योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-3, chapter-8, verse-2

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
बहुकालमियं रूढा मिथ्याज्ञानविषूचिका ।
जगन्नाम्न्यविचाराख्या विना ज्ञानं न शाम्यति ॥ २ ॥

śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca ,
bahukālamiyaṃ rūḍhā mithyājñānaviṣūcikā ,
jagannāmnyavicārākhyā vinā jñānaṃ na śāmyati 2

2. śrīvasiṣṭhaḥ uvāca bahukālam iyam rūḍhā mithyājñānaviṣūcikā
jagannāmni avicārākhyā vinā jñānam na śāmyati

2. śrīvasiṣṭhaḥ uvāca iyam jagannāmni avicārākhyā
mithyājñānaviṣūcikā bahukālam rūḍhā jñānam vinā na śāmyati

2. Śrī Vasiṣṭha said: This deeply ingrained epidemic of false knowledge (mithyājñāna), which is known as 'the world' and characterized by a lack of inquiry (avicāra), has existed for a very long time and does not subside without true knowledge (jñāna).

Words meanings summery:

• श्रीवसिष्ठः (śrīvasiṣṭhaḥ) - The revered sage Vasiṣṭha, who is the speaker in the Yoga-Vasiṣṭha text. (Śrī Vasiṣṭha (a venerable sage))

• उवाच (uvāca) - Stated, declared by Śrī Vasiṣṭha. (said, spoke.)

• बहुकालम् (bahukālam) - Denotes the enduring nature of the false knowledge epidemic. (for a long time, for many periods.)

• इयम् (iyam) - Refers to the 'false knowledge epidemic' (mithyājñānaviṣūcikā). (this, this one (feminine).)

• रूढा (rūḍhā) - Indicates the long-standing and firmly entrenched nature of the false knowledge. (grown, arisen, deeply rooted, established, conventional.)

• मिथ्याज्ञानविषूचिका (mithyājñānaviṣūcikā) - The pervasive and destructive nature of misunderstanding reality, compared to a plague. (epidemic of false knowledge, cholera of illusion.)

• जगन्नाम्नि (jagannāmni) - The false knowledge is identified with or labeled as 'the world' (jagat). (in the name of the world, called the world.)

• अविचाराख्या (avicārākhyā) - The underlying cause or characteristic feature of this false knowledge epidemic is the absence of inquiry (avicāra). (called non-inquiry, named non-discrimination, characterized by non-reflection.)

• विना (vinā) - Indicates the condition under which the false knowledge cannot subside. (without, except for.)

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - Refers to ultimate, true knowledge (jñāna), which dispels illusion. (knowledge, wisdom, understanding.)

• न (na) - Negates the action of subsiding. (not, no.)

• शाम्यति (śāmyati) - The epidemic of false knowledge does not come to an end or become pacified. (subsides, ceases, becomes calm, is appeased.)

Words meanings and morphology

श्रीवसिष्ठः (śrīvasiṣṭhaḥ) - The revered sage Vasiṣṭha, who is the speaker in the Yoga-Vasiṣṭha text. (Śrī Vasiṣṭha (a venerable sage))

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śrīvasiṣṭha

śrīvasiṣṭha - Revered Vasiṣṭha; glorious Vasiṣṭha.

Compound type : karmadhāraya (śrī+vasiṣṭha)

• śrī – prosperity, glory, veneration, wealth, beauty.
  noun (feminine)
• vasiṣṭha – Vasiṣṭha (name of a prominent Vedic sage).
  proper noun (masculine)
  Root: vas (class 1)

Note: Refers to the speaker.

उवाच (uvāca) - Stated, declared by Śrī Vasiṣṭha. (said, spoke.)

(verb)

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

Perfect tense, irregular formation.

Irregular perfect active of root vac (often `uvāca`).

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Standard introductory phrase for a speaker.

बहुकालम् (bahukālam) - Denotes the enduring nature of the false knowledge epidemic. (for a long time, for many periods.)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of bahukāla

bahukāla - a long time, many times, for a long period.

