योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-4, chapter-56, verse-16

आस्थाबन्धो महाबाहो जगद्भावत्वमात्मनः ।
न स्थिरास्थिरयोः फेनशैलयोरिव राजते ॥ १६ ॥

āsthābandho mahābāho jagadbhāvatvamātmanaḥ ,
na sthirāsthirayoḥ phenaśailayoriva rājate 16

16. āsthābandhaḥ mahābāho jagadbhāvatvam ātmanaḥ |
na sthirāsthirayoḥ phenaśailayoḥ iva rājate ||

16. mahābāho ātmanaḥ jagadbhāvatvam āsthābandhaḥ
sthirāsthirayoḥ phenaśailayoḥ iva na rājate

16. O mighty-armed, an attachment (āsthā) to the worldly nature of the (ātman) does not befit it, just as a connection between the stable and the unstable, or between a mountain and foam, is unsuitable.

Words meanings summery:

• आस्थाबन्धः (āsthābandhaḥ) - attachment (bond of attachment, attachment)

• महाबाहो (mahābāho) - O mighty-armed (O mighty-armed, O great-armed one)

• जगद्भावत्वम् (jagadbhāvatvam) - the worldly nature or state of being a worldly phenomenon (the state of being a worldly phenomenon, worldliness)

• आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the (ātman) (of the self (ātman), of one's own, spiritual essence)

• न (na) - not (not, no)

• स्थिरास्थिरयोः (sthirāsthirayoḥ) - of the stable and the unstable (things) (of the stable and the unstable)

• फेनशैलयोः (phenaśailayoḥ) - of foam and mountains

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

• राजते (rājate) - is fitting, is appropriate, suits (shines, appears splendid, is fitting/appropriate)

Words meanings and morphology

आस्थाबन्धः (āsthābandhaḥ) - attachment (bond of attachment, attachment)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of āsthābandha

āsthābandha - bond of attachment, deep attachment

Compound of 'āsthā' and 'bandha'

Compound type : tatpurusha (āsthā+bandha)

• āsthā – attachment, reliance, faith
  noun (feminine)
  From 'ā' (upasarga) + root 'sthā' (to stand)
  Prefix: ā
  Root: sthā (class 1)
• bandha – bond, tie, bondage
  noun (masculine)
  From root bandh- (to bind)
  Root: bandh (class 9)

Note: Subject of 'na rājate'.

महाबाहो (mahābāho) - O mighty-armed (O mighty-armed, O great-armed one)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of mahābāhu

mahābāhu - mighty-armed, strong-armed

Bahuvrihi compound: 'one who has mighty arms'

Compound type : bahuvrihi (mahā+bāhu)

• mahā – great, mighty
  adjective
• bāhu – arm
  noun (masculine)

जगद्भावत्वम् (jagadbhāvatvam) - the worldly nature or state of being a worldly phenomenon (the state of being a worldly phenomenon, worldliness)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of jagadbhāvatva

jagadbhāvatva - the state or quality of being a worldly phenomenon or earthly existence

From 'jagatbhāva' + suffix '-tva' (abstract noun suffix)

Compound type : tatpurusha (jagat+bhāva+tva)

• jagat – world, universe
  noun (neuter)
  From root gam- (to go)
  Root: gam (class 1)
• bhāva – existence, state, condition, phenomenon
  noun (masculine)
  From root bhū- (to be, to become)
  Root: bhū (class 1)
• tva – suffix denoting 'state of being', 'nature of'
  indeclinable (neuter)
  Abstract noun suffix

Note: Direct object of the implicit 'attachment'.

आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the (ātman) (of the self (ātman), of one's own, spiritual essence)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of ātman

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

Root: an (class 2)

Note: Connects to 'jagadbhāvatvam' (the worldly nature of the ātman).

न (na) - not (not, no)

(indeclinable)

Negative particle

स्थिरास्थिरयोः (sthirāsthirayoḥ) - of the stable and the unstable (things) (of the stable and the unstable)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, dual of sthirāsthira

sthirāsthira - stable and unstable

Dvandva compound of 'sthira' and 'asthira'

Compound type : dvandva (sthira+asthira)

• sthira – stable, firm, permanent
  adjective
  From root sthā- (to stand)
  Root: sthā (class 1)
• asthira – impermanent, unstable, fleeting
  adjective
  From 'a' (negation) + 'sthira' (stable)
  Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Used here in a simile, referring to two contrasting entities.

फेनशैलयोः (phenaśailayoḥ) - of foam and mountains

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, dual of phenaśaila

phenaśaila - foam and mountain

Dvandva compound of 'phena' and 'śaila'

Compound type : dvandva (phena+śaila)

• phena – foam, froth
  noun (masculine)
• śaila – mountain, rock
  noun (masculine)
  From śilā (stone)

Note: Used in a simile, representing two extremely contrasting things.

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

(indeclinable)

Particle of comparison

राजते (rājate) - is fitting, is appropriate, suits (shines, appears splendid, is fitting/appropriate)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of rāj

Present Tense, Ātmanepada

Class 1 verb

Root: rāj (class 1)

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