योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-2, chapter-13, verse-17

वरं शरावहस्तस्य चाण्डालागारवीथिषु ।
भिक्षार्थमटनं राम न मौर्ख्यहतजीवितम् ॥ १७ ॥

varaṃ śarāvahastasya cāṇḍālāgāravīthiṣu ,
bhikṣārthamaṭanaṃ rāma na maurkhyahatajīvitam 17

17. varam śarāvahastasya cāṇḍālāgāravīthiṣu
bhikṣārtham aṭanam rāma na maurkṣyahatajīvitam

17. rāma śarāvahastasya cāṇḍālāgāravīthiṣu
bhikṣārtham aṭanam varam na maurkṣyahatajīvitam

17. O Rama, it is preferable to wander with a begging bowl in hand through the streets where outcasts (caṇḍāla) dwell, seeking alms, rather than to lead a life ruined by foolishness (maurkya).

Words meanings summery:

• वरम् (varam) - better, preferable, excellent

• शरावहस्तस्य (śarāvahastasya) - of one whose hand holds a bowl/pot

• चाण्डालागारवीथिषु (cāṇḍālāgāravīthiṣu) - in the streets of the dwellings of outcasts

• भिक्षार्थम् (bhikṣārtham) - for the purpose of alms, for begging

• अटनम् (aṭanam) - wandering, roaming, moving about

• राम (rāma) - O Rama

• न (na) - not

• मौर्क्ष्यहतजीवितम् (maurkṣyahatajīvitam) - a life ruined by foolishness

Words meanings and morphology

वरम् (varam) - better, preferable, excellent

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of vara

vara - best, excellent, superior; boon, blessing; bridegroom

Note: Used adverbially to mean 'it is better'.

शरावहस्तस्य (śarāvahastasya) - of one whose hand holds a bowl/pot

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of śarāvahasta

śarāvahasta - one whose hand holds a bowl/pot

Bahuvrīhi compound.

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (śarāva+hasta)

• śarāva – earthen pot, bowl, dish
  noun (masculine)
• hasta – hand
  noun (masculine)

चाण्डालागारवीथिषु (cāṇḍālāgāravīthiṣu) - in the streets of the dwellings of outcasts

(noun)

Locative, feminine, plural of cāṇḍālāgāravīthi

cāṇḍālāgāravīthi - streets of outcast dwellings

Tatpuruṣa compound.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (cāṇḍāla+āgāra+vīthi)

• cāṇḍāla – outcast, a person of the lowest caste
  noun (masculine)
• āgāra – house, dwelling, apartment
  noun (neuter)
• vīthi – street, road, lane, path
  noun (feminine)

भिक्षार्थम् (bhikṣārtham) - for the purpose of alms, for begging

(indeclinable)

Tatpuruṣa compound.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (bhikṣā+artha)

• bhikṣā – alms, begging, charity
  noun (feminine)
  Root: bhikṣ (class 1)
• artha – purpose, aim, meaning, wealth
  noun (masculine)

Note: Used adverbially to denote purpose.

अटनम् (aṭanam) - wandering, roaming, moving about

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of aṭana

aṭana - wandering, roaming, walking, moving

Verbal Noun

Derived from root aṭ with suffix -ana.

Root: aṭ (class 1)

राम (rāma) - O Rama

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of rāma

rāma - Rama (proper name), pleasing, charming

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

मौर्क्ष्यहतजीवितम् (maurkṣyahatajīvitam) - a life ruined by foolishness

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of maurkṣyahatajīvita

maurkṣyahatajīvita - life ruined/destroyed by foolishness

Tatpuruṣa compound.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (maurkṣya+hata+jīvita)

• maurkṣya – foolishness, ignorance, stupidity
  noun (neuter)
  Derived from mūrkha (foolish) with suffix ṣya.
• hata – struck, killed, destroyed, ruined
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root han.
  Root: han (class 2)
• jīvita – life, living, existence
  noun (neuter)
  Often a verbal noun or PPP used as noun.
  Root: jīv (class 1)