योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-4, chapter-39, verse-30

home » Scriptures Library » Yoga Vasishtha

View complete chapter

यथेन्द्रजालिनः पश्यसि चित्रा मायया क्रिया जनयन्तः सदसत्तां नयन्त्यसच्च सत्तां नयन्ति तथैवात्मा अमायामयोऽपि मायामय इव परम ऐन्द्रजालिको घटं पटं करोति पटं च घटं करोति उपले लतां जनयति मेरौ कनकतटे नन्दनवनमिव लतायामुपलमुत्पादयति कल्पपादपेषु रत्नस्तबकमिव व्योम्नि काननमध्यारोपयति ॥ ३० ॥ yathendrajālinaḥ paśyasi citrā māyayā kriyā janayantaḥ sadasattāṃ nayantyasacca sattāṃ nayanti tathaivātmā amāyāmayo'pi māyāmaya iva parama aindrajāliko ghaṭaṃ paṭaṃ karoti paṭaṃ ca ghaṭaṃ karoti upale latāṃ janayati merau kanakataṭe nandanavanamiva latāyāmupalamutpādayati kalpapādapeṣu ratnastabakamiva vyomni kānanamadhyāropayati ।
।
30 ।
।

30. yathā indrajālinaḥ paśyasi citrā māyayā kriyā janayantaḥ sat asattāṃ nayanti asat ca
sattāṃ nayanti tathā eva ātmā amāyāmayaḥ api māyāmayaḥ iva paramaḥ aindrajālikaḥ ghaṭaṃ
paṭaṃ karoti paṭaṃ ca ghaṭaṃ karoti upale latāṃ janayati merau kanakataṭe nandanavanam
iva latāyām upalam utpādayati kalpapādapeṣu ratnastabakam iva vyomni kānanam adhyāropayati

30. yathā indrajālinaḥ citrā māyayā kriyāḥ janayantaḥ sat asattāṃ nayanti ca asat sattāṃ nayanti paśyasi,
tathā eva amāyāmayaḥ api ātmā paramaḥ aindrajālikaḥ māyāmayaḥ iva ghaṭaṃ paṭaṃ karoti ca paṭaṃ ghaṭaṃ karoti upale latāṃ janayati merau kanakataṭe nandanavanam iva latāyām upalam utpādayati kalpapādapeṣu ratnastabakam iva vyomni kānanam adhyāropayati

30. Just as you observe magicians (aindrajālinaḥ) creating diverse phenomena through their wondrous illusion (māyā), causing existent things to become non-existent and non-existent things to come into being, similarly, the Self (ātman)—though not inherently illusory (amāyāmaya)—acts as if it were illusory, like the supreme magician (parama aindrajālikaḥ). It transforms a pot into a cloth and a cloth into a pot. It creates a creeper on a stone, much like a Nandanavana (a heavenly garden) on the golden slopes of Mount Meru. It produces a stone on a creeper, as if a cluster of jewels (ratnastabaka) on wish-fulfilling trees (kalpapādapa). It implants a forest in the sky.

Words meanings summery:

(Scroll down for elaborated words morphology)

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

इन्द्रजालिनः (indrajālinaḥ) - magicians, illusionists

पश्यसि (paśyasi) - you see, you observe

चित्रा (citrā) - describing the nature of illusion (māyā) (varied, wonderful, marvelous)

मायया (māyayā) - by illusion, by magic

क्रिया (kriyā) - action, activity (interpreted as accusative singular object of 'janayantaḥ', possibly implying 'kriyām' due to poetic license or textual variation) (action, activity, performance)

जनयन्तः (janayantaḥ) - generating, causing to be, producing

सत् (sat) - existent things (existent, real, good, being)

असत्तां (asattāṁ) - non-existence, unreality

नयन्ति (nayanti) - they lead, they bring, they cause to go

असत् (asat) - non-existent things (non-existent, unreal, non-being)

च (ca) - and, also

सत्तां (sattāṁ) - existence, reality

नयन्ति (nayanti) - they lead, they bring, they cause to go

तथा (tathā) - similarly, thus, in that manner

एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

आत्मा (ātmā) - the Self, the soul, the individual soul

अमायामयः (amāyāmayaḥ) - not made of illusion, not illusory

अपि (api) - emphasizes the contrast: 'even though' (even, also, too)

