: The main verb of the sentence.

तृष्णा (tṛṣṇā) - craving (tṛṣṇā) (craving, thirst, desire)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of tṛṣṇā

tṛṣṇā - thirst, craving, desire, appetite

From √tṛṣ (to thirst, desire)

Root: √tṛṣ (class 4)

Note: Subject of the verb tṛṇīkaroti.

एका (ekā) - alone (one, alone, only)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of eka

eka - one, single, alone, unique

Note: Emphasizes tṛṣṇā's sole power.

निमेषेण (nimeṣeṇa) - in an instant (in a blink of an eye, in an instant, by a wink)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of nimeṣa

nimeṣa - wink, blink, instant, moment

From ni (down) + √miṣ (to wink)

Prefix: ni

Root: √miṣ (class 4)

Note: Denotes the speed with which craving can act.

नरोत्तमम् (narottamam) - best of men (best among men, excellent man)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of narottama

narottama - best among men, excellent man

Tatpurusha compound nara + uttama

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (nara+uttama)

• nara – man, human being, person
  noun (masculine)
• uttama – highest, best, supreme, excellent
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Object of the verb tṛṇīkaroti.