योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-1, chapter-20, verse-35

झटित्येव प्रयात्येव शरीराद्युवताखगः ।
क्षणेनैवाल्पभाग्यस्य हस्ताच्चिन्तामणिर्यथा ॥ ३५ ॥

jhaṭityeva prayātyeva śarīrādyuvatākhagaḥ ,
kṣaṇenaivālpabhāgyasya hastāccintāmaṇiryathā 35

35. jhaṭiti eva prayāti eva śarīrāt yuvatā-khagaḥ
kṣaṇena eva alpa-bhāgyasya hastāt cintāmaṇiḥ yathā

35. yuvatā-khagaḥ jhaṭiti eva śarīrāt prayāti eva
yathā alpa-bhāgyasya hastāt cintāmaṇiḥ kṣaṇena eva

35. Indeed, the bird of youth (yuvatā) swiftly departs from the body, just as a wish-fulfilling jewel (cintāmaṇi) instantaneously slips from the hand of an unfortunate person.

Words meanings summery:

• झटिति (jhaṭiti) - emphasizes the sudden and rapid departure of youth (quickly, swiftly, instantly)

• एव (eva) - reinforces the idea of swiftness and inevitability (indeed, just, only)

• प्रयाति (prayāti) - describes the fading of youth from the body (departs, goes forth, flies away)

• एव (eva) - reinforces the idea of swiftness and inevitability (indeed, just, only)

• शरीरात् (śarīrāt) - source from which youth departs (from the body)

• युवता-खगः (yuvatā-khagaḥ) - youth is depicted as a bird, emphasizing its fleeting nature and freedom to leave the body (the bird of youth)

• क्षणेन (kṣaṇena) - emphasizes the extreme rapidity of the event (in an instant, in a moment)

• एव (eva) - reinforces the idea of swiftness and inevitability (indeed, just, only)

• अल्प-भाग्यस्य (alpa-bhāgyasya) - highlights the tragic loss, implying that youth, like the jewel, is valuable but easily lost by those not careful or destined (of the unfortunate one, of one with little luck)

• हस्तात् (hastāt) - indicates the point of origin from which the jewel is lost (from the hand)

• चिन्तामणिः (cintāmaṇiḥ) - a valuable, symbolic object whose loss implies great misfortune, analogous to the loss of youth (wish-fulfilling gem)

• यथा (yathā) - introduces a comparison to illustrate the sudden loss of youth (just as, as, like)

Words meanings and morphology

झटिति (jhaṭiti) - emphasizes the sudden and rapid departure of youth (quickly, swiftly, instantly)

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - reinforces the idea of swiftness and inevitability (indeed, just, only)

(indeclinable)

Note: Appears with jhaṭiti and prayāti for emphasis.

प्रयाति (prayāti) - describes the fading of youth from the body (departs, goes forth, flies away)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of pra-√yā

Present 3rd Singular

Prefix: pra

Root: √yā (class 2)

Note: Verb for yuvatā-khagaḥ.

एव (eva) - reinforces the idea of swiftness and inevitability (indeed, just, only)

(indeclinable)

शरीरात् (śarīrāt) - source from which youth departs (from the body)

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of śarīra

śarīra - body, physical frame

युवता-खगः (yuvatā-khagaḥ) - youth is depicted as a bird, emphasizing its fleeting nature and freedom to leave the body (the bird of youth)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yuvatā-khaga

yuvatā-khaga - bird of youth

Compound noun.

Compound type : tatpurusha (yuvatā+khaga)

• yuvatā – youth, youthfulness
  noun (feminine)
• khaga – bird (goer in the sky)
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from kha (sky) + √gam (to go).
  Root: √gam (class 1)

Note: Subject of prayāti.

क्षणेन (kṣaṇena) - emphasizes the extreme rapidity of the event (in an instant, in a moment)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of kṣaṇa

kṣaṇa - moment, instant, short time

Note: Adverbial use indicating time.

एव (eva) - reinforces the idea of swiftness and inevitability (indeed, just, only)

(indeclinable)

अल्प-भाग्यस्य (alpa-bhāgyasya) - highlights the tragic loss, implying that youth, like the jewel, is valuable but easily lost by those not careful or destined (of the unfortunate one, of one with little luck)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of alpa-bhāgya

alpa-bhāgya - unlucky, unfortunate, having little share/luck

Compound adjective/noun.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (alpa+bhāgya)

• alpa – little, small, few
  adjective (neuter)
• bhāgya – fortune, luck, destiny, share
  noun (neuter)

Note: Qualifies whose hand the jewel slips from.

हस्तात् (hastāt) - indicates the point of origin from which the jewel is lost (from the hand)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of hasta

hasta - hand, elephant's trunk

Note: Denotes separation.

चिन्तामणिः (cintāmaṇiḥ) - a valuable, symbolic object whose loss implies great misfortune, analogous to the loss of youth (wish-fulfilling gem)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of cintāmaṇi

cintāmaṇi - a wish-granting gem, philosophical stone

Compound noun.

Compound type : tatpurusha (cintā+maṇi)

• cintā – thought, reflection, concern, wish
  noun (feminine)
  From √cit (to perceive, think).
  Root: √cit (class 10)
• maṇi – gem, jewel, pearl
  noun (masculine)

Note: Subject of the implied verb 'slips'.

यथा (yathā) - introduces a comparison to illustrate the sudden loss of youth (just as, as, like)

(indeclinable)