मायामयः (māyāmayaḥ) - made of illusion, illusory

इव (iva) - like, as if, as

परमः (paramaḥ) - supreme, highest, ultimate

ऐन्द्रजालिकः (aindrajālikaḥ) - magician, illusionist

घटं (ghaṭaṁ) - pot, jar

पटं (paṭaṁ) - cloth, garment

करोति (karoti) - makes, does, performs

पटं (paṭaṁ) - cloth, garment

च (ca) - and, also

घटं (ghaṭaṁ) - pot, jar

करोति (karoti) - makes, does, performs

उपले (upale) - on a stone, in a stone

लतां (latāṁ) - creeper, vine

जनयति (janayati) - creates, generates, produces

मेरौ (merau) - on Mount Meru

कनकतटे (kanakataṭe) - on the golden slopes of Mount Meru (on a golden slope/bank)

नन्दनवनम् (nandanavanam) - Nandanavana (the pleasure grove of Indra)

इव (iva) - like, as if, as

लतायाम् (latāyām) - on a creeper, in a vine

उपलम् (upalam) - stone, gem

उत्पादयति (utpādayati) - produces, creates, causes to arise

कल्पपादपेषु (kalpapādapeṣu) - on wish-fulfilling trees

रत्नस्तबकम् (ratnastabakam) - cluster of jewels, jewel bouquet

इव (iva) - like, as if, as

व्योम्नि (vyomni) - in the sky, in space

काननम् (kānanam) - forest, grove

अध्यारोपयति (adhyāropayati) - implants, imposes, superimposes

Words meanings and morphology

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

(indeclinable)

इन्द्रजालिनः (indrajālinaḥ) - magicians, illusionists

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of indrajālin

indrajālin - magician, juggler, illusionist

From `indrajāla` (magic, illusion) + suffix `-in`

पश्यसि (paśyasi) - you see, you observe

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, present (lat) of dṛś

Root `dṛś` (class 1, often `paśyati` in present), present tense, 2nd person singular

Root: dṛś (class 1)

चित्रा (citrā) - describing the nature of illusion (māyā) (varied, wonderful, marvelous)

(adjective)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of citra

citra - varied, variegated, marvelous, wonderful, strange, bright

Note: Agrees with `māyayā`.

मायया (māyayā) - by illusion, by magic

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of māyā

māyā - illusion, magic, supernatural power, artifice, divine creative power (māyā)

Root: mā (class 3)

क्रिया (kriyā) - action, activity (interpreted as accusative singular object of 'janayantaḥ', possibly implying 'kriyām' due to poetic license or textual variation) (action, activity, performance)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of kriyā

kriyā - action, act, performance, ritual, activity

From root `kṛ` (to do, make)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: The form `kriyā` is typically nominative singular; accusative singular would be `kriyām`. Here it is interpreted as accusative singular due to context as the object of `janayantaḥ`, possibly an instance of poetic license or text variation.

जनयन्तः (janayantaḥ) - generating, causing to be, producing

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of janayant

janayant - generating, producing, causing to be

Present Active Participle (Causative)

From causative root `jani` (to cause to be born, produce), present active participle

Root: jan (class 4)

Note: Refers to `indrajālinaḥ`.

सत् (sat) - existent things (existent, real, good, being)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of sat

sat - existent, real, true, good, being

Present Active Participle

From root `as` (to be)

Root: as (class 2)

असत्तां (asattāṁ) - non-existence, unreality

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of asattā

asattā - non-existence, unreality

Derived from `asat` (non-existent) + suffix `-tā` (abstract noun)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+sattā)

a – not, non
indeclinable
sattā – existence, being, reality, essence
noun (feminine)
From `sat` (existent) + suffix `-tā`

नयन्ति (nayanti) - they lead, they bring, they cause to go

(verb)

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

Root `nī` (to lead), present tense, 3rd person plural

Root: nī (class 1)

असत् (asat) - non-existent things (non-existent, unreal, non-being)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of asat

asat - non-existent, unreal, non-being, false

Present Active Participle (negative)

Negative prefix `a-` + `sat` (existent)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+sat)

a – not, non
indeclinable
sat – existent, real, true, good, being
adjective (neuter)
Present Active Participle
From root `as` (to be)
Root: as (class 2)

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

सत्तां (sattāṁ) - existence, reality

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of sattā

sattā - existence, being, reality, essence

Derived from `sat` (existent) + suffix `-tā` (abstract noun)

नयन्ति (nayanti) - they lead, they bring, they cause to go

(verb)

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

Root `nī` (to lead), present tense, 3rd person plural

Root: nī (class 1)

तथा (tathā) - similarly, thus, in that manner

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

(indeclinable)

