योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-4, chapter-56, verse-31

अतः स्वात्मनि कर्तृत्वमकर्तृत्वं च संस्थितम् ।
निरिच्छत्वादकर्तासौ कर्ता संनिधिमात्रतः ॥ ३१ ॥

ataḥ svātmani kartṛtvamakartṛtvaṃ ca saṃsthitam ,
niricchatvādakartāsau kartā saṃnidhimātrataḥ 31

31. ataḥ svātmani kartṛtvam akartṛtvam ca saṃsthitam
niricchatvāt akartā asau kartā saṃnidhimātrataḥ

31. ataḥ svātmani kartṛtvam akartṛtvam ca saṃsthitam
asau niricchatvāt akartā saṃnidhimātrataḥ kartā

31. Therefore, in the true self (ātman), both the state of being an agent and the state of being a non-agent are established. Because it is without desires, the self (ātman) is a non-doer; yet, it acts as a doer merely by its presence.

Words meanings summery:

• अतः (ataḥ) - therefore (therefore, hence, from this)

• स्वात्मनि (svātmani) - in the true self (ātman) (in one's own self)

• कर्तृत्वम् (kartṛtvam) - the state of being an agent (agency, doership, the state of being a doer)

• अकर्तृत्वम् (akartṛtvam) - the state of being a non-agent (non-agency, non-doership, the state of not being a doer)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• संस्थितम् (saṁsthitam) - established (established, situated, existing)

• निरिच्छत्वात् (niricchatvāt) - because it is without desires (from being without desire, due to desirelessness)

• अकर्ता (akartā) - a non-doer (non-doer, non-agent)

• असौ (asau) - that self (ātman) (that one, he, she, it)

• कर्ता (kartā) - a doer (doer, agent)

• संनिधिमात्रतः (saṁnidhimātrataḥ) - merely by its presence (merely by presence, only by proximity)

Words meanings and morphology

अतः (ataḥ) - therefore (therefore, hence, from this)

(indeclinable)

स्वात्मनि (svātmani) - in the true self (ātman) (in one's own self)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of svātman

svātman - one's own self; the individual soul

Compound type : tatpurusha (sva+ātman)

• sva – one's own; self
  pronoun
• ātman – self, soul, essence, individual soul, supreme soul
  noun (masculine)
  Root: an (class 2)

कर्तृत्वम् (kartṛtvam) - the state of being an agent (agency, doership, the state of being a doer)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kartṛtva

kartṛtva - doership, agency, the state of being an agent

Derived from kartṛ (agent) + -tva (abstract suffix)

Note: Also accusative singular, but nominative fits here with 'saṃsthitam'.

अकर्तृत्वम् (akartṛtvam) - the state of being a non-agent (non-agency, non-doership, the state of not being a doer)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of akartṛtva

akartṛtva - non-doership, non-agency

Derived from a- (not) + kartṛtva (agency)

Compound type : tatpurusha (a+kartṛtva)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
• kartṛtva – doership, agency
  noun (neuter)

Note: Also accusative singular.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

संस्थितम् (saṁsthitam) - established (established, situated, existing)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of saṃsthita

saṁsthita - placed, fixed, established, existing

Past Passive Participle

From prefix sam- + root sthā- (to stand)

Prefix: sam

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Qualifies kartṛtvam and akartṛtvam.

निरिच्छत्वात् (niricchatvāt) - because it is without desires (from being without desire, due to desirelessness)

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of niricchatva

niricchatva - desirelessness, being without desire

Derived from nir- (without) + icchā (desire) + -tva (abstract suffix)

Compound type : tatpurusha (nir+icchā+tva)

• nir – without, out of
  indeclinable
• icchā – desire, wish
  noun (feminine)
  From root iṣ (to desire)
  Root: iṣ (class 6)
• tva – abstract suffix for 'beingness'
  suffix (neuter)

Note: Denotes cause.

अकर्ता (akartā) - a non-doer (non-doer, non-agent)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of akartṛ

akartṛ - non-doer, non-agent

Derived from a- (not) + kartṛ (doer)

Compound type : tatpurusha (a+kartṛ)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
• kartṛ – doer, agent
  noun (masculine)
  agent noun
  From root kṛ (to do)
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Refers to the 'asau' (that one, i.e., the self).

असौ (asau) - that self (ātman) (that one, he, she, it)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of adas

adas - that, this

Note: Refers to the ātman mentioned previously.

कर्ता (kartā) - a doer (doer, agent)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kartṛ

kartṛ - doer, agent, creator

agent noun

From root kṛ (to do)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Refers to the 'asau' (the self).

संनिधिमात्रतः (saṁnidhimātrataḥ) - merely by its presence (merely by presence, only by proximity)

(indeclinable)

Derived from saṃnidhi (presence) + mātra (mere) and suffix -tas (indicating cause/manner)

Compound type : tatpurusha (saṃnidhi+mātra)

• saṃnidhi – presence, proximity, nearness
  noun (masculine)
  From prefix sam- + ni- + root dhā- (to place)
  Prefixes: sam+ni
  Root: dhā (class 3)
• mātra – mere, only, consisting only of
  adjective (neuter)

Note: The suffix -tas implies 'from' or 'by means of'.

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