Compound type : karmadhāraya (bahu+kāla)

• bahu – much, many, abundant.
  adjective
• kāla – time, period, season.
  noun (masculine)
  Root: kal (class 10)

Note: Used adverbially to denote duration.

इयम् (iyam) - Refers to the 'false knowledge epidemic' (mithyājñānaviṣūcikā). (this, this one (feminine).)

(pronoun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one, here.

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Agrees with `mithyājñānaviṣūcikā` in gender, number, and case.

रूढा (rūḍhā) - Indicates the long-standing and firmly entrenched nature of the false knowledge. (grown, arisen, deeply rooted, established, conventional.)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of rūḍha

rūḍha - grown, mounted, ascended, become firm, traditional, well-known.

Past Passive Participle

From root `ruh` (to grow, ascend) + `kta` suffix.

Root: ruh (class 1)

Note: Qualifies `mithyājñānaviṣūcikā`.

मिथ्याज्ञानविषूचिका (mithyājñānaviṣūcikā) - The pervasive and destructive nature of misunderstanding reality, compared to a plague. (epidemic of false knowledge, cholera of illusion.)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of mithyājñānaviṣūcikā

mithyājñānaviṣūcikā - cholera of false knowledge, epidemic of illusion.

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī tatpuruṣa (mithyājñāna+viṣūcikā)

• mithyājñāna – false knowledge, erroneous understanding, illusion.
  noun (neuter)
  `mithyā` (falsely) + `jñāna` (knowledge).
  Root: jñā (class 9)
• viṣūcikā – cholera, epidemic, a kind of fever accompanied by vomiting and purging.
  noun (feminine)

Note: Subject of the sentence, along with `iyam`.

जगन्नाम्नि (jagannāmni) - The false knowledge is identified with or labeled as 'the world' (jagat). (in the name of the world, called the world.)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of jagannāman

jagannāman - named the world, having the world as its name.

`jagat` (world) + `nāman` (name). `nāman` declines as `nāmni` in locative.

Compound type : karmadhāraya (jagat+nāman)

• jagat – world, universe, moving.
  noun (neuter)
  Present Active Participle
  From root `gam` (to go) + `śatṛ` suffix, then declined as a neuter noun.
  Root: gam (class 1)
• nāman – name, appellation, designation.
  noun (neuter)

Note: Describes the arena or identity of the `mithyājñānaviṣūcikā`.

अविचाराख्या (avicārākhyā) - The underlying cause or characteristic feature of this false knowledge epidemic is the absence of inquiry (avicāra). (called non-inquiry, named non-discrimination, characterized by non-reflection.)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of avicārākhyā

avicārākhyā - named non-inquiry, known as non-discrimination.

`a` (not) + `vicāra` (inquiry) + `ākhyā` (named/called).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (a+vicāra+ākhyā)

• a – not, non-, un-, without.
  indeclinable
  Negative particle.
• vicāra – inquiry, investigation, reflection, discrimination.
  noun (masculine)
  From `vi` + root `car` (to move, go) + `ghañ` suffix.
  Prefix: vi
  Root: car (class 1)
• ākhyā – name, appellation, designation; story, narrative.
  noun (feminine)
  From `ā` + root `khyā` (to tell, name).
  Prefix: ā
  Root: khyā (class 2)

Note: Qualifies `mithyājñānaviṣūcikā`.

विना (vinā) - Indicates the condition under which the false knowledge cannot subside. (without, except for.)

(indeclinable)

Preposition/indeclinable.

ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - Refers to ultimate, true knowledge (jñāna), which dispels illusion. (knowledge, wisdom, understanding.)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom, understanding, awareness.

From root `jñā` (to know) + `lyuṭ` suffix.

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Object of `vinā`.

न (na) - Negates the action of subsiding. (not, no.)

(indeclinable)

Negative particle.

शाम्यति (śāmyati) - The epidemic of false knowledge does not come to an end or become pacified. (subsides, ceases, becomes calm, is appeased.)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (lat) of śam

Present tense, class 4.

From root `śam`, present active indicative, third person singular.

Root: śam (class 4)

Note: The verb governing the main clause.