योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-3, chapter-113, verse-20

आलोके विमले म्लाना तमस्यपि विराजते ।
मृगतृष्णेव शुष्काभा नानावर्णविलासिनी ॥ २० ॥

āloke vimale mlānā tamasyapi virājate ,
mṛgatṛṣṇeva śuṣkābhā nānāvarṇavilāsinī 20

20. āloke vimale mlānā tamasi api virājate
mṛgatṛṣṇā iva śuṣkābhā nānāvarṇavilāsinī

20. vimale āloke mlānā tamasi api virājate
mṛgatṛṣṇā iva śuṣkābhā nānāvarṇavilāsinī

20. It appears dull in bright light, yet it shines even in darkness. Like a mirage, it has a dry appearance and exhibits a play of various colors.

Words meanings summery:

• आलोके (āloke) - in light, in visibility

• विमले (vimale) - in pure, in clear, in spotless

• म्लाना (mlānā) - faded, withered, dulled

• तमसि (tamasi) - in darkness, in gloom

• अपि (api) - even, also, too

• विराजते (virājate) - it shines, it glitters, it reigns

• मृगतृष्णा (mṛgatṛṣṇā) - mirage, deer's thirst

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• शुष्काभा (śuṣkābhā) - having a dry appearance, looking dry

• नानावर्णविलासिनी (nānāvarṇavilāsinī) - displaying various colors, shining with manifold hues

Words meanings and morphology

आलोके (āloke) - in light, in visibility

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of āloka

āloka - light, sight, vision, observation

From ā-lok (to see, perceive).

Prefix: ā

Root: lok (class 1)

विमले (vimale) - in pure, in clear, in spotless

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, singular of vimala

vimala - pure, clean, spotless, clear

From vi-mala (without dirt).

Compound type : tatpurusha (vi+mala)

• vi – without, apart
  indeclinable
  Preverb/negative prefix.
• mala – dirt, impurity
  noun (masculine)

Note: Agrees with 'āloke'.

म्लाना (mlānā) - faded, withered, dulled

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of mlāna

mlāna - faded, withered, exhausted, dulled

Past Passive Participle

From root mlai (to fade, wither).

Root: mlai (class 1)

तमसि (tamasi) - in darkness, in gloom

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of tamas

tamas - darkness, gloom

Root: tam

अपि (api) - even, also, too

(indeclinable)

विराजते (virājate) - it shines, it glitters, it reigns

(verb)

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

Present tense, 3rd person singular, ātmanepada.

Prefix: vi

Root: rāj (class 1)

मृगतृष्णा (mṛgatṛṣṇā) - mirage, deer's thirst

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of mṛgatṛṣṇā

mṛgatṛṣṇā - mirage, deer's thirst

Compound noun, a specific term for mirage.

Compound type : tatpurusha (mṛga+tṛṣṇā)

• mṛga – deer, wild animal
  noun (masculine)
  Root: mṛg (class 1)
• tṛṣṇā – thirst, craving, desire
  noun (feminine)
  From root tṛṣ (to thirst).
  Root: tṛṣ (class 4)

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

शुष्काभा (śuṣkābhā) - having a dry appearance, looking dry

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of śuṣkābha

śuṣkābha - having a dry appearance

Compound adjective.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (śuṣka+ābhā)

• śuṣka – dry, withered
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  From root śuṣ (to dry).
  Root: śuṣ (class 4)
• ābhā – light, luster, appearance
  noun (feminine)
  From ā-bhā (to shine).
  Prefix: ā
  Root: bhā (class 2)

Note: Agrees with the implicit subject (e.g., a painting).

नानावर्णविलासिनी (nānāvarṇavilāsinī) - displaying various colors, shining with manifold hues

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of nānāvarṇavilāsinī

nānāvarṇavilāsinī - displaying various colors

Compound adjective.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (nānā+varṇa+vilāsinī)

• nānā – various, manifold, different
  indeclinable
  Adverb/indeclinable meaning 'various'.
• varṇa – color, hue
  noun (masculine)
  From root vṛ (to cover, to choose) or vṛṇ (to color).
  Root: vṛ (class 5)
• vilāsinī – charming, playful, beautiful; displaying, shining
  adjective (feminine)
  Feminine of vilāsin, from vi-las (to shine, play).
  Prefix: vi
  Root: las (class 1)

Note: Agrees with the implicit subject (e.g., a painting).