योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-4, chapter-57, verse-37

युक्त्या वै चरतो ज्ञस्य संसारो गोष्पदाकृतिः ।
दूरसंत्यक्तयुक्तेस्तु महामत्तार्णवोपमः ॥ ३७ ॥

yuktyā vai carato jñasya saṃsāro goṣpadākṛtiḥ ,
dūrasaṃtyaktayuktestu mahāmattārṇavopamaḥ 37

37. yuktyā vai carataḥ jñasya saṃsāraḥ goṣpada-ākṛtiḥ
dūra-saṃtyakta-yukteḥ tu mahā-matta-arṇava-upamaḥ

37. yuktyā carataḥ jñasya saṃsāraḥ vai goṣpada-ākṛtiḥ (bhavati).
tu dūra-saṃtyakta-yukteḥ (saṃsāraḥ) mahā-matta-arṇava-upamaḥ (bhavati).

37. Indeed, for the knowing person (jñā) who lives according to proper conduct (yukti) or spiritual discipline (yoga), the cycle of rebirth (saṃsāra) is as small as a cow's hoof-print. But for one who has completely abandoned such discipline, it is like a vast, raging ocean.

Words meanings summery:

• युक्त्या (yuktyā) - by means of proper conduct or spiritual discipline (by means of reason, by proper conduct, by discipline, by yoga)

• वै (vai) - indeed, certainly (particle of emphasis)

• चरतः (carataḥ) - of one who is living/practicing (of one who is moving, of one who is acting, of one who is practicing)

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

• संसारः (saṁsāraḥ) - the cycle of rebirth, worldly existence, transmigration

• गोष्पद-आकृतिः (goṣpada-ākṛtiḥ) - as small as a cow's hoof-print (i.e., insignificant) (having the shape of a cow's hoof-print, small)

• दूर-संत्यक्त-युक्तेः (dūra-saṁtyakta-yukteḥ) - of one who has completely abandoned spiritual discipline (of one who has completely abandoned discipline/yoga/proper conduct)

• तु (tu) - but, on the other hand

• महा-मत्त-अर्णव-उपमः (mahā-matta-arṇava-upamaḥ) - like a vast, raging ocean

Words meanings and morphology

युक्त्या (yuktyā) - by means of proper conduct or spiritual discipline (by means of reason, by proper conduct, by discipline, by yoga)

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of yukti

yukti - union, connection, application, method, reason, proper conduct, spiritual discipline (yoga)

Derived from root 'yuj' (to join, to yoke)

Root: yuj (class 7)

वै (vai) - indeed, certainly (particle of emphasis)

(indeclinable)

चरतः (carataḥ) - of one who is living/practicing (of one who is moving, of one who is acting, of one who is practicing)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of carat

carat - moving, acting, practicing, living

Present Active Participle

Derived from verb root 'car' (to move, to walk, to practice)

Root: car (class 1)

Note: Modifies 'jñasya'.

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

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of jña

jña - knowing, wise, intelligent, one who knows

Derived from root 'jñā' (to know)

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Null subject.

संसारः (saṁsāraḥ) - the cycle of rebirth, worldly existence, transmigration

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of saṃsāra

saṁsāra - transmigration, cycle of rebirth, worldly existence, mundane life

Derived from root 'sṛ' (to flow, to run) with prefix 'sam'

Prefix: sam

Root: sṛ (class 1)

Note: Subject of the sentence.

गोष्पद-आकृतिः (goṣpada-ākṛtiḥ) - as small as a cow's hoof-print (i.e., insignificant) (having the shape of a cow's hoof-print, small)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of goṣpada-ākṛti

goṣpada-ākṛti - having the form of a cow's hoof-print (implying very small)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (goṣpada+ākṛti)

• goṣpada – cow's hoof-print
  noun (neuter)
• ākṛti – form, shape, appearance
  noun (feminine)
  Prefix: ā
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Predicative adjective for 'saṃsāraḥ'.

दूर-संत्यक्त-युक्तेः (dūra-saṁtyakta-yukteḥ) - of one who has completely abandoned spiritual discipline (of one who has completely abandoned discipline/yoga/proper conduct)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dūra-saṃtyakta-yukti

dūra-saṁtyakta-yukti - one who has completely abandoned proper conduct or spiritual discipline

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (dūra+saṃtyakta+yukti)

• dūra – far, distant, remote
  adjective (neuter)
• saṃtyakta – completely abandoned, forsaken
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root 'tyaj' (to abandon) with prefix 'sam'
  Prefix: sam
  Root: tyaj (class 1)
• yukti – spiritual discipline, proper conduct
  noun (feminine)
  Root: yuj (class 7)

Note: Refers to a person (implied) who has completely abandoned their discipline.

तु (tu) - but, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

महा-मत्त-अर्णव-उपमः (mahā-matta-arṇava-upamaḥ) - like a vast, raging ocean

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mahā-matta-arṇava-upama

mahā-matta-arṇava-upama - similar to a vast, intoxicated (raging) ocean

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (mahat+matta+arṇava+upama)

• mahat – great, vast, large
  adjective (neuter)
• matta – intoxicated, furious, raging, wild
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root 'mad' (to rejoice, to be intoxicated)
  Root: mad (class 4)
• arṇava – ocean, sea
  noun (masculine)
• upama – resembling, like, similar
  adjective (masculine)
  Prefix: upa

Note: Predicative adjective for 'saṃsāraḥ' (implied).