योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-4, chapter-3, verse-23

सर्गस्तु सर्गशब्दार्थतया बुद्धो नयत्यधः ।
स ब्रह्मशब्दार्थतया बुद्धः श्रेयो भवत्यलम् ॥ २३ ॥

sargastu sargaśabdārthatayā buddho nayatyadhaḥ ,
sa brahmaśabdārthatayā buddhaḥ śreyo bhavatyalam 23

23. sargaḥ tu sargaśabdārthatayā buddhaḥ nayati adhaḥ
saḥ brahmaśabdārthatayā buddhaḥ śreyaḥ bhavati alam

23. tu sargaḥ sargaśabdārthatayā buddhaḥ adhaḥ nayati.
saḥ brahmaśabdārthatayā buddhaḥ alam śreyaḥ bhavati.

23. Creation (sarga), when perceived solely as its literal meaning, leads one to decline. However, that very same creation, when understood through the meaning of the word 'Brahman' (brahman), becomes entirely conducive to ultimate welfare.

Words meanings summery:

• सर्गः (sargaḥ) - creation, emanation, manifestation

• तु (tu) - but, however, on the other hand

• सर्गशब्दार्थतया (sargaśabdārthatayā) - by means of the meaning of the word 'sarga' (creation)

• बुद्धः (buddhaḥ) - understood, perceived, enlightened

• नयति (nayati) - leads, guides, brings

• अधः (adhaḥ) - downwards, below, to decline

• सः (saḥ) - that, he

• ब्रह्मशब्दार्थतया (brahmaśabdārthatayā) - by means of the meaning of the word 'Brahman'

• बुद्धः (buddhaḥ) - understood, perceived, enlightened

• श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - good, welfare, ultimate good, excellence

• भवति (bhavati) - becomes, happens, exists

• अलम् (alam) - sufficiently, entirely, enough, indeed

Words meanings and morphology

सर्गः (sargaḥ) - creation, emanation, manifestation

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sarga

sarga - creation, emanation, manifestation, world

Root: sṛj (class 6)

तु (tu) - but, however, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

सर्गशब्दार्थतया (sargaśabdārthatayā) - by means of the meaning of the word 'sarga' (creation)

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of sargaśabdārthatā

sargaśabdārthatā - the state of being the meaning of the word 'sarga'

Derived from sargaśabdārtha + suffix -tā

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sarga+śabda+artha)

• sarga – creation, emanation
  noun (masculine)
  Root: sṛj (class 6)
• śabda – word, sound
  noun (masculine)
• artha – meaning, purpose, object
  noun (masculine)

Note: -tayā is a suffix forming adverbial phrases from nouns, indicating 'by means of' or 'as'

बुद्धः (buddhaḥ) - understood, perceived, enlightened

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of buddha

buddha - awakened, enlightened, understood

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root 'budh' (to awaken, know)

Root: budh (class 1)

Note: Used here as an adjective, 'being understood'

नयति (nayati) - leads, guides, brings

(verb)

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

Root: nī (class 1)

अधः (adhaḥ) - downwards, below, to decline

(indeclinable)

सः (saḥ) - that, he

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Refers to 'sargaḥ' (creation)

ब्रह्मशब्दार्थतया (brahmaśabdārthatayā) - by means of the meaning of the word 'Brahman'

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of brahmaśabdārthatā

brahmaśabdārthatā - the state of being the meaning of the word 'Brahman'

Derived from brahmaśabdārtha + suffix -tā

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (brahman+śabda+artha)

• brahman – Brahman, the Absolute, the ultimate reality
  noun (neuter)
  Root: bṛh (class 1)
• śabda – word, sound
  noun (masculine)
• artha – meaning, purpose, object
  noun (masculine)

Note: -tayā is a suffix forming adverbial phrases from nouns, indicating 'by means of' or 'as'

बुद्धः (buddhaḥ) - understood, perceived, enlightened

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of buddha

buddha - awakened, enlightened, understood

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root 'budh' (to awaken, know)

Root: budh (class 1)

Note: Used here as an adjective, 'being understood'

श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - good, welfare, ultimate good, excellence

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śreyas

śreyas - good, better, best, excellent, ultimate welfare

भवति (bhavati) - becomes, happens, exists

(verb)

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

Root: bhū (class 1)

अलम् (alam) - sufficiently, entirely, enough, indeed

(indeclinable)