योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-1, chapter-6, verse-18

जराजरठया नित्यं तपःप्रसररूक्षया ।
जटावल्या वृतस्कन्धं ससंध्याभ्रमिवाचलम् ॥ १८ ॥

jarājaraṭhayā nityaṃ tapaḥprasararūkṣayā ,
jaṭāvalyā vṛtaskandhaṃ sasaṃdhyābhramivācalam 18

18. jarājaraṭhayā nityam tapaḥprasararūkṣayā
jaṭāvalyā vṛtaskandham sasandhyābhram iva acalam

18. His shoulders were covered by a mass of matted locks, which were always stiff and rough from the intensity of his austerities (tapas) and worn with age, making him resemble a mountain enveloped by twilight clouds.

Words meanings summery:

• जराजरठया (jarājaraṭhayā) - refers to the matted locks being old and hardened. (by age-worn, by old and stiff)

• नित्यम् (nityam) - always, perpetually, constantly

• तपःप्रसररूक्षया (tapaḥprasararūkṣayā) - The matted locks are rough due to the constant practice of rigorous austerities (tapas). (by that which is rough/harsh due to the prevalence of austerities (tapas))

• जटावल्या (jaṭāvalyā) - by a collection of matted hair, by a series of matted locks

• वृतस्कन्धम् (vṛtaskandham) - Describes Viśvāmitra. (whose shoulders are covered, with covered shoulders)

• ससन्ध्याभ्रम् (sasandhyābhram) - with twilight clouds, accompanied by evening clouds

• इव (iva) - Indicates a simile. (like, as, as if)

• अचलम् (acalam) - a mountain, unmoving

Words meanings and morphology

जराजरठया (jarājaraṭhayā) - refers to the matted locks being old and hardened. (by age-worn, by old and stiff)

(adjective)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of jarājaraṭha

jarājaraṭha - worn out by old age, old and stiff, decrepit

Compound type : karmadhāraya (jarā+jaraṭha)

• jarā – old age, decrepitude
  noun (feminine)
• jaraṭha – old, aged, stiff, hardened
  adjective (feminine)

Note: Qualifies 'jaṭāvalyā'.

नित्यम् (nityam) - always, perpetually, constantly

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb modifying the state of the matted locks.

तपःप्रसररूक्षया (tapaḥprasararūkṣayā) - The matted locks are rough due to the constant practice of rigorous austerities (tapas). (by that which is rough/harsh due to the prevalence of austerities (tapas))

(adjective)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of tapaḥprasararūkṣa

tapaḥprasararūkṣa - rough/harsh due to the prevalence/intensity of austerities (tapas)

Compound type : tatpurusha (tapas+prasara+rūkṣa)

• tapas – austerity, penance, spiritual fervor
  noun (neuter)
• prasara – spread, prevalence, extension
  noun (masculine)
• rūkṣa – rough, harsh, dry, coarse
  adjective (feminine)

Note: Qualifies 'jaṭāvalyā'.

जटावल्या (jaṭāvalyā) - by a collection of matted hair, by a series of matted locks

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of jaṭāvali

jaṭāvali - mass of matted hair, series of matted locks

Compound type : tatpurusha (jaṭā+āvali)

• jaṭā – matted hair, tangled locks
  noun (feminine)
• āvali – row, line, series, collection, mass
  noun (feminine)

Note: Instrumental case, indicating means.

वृतस्कन्धम् (vṛtaskandham) - Describes Viśvāmitra. (whose shoulders are covered, with covered shoulders)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of vṛtaskandha

vṛtaskandha - with covered shoulders

Compound type : bahuvrihi (vṛta+skandha)

• vṛta – covered, encompassed, surrounded
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root √vṛ (to cover, encompass)
  Root: vṛ (class 5)
• skandha – shoulder, trunk, branch
  noun (masculine)

Note: Adjective describing 'muniśārdūlam' (Viśvāmitra).

ससन्ध्याभ्रम् (sasandhyābhram) - with twilight clouds, accompanied by evening clouds

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of sasandhyābhra

sasandhyābhra - with twilight clouds, having evening clouds

Compound type : bahuvrihi (sa+sandhyābhra)

• sa – with, together with (a prefix)
  indeclinable
• sandhyābhra – twilight cloud, evening cloud
  noun (neuter)

Note: Adjective, part of the simile comparing Viśvāmitra to a mountain.

इव (iva) - Indicates a simile. (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

अचलम् (acalam) - a mountain, unmoving

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of acala

acala - mountain, immovable, steadfast

Compound type : bahuvrihi (a+cala)

• a – not, un-
  prefix
• cala – moving, shaking, unsteady
  adjective

Note: Object of comparison.

Previous Verse Next Verse