योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-3, chapter-14, verse-6

अनिखातमहास्तम्भपुत्रिकौघसमोपमः ।
ब्रह्माकाशेऽनिखातात्मा सुस्तम्भे शालभञ्जिका ॥ ६ ॥

anikhātamahāstambhaputrikaughasamopamaḥ ,
brahmākāśe'nikhātātmā sustambhe śālabhañjikā 6

6. anikhātamahāstambhaputrikaughasamopamaḥ
brahmākāśe anikhātātmā sustambhe śālabhañjikā

6. [Asau dehaḥ] anikhātamahāstambhaputrikaughasamopamaḥ [asti].
Brahmākāśe sustambhe anikhātātmā śālabhañjikā [iva asti].

6. It is comparable to a multitude of statues on great, un-erected pillars. In the boundless space of Brahman (brahman), it is like a statue (śālabhañjikā) whose essence (ātman) is not fixed, standing on a firm pillar.

Words meanings summery:

• अनिखातमहास्तम्भपुत्रिकौघसमोपमः (anikhātamahāstambhaputrikaughasamopamaḥ) - resembling a multitude of dolls/statues on great, un-erected pillars

• ब्रह्माकाशे (brahmākāśe) - in the space of Brahman (brahman)

• अनिखातात्मा (anikhātātmā) - whose Self (ātman) is not dug in, whose essence is unfixed

• सुस्तम्भे (sustambhe) - on a good pillar, on a firm support

• शालभञ्जिका (śālabhañjikā) - statue, doll, carved figure (especially on a pillar)

Words meanings and morphology

अनिखातमहास्तम्भपुत्रिकौघसमोपमः (anikhātamahāstambhaputrikaughasamopamaḥ) - resembling a multitude of dolls/statues on great, un-erected pillars

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of anikhātamahāstambhaputrikaughasamopama

anikhātamahāstambhaputrikaughasamopama - comparable to a collection of statues on great pillars that are not rooted/erected

Long compound: `a-nikhāta-mahā-stambha-putrikā-ogha-sama-upama`.

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (a+nikhāta+mahā+stambha+putrikā+ogha+sama+upama)

• a – not, un- (prefix)
  prefix
• nikhāta – dug in, planted, erected, rooted
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From ni + root khan (to dig)
  Prefix: ni
  Root: khan (class 1)
• mahā – great, large, mighty (prefix in compounds)
  adjective
  Contracted form of mahat used in compounds.
• stambha – pillar, post, support, column
  noun (masculine)
  Root: stambh (class 5)
• putrikā – doll, statue, puppet, carved figure
  noun (feminine)
• ogha – multitude, collection, mass, flood
  noun (masculine)
• sama – equal, like, similar, same
  adjective (masculine)
• upama – comparison, resemblance, simile, like
  adjective (feminine)
  Prefix: upa

Note: Describes the subtle body.

ब्रह्माकाशे (brahmākāśe) - in the space of Brahman (brahman)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of brahmākāśa

brahmākāśa - the space of Brahman (brahman), cosmic ether, infinite space

Compound `brahman` + `ākāśa`.

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (brahman+ākāśa)

• brahman – the Absolute, the ultimate reality, sacred word, creator god
  noun (neuter)
  Root: bṛh (class 1)
• ākāśa – space, ether, sky
  noun (masculine)
  From ā + root kāś (to shine)
  Prefix: ā
  Root: kāś (class 1)

Note: Indicates the vast, all-pervading context.

अनिखातात्मा (anikhātātmā) - whose Self (ātman) is not dug in, whose essence is unfixed

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of anikhātātman

anikhātātman - whose essence (ātman) is not rooted; whose Self is not dug in; whose nature is not fixed

Compound: `a-nikhāta-ātman`.

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (a+nikhāta+ātman)

• a – not, un- (prefix)
  prefix
• nikhāta – dug in, planted, erected, rooted
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From ni + root khan (to dig)
  Prefix: ni
  Root: khan (class 1)
• ātman – Self, soul, essence, nature, spirit
  noun (masculine)

Note: Used metaphorically for the subtle body.

सुस्तम्भे (sustambhe) - on a good pillar, on a firm support

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of sustambha

sustambha - a good pillar, strong support, solid column

Compound `su` + `stambha`.

Compound type : karmadhāraya (su+stambha)

• su – good, well, excellent (prefix)
  prefix
• stambha – pillar, post, support, column
  noun (masculine)
  Root: stambh (class 5)

Note: Refers to the pillar on which the statue stands.

शालभञ्जिका (śālabhañjikā) - statue, doll, carved figure (especially on a pillar)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of śālabhañjikā

śālabhañjikā - a statue, a doll, a carved female figure (often on a pillar); a plaything made of wood

Note: The subject of the second part of the simile.