आत्मा (ātmā) - the Self, the soul, the individual soul

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - Self (ātman), soul, essence, individual soul, Supreme Soul

अमायामयः (amāyāmayaḥ) - not made of illusion, not illusory

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of amāyāmaya

amāyāmaya - not consisting of illusion, not illusory

Negative prefix `a-` + `māyāmaya`

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+māyāmaya)

a – not, non
indeclinable
māyāmaya – consisting of illusion, illusory
adjective (masculine)
From `māyā` + suffix `-maya` (made of, consisting of)

अपि (api) - emphasizes the contrast: 'even though' (even, also, too)

(indeclinable)

मायामयः (māyāmayaḥ) - made of illusion, illusory

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of māyāmaya

māyāmaya - consisting of illusion, illusory, magical

From `māyā` + suffix `-maya` (made of, consisting of)

इव (iva) - like, as if, as

(indeclinable)

परमः (paramaḥ) - supreme, highest, ultimate

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of parama

parama - highest, supreme, ultimate, most excellent

ऐन्द्रजालिकः (aindrajālikaḥ) - magician, illusionist

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of aindrajālika

aindrajālika - magician, juggler, illusionist

From `indrajāla` (magic, illusion) + suffix `ika`

घटं (ghaṭaṁ) - pot, jar

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of ghaṭa

ghaṭa - pot, jar, pitcher

पटं (paṭaṁ) - cloth, garment

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of paṭa

paṭa - cloth, garment, fabric, screen

करोति (karoti) - makes, does, performs

(verb)

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

Root `kṛ` (to do, make), present tense, 3rd person singular

Root: kṛ (class 8)

पटं (paṭaṁ) - cloth, garment

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of paṭa

paṭa - cloth, garment, fabric, screen

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

घटं (ghaṭaṁ) - pot, jar

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of ghaṭa

ghaṭa - pot, jar, pitcher

करोति (karoti) - makes, does, performs

(verb)

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

Root `kṛ` (to do, make), present tense, 3rd person singular

Root: kṛ (class 8)

उपले (upale) - on a stone, in a stone

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of upalā

upalā - a stone, rock, gem, pebble

लतां (latāṁ) - creeper, vine

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of latā

latā - creeper, vine, tendril, a slender branch

जनयति (janayati) - creates, generates, produces

(verb)

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

Causative Present

Root `jan` (to be born), causative form, present tense, 3rd person singular

Root: jan (class 4)

मेरौ (merau) - on Mount Meru

(proper noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of meru

meru - Mount Meru (mythical golden mountain, center of the universe)

कनकतटे (kanakataṭe) - on the golden slopes of Mount Meru (on a golden slope/bank)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of kanakataṭa

kanakataṭa - golden slope, golden bank

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (kanaka+taṭa)

kanaka – gold, golden
noun (neuter)
taṭa – slope, bank, shore, side
noun (masculine)

नन्दनवनम् (nandanavanam) - Nandanavana (the pleasure grove of Indra)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of nandanavana

nandanavana - Nandanavana, the heavenly garden or pleasure grove of Indra

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (nandana+vana)

nandana – rejoicing, delighting, pleasing, son
adjective (masculine)
From root `nand` (to rejoice)
Root: nand (class 1)
vana – forest, wood, grove, pleasure ground
noun (neuter)

इव (iva) - like, as if, as

(indeclinable)

लतायाम् (latāyām) - on a creeper, in a vine

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of latā

latā - creeper, vine, tendril, a slender branch

उपलम् (upalam) - stone, gem

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of upala

upala - stone, rock, gem, pebble

उत्पादयति (utpādayati) - produces, creates, causes to arise

(verb)

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

Causative Present

Root `pad` (to go, fall) with prefix `ut-` (up), causative form, present tense, 3rd person singular

Prefix: ut

Root: pad (class 4)

कल्पपादपेषु (kalpapādapeṣu) - on wish-fulfilling trees

(noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of kalpapādapa

kalpapādapa - wish-fulfilling tree, mythical tree of paradise

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (kalpa+pādapa)

kalpa – cosmic cycle, epoch, mythical, wishing, suitable
noun (masculine)
pādapa – tree (lit. 'drinking with roots')
noun (masculine)
From `pāda` (foot/root) + `pa` (drinking/protecting)

रत्नस्तबकम् (ratnastabakam) - cluster of jewels, jewel bouquet

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of ratnastabaka

ratnastabaka - cluster of jewels, bouquet of gems

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (ratna+stabaka)