योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-4, chapter-46, verse-16

यस्य नेच्छा न वानिच्छा ज्ञस्य कर्मणि तिष्ठतः ।
न तस्य लिप्यते प्रज्ञा पद्मपत्रमिवाम्बुभिः ॥ १६ ॥

yasya necchā na vānicchā jñasya karmaṇi tiṣṭhataḥ ,
na tasya lipyate prajñā padmapatramivāmbubhiḥ 16

16. yasya na icchā na vā an-icchā jñasya karmaṇi tiṣṭhataḥ
na tasya lipyate prajñā padma-patram iva ambubhiḥ

16. karmaṇi tiṣṭhataḥ yasya jñasya na icchā na vā an-icchā (asti),
tasya prajñā ambubhiḥ padma-patram iva na lipyate.

16. The wisdom (prajñā) of that wise person (jña) who remains engaged in action (karma) but has neither desire nor aversion, is not tainted, just as a lotus leaf is not stained by water.

Words meanings summery:

• यस्य (yasya) - whose, of whom

• न (na) - not, no

• इच्छा (icchā) - desire (desire, wish, intention)

• न (na) - not, no

• वा (vā) - or (or, either)

• अन्-इच्छा (an-icchā) - aversion (non-desire, aversion, disinclination)

• ज्ञस्य (jñasya) - of the wise person (jña) (of the knowing one, of the wise person)

• कर्मणि (karmaṇi) - in action (karma) (in action, in ritual, in work)

• तिष्ठतः (tiṣṭhataḥ) - remaining engaged (standing, remaining, being, existing)

• न (na) - not, no

• तस्य (tasya) - his, of that

• लिप्यते (lipyate) - is tainted (is smeared, is stained, is attached to, is affected)

• प्रज्ञा (prajñā) - wisdom (prajñā) (wisdom, discernment, insight, understanding)

• पद्म-पत्रम् (padma-patram) - lotus leaf

• इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as if)

• अम्बुभिः (ambubhiḥ) - by water (by waters)

Words meanings and morphology

यस्य (yasya) - whose, of whom

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of yad

yad - which, who, what

Note: Refers to jñasya.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates icchā.

इच्छा (icchā) - desire (desire, wish, intention)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of icchā

icchā - desire, wish, intention

From root iṣ (to wish, desire)

Root: iṣ (class 4)

Note: Subject of an implied 'asti'.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates an-icchā.

वा (vā) - or (or, either)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects icchā and an-icchā.

अन्-इच्छा (an-icchā) - aversion (non-desire, aversion, disinclination)

(compound noun)

Compound type : Nañ-Tatpurusha (a+icchā)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix
• icchā – desire, wish, intention
  noun (feminine)
  From root iṣ (to wish, desire)
  Root: iṣ (class 4)

Note: Subject of an implied 'asti'.

ज्ञस्य (jñasya) - of the wise person (jña) (of the knowing one, of the wise person)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of jña

jña - knowing, wise, intelligent, expert

From root jñā (to know)

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: The possessor of icchā and an-icchā, and also of prajñā.

कर्मणि (karmaṇi) - in action (karma) (in action, in ritual, in work)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of karma

karma - action, deed, work, ritual, fate, consequence of action

From root kṛ (to do)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Location for tiṣṭhataḥ.

तिष्ठतः (tiṣṭhataḥ) - remaining engaged (standing, remaining, being, existing)

(participle)

Genitive, masculine, singular of tiṣṭhat

tiṣṭhat - standing, remaining, being, existing

Present Active Participle

From root sthā (to stand)

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Agrees with jñasya.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates lipyate.

तस्य (tasya) - his, of that

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Refers back to jñasya.

लिप्यते (lipyate) - is tainted (is smeared, is stained, is attached to, is affected)

(verb)

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

Root: lip (class 6)

Note: The passive verb.

प्रज्ञा (prajñā) - wisdom (prajñā) (wisdom, discernment, insight, understanding)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of prajñā

prajñā - wisdom, discernment, insight, understanding, intelligence

From root jñā (to know) with prefix pra

Prefix: pra

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: The subject of lipyate.

पद्म-पत्रम् (padma-patram) - lotus leaf

(compound noun)

Compound type : Tatpurusha (padma+patra)

• padma – lotus
  noun (neuter)
• patra – leaf, feather, wing
  noun (neuter)

Note: Part of the simile.

इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

Note: Indicates comparison.

अम्बुभिः (ambubhiḥ) - by water (by waters)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, plural of ambu

ambu - water

Note: Agent of lipyate in the simile.

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