योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-5, chapter-53, verse-12

गुणा गुणार्थे वर्तन्ते प्रकृतौ प्रकृतिः स्थिता ।
सदेव सति विश्रान्तं कुतोऽहंभावभावना ॥ १२ ॥

guṇā guṇārthe vartante prakṛtau prakṛtiḥ sthitā ,
sadeva sati viśrāntaṃ kuto'haṃbhāvabhāvanā 12

12. guṇāḥ guṇārthe vartante prakṛtau prakṛtiḥ sthitā
sat eva sati viśrāntam kutaḥ ahaṃbhāvabhāvanā

12. guṇāḥ guṇārthe vartante prakṛtiḥ prakṛtau sthitā
sat eva sati viśrāntam kutaḥ ahaṃbhāvabhāvanā

12. The inherent qualities (guṇa) operate only for the sake of other qualities. Primordial nature (prakṛti) rests within primordial nature (prakṛti). The absolute reality (sat) itself reposes within reality. From where, then, can a sense of 'I' (ahaṃbhāva) arise?

Words meanings summery:

• गुणाः (guṇāḥ) - The three guṇas of Sāṅkhya philosophy (sattva, rajas, tamas) (qualities, attributes, constituents (of prakṛti))

• गुणार्थे (guṇārthe) - The guṇas interact and exist for the manifestation and experience of other guṇas, not for an external 'self'. (for the purpose of qualities, in the realm of qualities, for their own qualities)

• वर्तन्ते (vartante) - they exist, they operate, they revolve

• प्रकृतौ (prakṛtau) - in nature (prakṛti), in primordial matter

• प्रकृतिः (prakṛtiḥ) - nature (prakṛti), primordial matter

• स्थिता (sthitā) - situated, existing, stands

• सत् (sat) - The ultimate reality, Brahman. (the existent, reality, truth, being)

• एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

• सति (sati) - In the ultimate reality, Brahman. (in the existent, in being, in reality)

• विश्रान्तम् (viśrāntam) - finds its repose or ultimate resting place. (rested, reposed, ceased)

• कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where? whence? why?

• अहंभावभावना (ahaṁbhāvabhāvanā) - the conception of egoism, the feeling of 'I-ness'

Words meanings and morphology

गुणाः (guṇāḥ) - The three guṇas of Sāṅkhya philosophy (sattva, rajas, tamas) (qualities, attributes, constituents (of prakṛti))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of guṇa

guṇa - quality, attribute, constituent of prakṛti, thread, virtue

गुणार्थे (guṇārthe) - The guṇas interact and exist for the manifestation and experience of other guṇas, not for an external 'self'. (for the purpose of qualities, in the realm of qualities, for their own qualities)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of guṇārtha

guṇārtha - purpose of qualities, object of qualities

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (guṇa+artha)

• guṇa – quality, attribute, constituent of prakṛti
  noun (masculine)
• artha – purpose, object, meaning
  noun (masculine)
  Root: ṛ

वर्तन्ते (vartante) - they exist, they operate, they revolve

(verb)

3rd person , plural, middle, present (laṭ) of vṛt

Present Middle

3rd person plural, middle voice, present tense

Root: vṛt (class 1)

प्रकृतौ (prakṛtau) - in nature (prakṛti), in primordial matter

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of prakṛti

prakṛti - primordial nature, original form, material cause

From pra + root kṛ (to make, do)

Prefix: pra

Root: kṛ (class 8)

प्रकृतिः (prakṛtiḥ) - nature (prakṛti), primordial matter

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of prakṛti

prakṛti - primordial nature, original form, material cause

From pra + root kṛ (to make, do)

Prefix: pra

Root: kṛ (class 8)

स्थिता (sthitā) - situated, existing, stands

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of sthita

sthita - standing, situated, existing, remaining

Past Passive Participle

From root sthā (to stand)

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Agrees with `prakṛtiḥ`.

सत् (sat) - The ultimate reality, Brahman. (the existent, reality, truth, being)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of sat

sat - existent, real, good, truth

Present Active Participle

From root as (to be)

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Used as a substantive, referring to 'the existent'.

एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

सति (sati) - In the ultimate reality, Brahman. (in the existent, in being, in reality)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of sat

sat - existent, real, good, truth

Present Active Participle

From root as (to be)

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Used as a substantive, referring to 'the existent'.

विश्रान्तम् (viśrāntam) - finds its repose or ultimate resting place. (rested, reposed, ceased)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of viśrānta

viśrānta - rested, reposed, ceased

Past Passive Participle

From vi + root śram (to be weary, rest)

Prefix: vi

Root: śram (class 1)

Note: Functions as a predicate adjective with an implied verb 'is'.

कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where? whence? why?

(indeclinable)

From kim (what) + ablative suffix

अहंभावभावना (ahaṁbhāvabhāvanā) - the conception of egoism, the feeling of 'I-ness'

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of ahaṃbhāvabhāvanā

ahaṁbhāvabhāvanā - the feeling or conception of ego, egoism

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (ahaṃbhāva+bhāvanā)

• ahaṃbhāva – the notion of 'I', ego, egohood
  noun (masculine)
• bhāvanā – conception, notion, imagination, contemplation, feeling
  noun (feminine)
  From root bhū (to be, exist), causative
  Root: bhū (class 1)

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