योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-2, chapter-5, verse-1

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
प्रवृत्तिरेव प्रथमं यथाशास्त्रविहारिणाम् ।
प्रभेव वर्णभेदानां साधनी सर्वकर्मणाम् ॥ १ ॥

śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca ,
pravṛttireva prathamaṃ yathāśāstravihāriṇām ,
prabheva varṇabhedānāṃ sādhanī sarvakarmaṇām 1

1. śrīvasiṣṭhaḥ uvāca pravṛttiḥ eva prathamam yathāśāstravihāriṇām
prabhā iva varṇabhedānām sādhanī sarvakarmaṇām

1. śrīvasiṣṭhaḥ uvāca.
yathāśāstravihāriṇām prathamaṃ pravṛttiḥ eva,
varṇabhedānām prabhā iva,
sarvakarmaṇām sādhanī (bhavati).

1. Śrī Vasiṣṭha said: For those who conduct themselves in accordance with the scriptures, engagement (pravṛtti) is indeed the primary and most essential factor, serving as the means to accomplish all actions (karma), just as light makes possible the distinction of various colors.

Words meanings summery:

• श्रीवसिष्ठः (śrīvasiṣṭhaḥ) - The venerable sage Vasiṣṭha (Revered Vasiṣṭha)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said (said, spoke)

• प्रवृत्तिः (pravṛttiḥ) - engagement (pravṛtti) (activity, engagement, tendency, inclination, origin (pravṛtti))

• एव (eva) - indeed, certainly (emphasizing importance) (indeed, certainly, only, just)

• प्रथमम् (prathamam) - primary, most essential factor (first, primary, foremost)

• यथाशास्त्रविहारिणाम् (yathāśāstravihāriṇām) - for those who conduct themselves in accordance with the scriptures (of those who act according to scriptures)

• प्रभा (prabhā) - light (light, radiance, glow)

• इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as if)

• वर्णभेदानाम् (varṇabhedānām) - of different colors (of the distinctions of colors, of different classes/castes)

• साधनी (sādhanī) - serving as the means to accomplish (accomplishing, effecting, means, instrument)

• सर्वकर्मणाम् (sarvakarmaṇām) - of all actions (karma) (of all actions/deeds)

Words meanings and morphology

श्रीवसिष्ठः (śrīvasiṣṭhaḥ) - The venerable sage Vasiṣṭha (Revered Vasiṣṭha)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śrīvasiṣṭha

śrīvasiṣṭha - the venerable Vasiṣṭha

Compound type : karmadhāraya (śrī+vasiṣṭha)

• śrī – prosperity, glory, revered, venerable
  adjective
• vasiṣṭha – a celebrated Vedic sage
  proper noun (masculine)

उवाच (uvāca) - said (said, spoke)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (liṭ) of vac

Root: vac (class 2)

प्रवृत्तिः (pravṛttiḥ) - engagement (pravṛtti) (activity, engagement, tendency, inclination, origin (pravṛtti))

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of pravṛtti

pravṛtti - activity, engagement, tendency, inclination, origin, existence

From root vṛt with prefix pra

Prefix: pra

Root: vṛt (class 1)

एव (eva) - indeed, certainly (emphasizing importance) (indeed, certainly, only, just)

(indeclinable)

प्रथमम् (prathamam) - primary, most essential factor (first, primary, foremost)

(adjective)

neuter, singular of prathama

prathama - first, primary, foremost

Note: Used adverbially as 'first' or as a predicate adjective in neuter, referring to the essence of 'pravṛtti'.

यथाशास्त्रविहारिणाम् (yathāśāstravihāriṇām) - for those who conduct themselves in accordance with the scriptures (of those who act according to scriptures)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of yathāśāstravihārin

yathāśāstravihārin - one who acts according to the scriptures

Agent noun from vi-hṛ with yathāśāstra as adverbial prefix

Compound type : avyayībhāva/tatpuruṣa (yathāśāstra+vihārin)

• yathāśāstra – according to scripture, as per doctrine
  indeclinable
• vihārin – acting, conducting, moving, behaving
  adjective/noun (masculine)
  Agent noun from vi-hṛ
  Suffix -in added to vi-√hṛ
  Prefix: vi
  Root: hṛ (class 1)

Note: 'yathāśāstra' as a compound prefix to 'vihārin'.

प्रभा (prabhā) - light (light, radiance, glow)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of prabhā

prabhā - light, radiance, splendor

From root bhā with prefix pra

Prefix: pra

Root: bhā (class 2)

इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

वर्णभेदानाम् (varṇabhedānām) - of different colors (of the distinctions of colors, of different classes/castes)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of varṇabheda

varṇabheda - distinction of colors, difference of classes

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (varṇa+bheda)

• varṇa – color, caste, class, letter
  noun (masculine/neuter)
• bheda – division, distinction, difference
  noun (masculine)
  From root bhid
  Root: bhid (class 7)

साधनी (sādhanī) - serving as the means to accomplish (accomplishing, effecting, means, instrument)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of sādhanī

sādhanī - accomplishing, effecting, instrument, means

From root sādh. Feminine form of sādhana, used here as an adjective or noun 'means'.

Root: sādh (class 5)

Note: Agrees with pravṛtti (feminine noun).

सर्वकर्मणाम् (sarvakarmaṇām) - of all actions (karma) (of all actions/deeds)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of sarvakarman

sarvakarman - all actions, every deed

Compound type : karmadhāraya (sarva+karman)

• sarva – all, every, whole
  pronoun/adjective
• karman – action, deed, work, ritual (karma)
  noun (neuter)
  From root kṛ
  Root: kṛ (class 8)