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

स्मृतिर्न संभवत्येव सर्गादौ परमात्मनः ।
जन्माभावात्कथं कुत्र नभसीव महाद्रुमः ॥ ४ ॥

smṛtirna saṃbhavatyeva sargādau paramātmanaḥ ,
janmābhāvātkathaṃ kutra nabhasīva mahādrumaḥ 4

4. smṛtiḥ na saṃbhavati eva sargādau paramaātmanaḥ
janmaabhāvāt katham kutra nabhasi iva mahādrumaḥ

4. sargādau paramaātmanaḥ smṛtiḥ na eva saṃbhavati,
janmaabhāvāt katham kutra nabhasi iva mahādrumaḥ.

4. Memory (smṛti) is certainly not possible for the Supreme Self (paramātman) at the beginning of creation, due to the absence of birth (janma). How and where (could it arise), just as a great tree cannot (grow) in the sky?

Words meanings summery:

• स्मृतिः (smṛtiḥ) - memory (smṛti) (memory, recollection (smṛti))

• न (na) - not (not, no)

• संभवति (saṁbhavati) - is possible, can exist (is possible, arises, exists)

• एव (eva) - certainly, indeed (indeed, only, certainly)

• सर्गादौ (sargādau) - at the very start of a new creation cycle (at the beginning of creation)

• परमआत्मनः (paramaātmanaḥ) - for the Supreme Self (paramātman) (of the Supreme Self, for the Supreme Self)

• जन्मअभावात् (janmaabhāvāt) - because there is no birth (janma) (for the Supreme Self) (due to the absence of birth)

• कथम् (katham) - how (can it be possible) (how, in what manner)

• कुत्र (kutra) - where (can it exist) (where, in what place)

• नभसि (nabhasi) - in the sky (in the sky, in the atmosphere)

• इव (iva) - just like (like, as, as it were)

• महाद्रुमः (mahādrumaḥ) - a large tree (a great tree)

Words meanings and morphology

स्मृतिः (smṛtiḥ) - memory (smṛti) (memory, recollection (smṛti))

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of smṛti

smṛti - memory, recollection, tradition, a code of law (smṛti)

from smṛ

Root: smṛ (class 1)

न (na) - not (not, no)

(indeclinable)

negative particle

संभवति (saṁbhavati) - is possible, can exist (is possible, arises, exists)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of saṃbhū

present active

present indicative form

Prefix: sam

Root: bhū (class 1)

एव (eva) - certainly, indeed (indeed, only, certainly)

(indeclinable)

particle

सर्गादौ (sargādau) - at the very start of a new creation cycle (at the beginning of creation)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of sargādi

sargādi - beginning of creation

compound noun

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sarga+ādi)

• sarga – creation, emanation
  noun (masculine)
  from sṛj
  Root: sṛj (class 6)
• ādi – beginning, commencement
  noun (masculine)

Note: Locative case indicates 'at the beginning'.

परमआत्मनः (paramaātmanaḥ) - for the Supreme Self (paramātman) (of the Supreme Self, for the Supreme Self)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of paramaātman

paramaātman - the Supreme Self (paramātman)

compound noun

Compound type : karmadhāraya (parama+ātman)

• parama – supreme, highest, ultimate
  adjective
• ātman – self, soul, essence, the supreme self (ātman)
  noun (masculine)
  Root: an

Note: Genitive case implies 'of' or 'for'.

जन्मअभावात् (janmaabhāvāt) - because there is no birth (janma) (for the Supreme Self) (due to the absence of birth)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of janmaabhāva

janmaabhāva - absence of birth

compound noun

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (janman+abhāva)

• janman – birth, production, origin (janma)
  noun (neuter)
  from jan
  Root: jan (class 4)
• abhāva – absence, non-existence
  noun (masculine)
  from a-bhū
  Prefix: a
  Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Ablative case indicates 'due to' or 'because of'.

कथम् (katham) - how (can it be possible) (how, in what manner)

(indeclinable)

interrogative adverb

कुत्र (kutra) - where (can it exist) (where, in what place)

(indeclinable)

interrogative adverb

नभसि (nabhasi) - in the sky (in the sky, in the atmosphere)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of nabhas

nabhas - sky, atmosphere, cloud

Note: Locative case indicates 'in the sky'.

इव (iva) - just like (like, as, as it were)

(indeclinable)

particle

महाद्रुमः (mahādrumaḥ) - a large tree (a great tree)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mahādruma

mahādruma - a great tree

compound noun

Compound type : karmadhāraya (mahā+druma)

• mahā – great, large
  adjective
• druma – tree
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dru (class 1)