योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-4, chapter-1, verse-10

वर्णो व्योममलस्येव दृश्यमानमवस्तुकम् ।
स्वप्नाङ्गनारताकारमर्थनिष्ठमनर्थकम् ॥ १० ॥

varṇo vyomamalasyeva dṛśyamānamavastukam ,
svapnāṅganāratākāramarthaniṣṭhamanarthakam 10

10. varṇaḥ vyomamalasya iva dṛśyamānam avastukam
svapnāṅganāratākāram arthaniṣṭham anarthakam

10. varṇaḥ vyomamalasya iva dṛśyamānam avastukam
svapnāṅganāratākāram arthaniṣṭham anarthakam

10. It is an appearance, like a blemish in the pure sky, visible yet unsubstantial. Its form is like sexual union with a dream-woman; it seems to possess purpose, yet it is utterly meaningless.

Words meanings summery:

• वर्णः (varṇaḥ) - appearance, hue (color, hue, appearance, class, letter)

• व्योममलस्य (vyomamalasya) - of the sky's impurity, of the dirt in the sky

• इव (iva) - like, as if, similar to

• दृश्यमानम् (dṛśyamānam) - being seen, visible, appearing

• अवस्तुकम् (avastukam) - unsubstantial, without real essence, mere nothing

• स्वप्नाङ्गनारताकारम् (svapnāṅganāratākāram) - having the form of sexual union with a dream-woman

• अर्थनिष्ठम् (arthaniṣṭham) - appearing to have purpose/meaning (intent on meaning/purpose, having a meaningful basis, devoted to an object)

• अनर्थकम् (anarthakam) - meaningless, useless, without purpose, vain

Words meanings and morphology

वर्णः (varṇaḥ) - appearance, hue (color, hue, appearance, class, letter)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of varṇa

varṇa - color, hue, appearance, class, caste, letter, sound

Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: It is the appearance that is described.

व्योममलस्य (vyomamalasya) - of the sky's impurity, of the dirt in the sky

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, singular of vyomamala

vyomamala - sky's impurity, dirt in the sky

Compound type : tatpurusha (vyoma+mala)

• vyoma – sky, atmosphere, space
  noun (neuter)
• mala – dirt, impurity, blemish
  noun (masculine)

इव (iva) - like, as if, similar to

(indeclinable)

दृश्यमानम् (dṛśyamānam) - being seen, visible, appearing

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of dṛśyamāna

dṛśyamāna - being seen, visible, appearing

Present Passive Participle

From root `dṛś` (to see) with `yamāna` suffix.

Root: dṛś (class 1)

Note: Describes the apparent reality.

अवस्तुकम् (avastukam) - unsubstantial, without real essence, mere nothing

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of avastuka

avastuka - unsubstantial, without real essence, mere nothing

From `a` (not) + `vastu` (thing, substance) + `ka` (diminutive/qualifying suffix).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+vastuka)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
  negative prefix
• vastuka – a little thing, substance, real entity
  noun (neuter)
  from `vastu` with `ka` suffix

स्वप्नाङ्गनारताकारम् (svapnāṅganāratākāram) - having the form of sexual union with a dream-woman

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of svapnāṅganāratākāra

svapnāṅganāratākāra - having the form of sexual union with a dream-woman

Compound type : bahuvrihi (svapnāṅganāratā+ākāra)

• svapnāṅganāratā – sexual union with a dream-woman
  noun (feminine)
• ākāra – form, shape, appearance
  noun (masculine)

अर्थनिष्ठम् (arthaniṣṭham) - appearing to have purpose/meaning (intent on meaning/purpose, having a meaningful basis, devoted to an object)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of arthaniṣṭha

arthaniṣṭha - intent on meaning/purpose, having a meaningful basis, devoted to an object

From `artha` (meaning, purpose) + `niṣṭha` (standing in, devoted to).

Compound type : tatpurusha (artha+niṣṭha)

• artha – meaning, purpose, object
  noun (masculine)
• niṣṭha – standing in, devoted to, based on
  adjective (neuter)
  from `ni-sthā` (to stand in)
  Prefix: nis
  Root: sthā (class 1)

अनर्थकम् (anarthakam) - meaningless, useless, without purpose, vain

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of anarthaka

anarthaka - meaningless, useless, without purpose, vain

From `an` (not) + `arthaka` (having meaning/purpose).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (an+arthaka)

• an – not, non-
  indeclinable
  negative prefix (before vowels)
• arthaka – having meaning, useful, purposeful
  adjective (neuter)
  from `artha` (meaning, purpose) + `ka` suffix