योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-1, chapter-21, verse-12

ज्वलतामतिदूरेऽपि सरसा अपि नीरसाः ।
स्त्रियो हि नरकाग्नीनामिन्धनं चारु दारुणम् ॥ १२ ॥

jvalatāmatidūre'pi sarasā api nīrasāḥ ,
striyo hi narakāgnīnāmindhanaṃ cāru dāruṇam 12

12. jvalatām atidūre api sarasāḥ api nīrasāḥ
striyaḥ hi narakāgnīnām indhanam cāru dāruṇam

12. atidūre api jvalatām,
sarasāḥ api nīrasāḥ,
striyaḥ hi narakāgnīnām cāru dāruṇam indhanam.

12. Even if they ignite passions from afar, and though outwardly alluring, women are fundamentally devoid of true essence. Indeed, women are the beautiful yet dreadful fuel for the fires of hell.

Words meanings summery:

• ज्वलताम् (jvalatām) - of those burning, of those shining, of those inflamed

• अतिदूरे (atidūre) - at a great distance, too far

• अपि (api) - even, also, too

• सरसाः (sarasāḥ) - juicy, tasteful, charming, delightful

• अपि (api) - even, also, too

• नीरसाः (nīrasāḥ) - devoid of juice/flavor, insipid, joyless, dry, without essence

• स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women

• हि (hi) - indeed, for, because, truly

• नरकाग्नीनाम् (narakāgnīnām) - of the fires of hell

• इन्धनम् (indhanam) - fuel, firewood

• चारु (cāru) - beautiful, lovely, attractive

• दारुणम् (dāruṇam) - cruel, terrible, harsh, dreadful

Words meanings and morphology

ज्वलताम् (jvalatām) - of those burning, of those shining, of those inflamed

(adjective)

Genitive, feminine, plural of jvalat

jvalat - burning, shining, inflamed

Present Active Participle

From root jval (to burn, shine). Genitive plural form.

Root: jval (class 1)

Note: Functions as a noun here, referring to 'women'.

अतिदूरे (atidūre) - at a great distance, too far

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of atidūra

atidūra - very distant, too far, at a great distance

Compound of 'ati' (very, excessively) and 'dūra' (distant, far).

Compound type : prādi-tatpuruṣa (ati+dūra)

• ati – over, beyond, excessively
  indeclinable
  Prefix
• dūra – distant, far, remote
  adjective (neuter)

Note: Used adverbially to mean 'from a great distance'.

अपि (api) - even, also, too

(indeclinable)

सरसाः (sarasāḥ) - juicy, tasteful, charming, delightful

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of sarasa

sarasa - full of juice, tasteful, charming, delightful, sentimental

From 'sa' (with) + 'rasa' (juice, essence, sentiment). Feminine form.

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (sa+rasa)

• sa – with, together with, possessing
  indeclinable
  Prefix indicating 'with'
• rasa – juice, essence, taste, sentiment, delight
  noun (masculine)

अपि (api) - even, also, too

(indeclinable)

नीरसाः (nīrasāḥ) - devoid of juice/flavor, insipid, joyless, dry, without essence

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of nīrasa

nīrasa - devoid of juice/flavor, insipid, dry, joyless, without essence

From 'niḥ' (without) + 'rasa' (juice, essence, sentiment). Feminine form.

Compound type : avyayībhāva (nis+rasa)

• nis – out, without, away from
  indeclinable
  Prefix indicating negation or absence
• rasa – juice, essence, taste, sentiment, delight
  noun (masculine)

स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, plural of strī

strī - woman, wife, female

हि (hi) - indeed, for, because, truly

(indeclinable)

Note: Particle used for emphasis or causation.

नरकाग्नीनाम् (narakāgnīnām) - of the fires of hell

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of narakāgni

narakāgni - fire of hell

Compound of 'naraka' (hell) and 'agni' (fire).

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (naraka+agni)

• naraka – hell, infernal region
  noun (masculine)
• agni – fire, god of fire
  noun (masculine)

इन्धनम् (indhanam) - fuel, firewood

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of indhana

indhana - fuel, firewood, kindling

From root indh (to kindle, ignite).

Root: indh (class 7)

चारु (cāru) - beautiful, lovely, attractive

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of cāru

cāru - beautiful, lovely, charming, attractive

Note: Agrees with 'indhanam'.

दारुणम् (dāruṇam) - cruel, terrible, harsh, dreadful

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of dāruṇa

dāruṇa - cruel, harsh, terrible, dreadful, severe

Note: Agrees with 'indhanam'.