योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-4, chapter-35, verse-53

अवत्सलो यथा बन्धुररागद्वेषया धिया ।
दृश्यते पश्य तद्वत्त्वं तत्त्वं पञ्जरमात्मनः ॥ ५३ ॥

avatsalo yathā bandhurarāgadveṣayā dhiyā ,
dṛśyate paśya tadvattvaṃ tattvaṃ pañjaramātmanaḥ 53

53. avatsalaḥ yathā bandhuḥ arāga-dveṣayā dhiyā |
dṛśyate paśya tat-vat tvam tattvam pañjaram ātmanaḥ

53. yathā avatsalaḥ bandhuḥ arāga-dveṣayā dhiyā dṛśyate,
tadvat tvam paśya,
tattvam ātmanaḥ pañjaram

53. Just as an unaffectionate relative (bandhu) is perceived by a mind (dhī) free from attachment and aversion, similarly, perceive this truth: that the body is a cage for the self (ātman).

Words meanings summery:

• अवत्सलः (avatsalaḥ) - unaffectionate (unaffectionate, loveless, uncaring)

• यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, according to)

• बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) - relative (bandhu) (relative, kinsman, friend)

• अराग-द्वेषया (arāga-dveṣayā) - by a mind free from attachment and aversion

• धिया (dhiyā) - by a mind (dhī) (by the intellect, by the mind, by understanding)

• दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is perceived (is seen, appears, is perceived)

• पश्य (paśya) - perceive (see, behold, observe)

• तत्-वत् (tat-vat) - similarly, in the same way (similarly, like that, in the same way)

• त्वम् (tvam) - you (the listener) (you)

• तत्त्वम् (tattvam) - this truth, reality (truth, reality, principle, essence)

• पञ्जरम् (pañjaram) - cage (referring to the body) (cage, skeleton, framework)

• आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the self (ātman) (of the self, of the soul, of the individual)

Words meanings and morphology

अवत्सलः (avatsalaḥ) - unaffectionate (unaffectionate, loveless, uncaring)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of avatsala

avatsala - unaffectionate, heartless, loveless, cruel

From `a-` (negation) + `vatsala` (affectionate, loving).

Note: Qualifies `bandhuḥ`.

यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, according to)

(indeclinable)

बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) - relative (bandhu) (relative, kinsman, friend)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bandhu

bandhu - kinsman, relative, friend, connection

From root `bandh` (to bind).

Root: bandh (class 9)

Note: Subject of `dṛśyate`.

अराग-द्वेषया (arāga-dveṣayā) - by a mind free from attachment and aversion

(adjective)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of arāga-dveṣa

arāga-dveṣa - without attachment and aversion

Compound. `a-` (negation) + `rāga` (attachment) + `dveṣa` (aversion).

Compound type : Nañ-Dvandva (a+rāga+dveṣa)

• a – not, un-, without
  prefix
  Negative prefix.
• rāga – attachment, passion, color, desire
  noun (masculine)
  From root `rañj` (to color, to be attached).
  Root: rañj (class 1)
• dveṣa – hatred, aversion, enmity, dislike
  noun (masculine)
  From root `dviṣ` (to hate).
  Root: dviṣ (class 2)

Note: Agrees with `dhiyā`.

धिया (dhiyā) - by a mind (dhī) (by the intellect, by the mind, by understanding)

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of dhī

dhī - thought, mind, intellect, understanding, intelligence

From root `dhyā` (to meditate) or `dhī` (to perceive).

Root: dhyā / dhī (class 1)

दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is perceived (is seen, appears, is perceived)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of dṛś

Present passive indicative

From root `dṛś` (1st class) in passive voice, atmanepada.

Root: dṛś (class 1)

Note: Subject is `bandhuḥ`.

पश्य (paśya) - perceive (see, behold, observe)

(verb)

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

Imperative active

From root `dṛś` (1st class), irregular form `paśya` in present/imperative.

Root: dṛś (class 1)

Note: Addressed to `tvam` (you).

तत्-वत् (tat-vat) - similarly, in the same way (similarly, like that, in the same way)

(indeclinable)

From `tad` (that) + `vat` (like, as).

Note: Connects to the previous clause.

त्वम् (tvam) - you (the listener) (you)

(pronoun)

Nominative, singular of yuṣmad

yuṣmad - you (pronoun)

Note: Subject of `paśya`.

तत्त्वम् (tattvam) - this truth, reality (truth, reality, principle, essence)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of tattva

tattva - truth, reality, essence, principle, true state, fundamental nature

From `tad` (that) + `tva` (suffix forming abstract nouns).

Note: Object of `paśya`.

पञ्जरम् (pañjaram) - cage (referring to the body) (cage, skeleton, framework)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of pañjara

pañjara - cage, skeleton, framework, body

Note: In apposition to `tattvam`.

आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the self (ātman) (of the self, of the soul, of the individual)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - self, soul, spirit, individual soul, essential nature

Root: an (class 2)

Note: Possessive, "of the self".

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