योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-3, chapter-4, verse-74

यथेदं न स्थितं विश्वं नोत्पन्नं न च विद्यते ।
तथा कथय मे ब्रह्मन्येनैतन्निश्चितं भवेत् ॥ ७४ ॥

yathedaṃ na sthitaṃ viśvaṃ notpannaṃ na ca vidyate ,
tathā kathaya me brahmanyenaitanniścitaṃ bhavet 74

74. yathā idam na sthitam viśvam na utpannam na ca vidyate
tathā kathaya me brahman yena etat niścitam bhavet

74. brahman,
me tathā kathaya yena etat niścitam bhavet yathā idam viśvam na sthitam na utpannam na ca vidyate

74. O Brahmin (brahman), please explain to me how this universe (viśva) is not situated, not born, and does not exist, so that this understanding may become certain for me.

Words meanings summery:

• यथा (yathā) - how (questioning the manner of non-existence) (how, as, in which manner)

• इदम् (idam) - this (universe) (this)

• न (na) - not

• स्थितम् (sthitam) - existing (in a manifest sense) (situated, stood, existing, established)

• विश्वम् (viśvam) - universe, all, whole

• उत्पन्नम् (utpannam) - originated (came into being) (born, produced, originated)

• न (na) - not

• च (ca) - nor (and, also, but, moreover)

• विद्यते (vidyate) - exists (is perceived or known to be) (is found, exists, is known)

• तथा (tathā) - so (in such a way as to make it clear) (so, thus, in that way)

• कथय (kathaya) - explain (to me) (tell, explain, relate)

• मे (me) - to me (to me, my)

• ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O (one who knows the absolute reality or ultimate truth) (brahman) (O Brahmin, O (one who knows) Brahman)

• येन (yena) - by which (means or explanation) (by which, whereby)

• एतत् (etat) - this (understanding or certainty) (this)

• निश्चितम् (niścitam) - certain, firmly established (in understanding) (ascertained, certain, resolved, established)

• भवेत् (bhavet) - may become (certain) (may be, should be, could be)

Words meanings and morphology

यथा (yathā) - how (questioning the manner of non-existence) (how, as, in which manner)

(indeclinable)

इदम् (idam) - this (universe) (this)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of idam

idam - this, here

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

स्थितम् (sthitam) - existing (in a manifest sense) (situated, stood, existing, established)

(participle)

Nominative, neuter, singular of sthita

sthita - stood, situated, existing, firm, stable

past passive participle

From √sthā (to stand, to stay)

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Acts as an adjective.

विश्वम् (viśvam) - universe, all, whole

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of viśva

viśva - all, whole, entire, universe, world

उत्पन्नम् (utpannam) - originated (came into being) (born, produced, originated)

(participle)

Nominative, neuter, singular of utpanna

utpanna - born, produced, arisen, happened

past passive participle

From ut-√pad (to arise, to be born)

Prefix: ut

Root: pad (class 4)

Note: Acts as an adjective.

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

च (ca) - nor (and, also, but, moreover)

(indeclinable)

विद्यते (vidyate) - exists (is perceived or known to be) (is found, exists, is known)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present indicative (laṭ) of vid

Root: vid (class 4)

Note: This root `vid` (4th class, `vidyate`) means 'to exist' or 'to be found'. Distinct from `vid` (2nd class, `vetti`) meaning 'to know'.

तथा (tathā) - so (in such a way as to make it clear) (so, thus, in that way)

(indeclinable)

कथय (kathaya) - explain (to me) (tell, explain, relate)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of kath

Causative of `kṛ` (to do) or denom. from `kathā` (story). Often treated as 10th class `kāthayati`. Here, imperative 2nd singular.

Root: kath (class 10)

मे (me) - to me (to me, my)

(pronoun)

Dative, singular of aham

aham - I

ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O (one who knows the absolute reality or ultimate truth) (brahman) (O Brahmin, O (one who knows) Brahman)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of brahman

brahman - brahmin, priest, the Absolute (brahman), prayer

Root: bṛh

Note: Here referring to the person addressed.

येन (yena) - by which (means or explanation) (by which, whereby)

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine/neuter, singular of yat

yat - which, what, that (relative pronoun)

एतत् (etat) - this (understanding or certainty) (this)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etad

etad - this, that

निश्चितम् (niścitam) - certain, firmly established (in understanding) (ascertained, certain, resolved, established)

(participle)

Nominative, neuter, singular of niścita

niścita - ascertained, decided, certain, sure, established

past passive participle

From ni-√ci (to ascertain, determine)

Prefix: ni

Root: ci (class 5)

Note: Functions as an adjective here.

भवेत् (bhavet) - may become (certain) (may be, should be, could be)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of bhū

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Expresses possibility or desire.