योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-2, chapter-18, verse-9

पूर्वापरज्ञः सर्वत्र नरो भवति बुद्धिमान् ।
पदार्थानां यथा दीपहस्तो निशि सुलोचनः ॥ ९ ॥

pūrvāparajñaḥ sarvatra naro bhavati buddhimān ,
padārthānāṃ yathā dīpahasto niśi sulocanaḥ 9

9. pūrva-apara-jñaḥ sarvatra naraḥ bhavati buddhimān
padārthānām yathā dīpa-hastaḥ niśi su-locanaḥ

9. naraḥ pūrva-apara-jñaḥ sarvatra buddhimān bhavati
yathā dīpa-hastaḥ niśi su-locanaḥ padārthānām

9. A person who understands the past and the future (pūrva-apara-jña) is intelligent in all situations. They are like someone holding a lamp (dīpa-hasta) at night (niśi), who has excellent vision (su-locana) concerning objects (padārthānām).

Words meanings summery:

• पूर्व-अपर-ज्ञः (pūrva-apara-jñaḥ) - one who understands the past and the future (knower of past and future, one who understands previous and subsequent)

• सर्वत्र (sarvatra) - in all situations (everywhere, in all circumstances, always)

• नरः (naraḥ) - person (man, person, human being)

• भवति (bhavati) - is, becomes (is, becomes, exists)

• बुद्धिमान् (buddhimān) - intelligent (intelligent, wise, discerning)

• पदार्थानाम् (padārthānām) - concerning objects (of objects, of categories, of things, of meanings)

• यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, according to)

• दीप-हस्तः (dīpa-hastaḥ) - someone holding a lamp (lamp-handed, one holding a lamp)

• निशि (niśi) - at night (at night, in the night)

• सु-लोचनः (su-locanaḥ) - having excellent vision (having good eyes, clear-sighted)

Words meanings and morphology

पूर्व-अपर-ज्ञः (pūrva-apara-jñaḥ) - one who understands the past and the future (knower of past and future, one who understands previous and subsequent)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pūrva-apara-jña

pūrva-apara-jña - knower of past and future

Compound type : tatpurusha (pūrva+apara+jña)

• pūrva – prior, former, earlier, east
  adjective (masculine)
• apara – later, subsequent, other, west
  adjective (masculine)
• jña – knowing, familiar with, intelligent
  adjective (masculine)
  Derived from root 'jñā' (to know)
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Qualifies 'naraḥ'.

सर्वत्र (sarvatra) - in all situations (everywhere, in all circumstances, always)

(indeclinable)

Locative suffix -tra added to sarva

Note: Adverbial use.

नरः (naraḥ) - person (man, person, human being)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of nara

nara - man, person, human being

Root: nṛ

Note: Subject of the first clause.

भवति (bhavati) - is, becomes (is, becomes, exists)

(verb)

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

Root: bhū (class 1)

बुद्धिमान् (buddhimān) - intelligent (intelligent, wise, discerning)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of buddhimat

buddhimat - intelligent, wise, discerning

From 'buddhi' (intellect) + suffix '-mat' (possessing)

Note: Qualifies 'naraḥ'.

पदार्थानाम् (padārthānām) - concerning objects (of objects, of categories, of things, of meanings)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of padārtha

padārtha - meaning of a word, object, thing, category, substance

Compound type : tatpurusha (pada+artha)

• pada – word, step, foot, position
  noun (neuter)
• artha – meaning, purpose, object, wealth
  noun (masculine)

Note: Implies 'of objects' or 'regarding objects' in the context of seeing.

यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, according to)

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces the comparison.

दीप-हस्तः (dīpa-hastaḥ) - someone holding a lamp (lamp-handed, one holding a lamp)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dīpa-hasta

dīpa-hasta - lamp-handed, one who has a lamp in hand

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (dīpa+hasta)

• dīpa – lamp, light, flame
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dīp (class 4)
• hasta – hand, trunk (of elephant)
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies an implied person in the analogy.

निशि (niśi) - at night (at night, in the night)

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of niś

niś - night

सु-लोचनः (su-locanaḥ) - having excellent vision (having good eyes, clear-sighted)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of su-locana

su-locana - having good eyes, beautiful-eyed, clear-sighted

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (su+locana)

• su – good, well, excellent
  indeclinable
  prefix indicating 'good' or 'well'
• locana – eye, seeing
  noun (neuter)
  from root 'loc' (to see)
  Root: loc

Note: Qualifies the implied person.