योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-5, chapter-81, verse-15

मृतेऽपि मनसीयं में विकल्पश्रीर्निरर्थिका ।
मनोवेतालवृत्त्यर्थं किमर्थमुपजायते ॥ १५ ॥

mṛte'pi manasīyaṃ meṃ vikalpaśrīrnirarthikā ,
manovetālavṛttyarthaṃ kimarthamupajāyate 15

15. mṛte api manasi iyam me vikalpaśrīḥ nirarthikā
manovetālavṛttyartham kimartham upajāyate

15. me manasi mṛte api iyam vikalpaśrīḥ nirarthikā
manovetālavṛttyartham kimartham upajāyate

15. Even when my mind (manas) is subdued, this host of my mental constructs (vikalpa) is meaningless. For what purpose does it arise, simply to sustain the restless activity of the mind, which is like a phantom (vetāla)?

Words meanings summery:

• मृते (mṛte) - when the mind is subdued or inactive (in the dead, in the deceased, when dead)

• अपि (api) - even, also, although

• मनसि (manasi) - in the mind, within the mind

• इयम् (iyam) - this (feminine)

• मे (me) - my, of me, to me

• विकल्पश्रीः (vikalpaśrīḥ) - this specific host of mental concepts (the multitude/splendor of mental constructs/imaginings)

• निरर्थिका (nirarthikā) - meaningless, useless, purposeless

• मनोवेतालवृत्त्यर्थम् (manovetālavṛttyartham) - merely to sustain the restless activity of the mind, which is like a phantom (for the purpose of the activity of the mind-demon)

• किमर्थम् (kimartham) - for what purpose? why?

• उपजायते (upajāyate) - arises, comes into being, is born

Words meanings and morphology

मृते (mṛte) - when the mind is subdued or inactive (in the dead, in the deceased, when dead)

(adjective)

Locative, neuter, singular of mṛta

mṛta - dead, deceased, vanished, inanimate, subdued

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root mṛ (to die) with suffix kta (ta).

Root: mṛ (class 6)

Note: Qualifies manasi.

अपि (api) - even, also, although

(indeclinable)

मनसि (manasi) - in the mind, within the mind

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of manas

manas - mind (manas), intellect, understanding, conscience, heart, soul

Derived from root man (to think).

Root: man (class 4)

Note: Refers to the subtle internal organ.

इयम् (iyam) - this (feminine)

(pronoun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one, here

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Refers to vikalpaśrīḥ.

मे (me) - my, of me, to me

(pronoun)

Genitive, singular of asmad

asmad - I, we

First person pronoun.

Note: Possessive, 'my'.

विकल्पश्रीः (vikalpaśrīḥ) - this specific host of mental concepts (the multitude/splendor of mental constructs/imaginings)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of vikalpaśrī

vikalpaśrī - array/splendor of mental constructs, power of imagination

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (vikalpa+śrī)

• vikalpa – mental construct, imagination, doubt, option, alternative (vikalpa)
  noun (masculine)
  From kalp with vi.
  Prefix: vi
  Root: kḷp (class 1)
• śrī – splendor, glory, prosperity, wealth, abundance, beauty, host, array
  noun (feminine)

Note: Subject of the sentence.

निरर्थिका (nirarthikā) - meaningless, useless, purposeless

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of nirarthika

nirarthika - useless, meaningless, vain

From nir (without) + artha (meaning/purpose) + ika (suffix).

Compound type : avyayībhāva (nis+artha)

• nis – without, out, away from
  indeclinable
  Prefix.
• artha – meaning, purpose, aim, object, wealth
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies vikalpaśrīḥ.

मनोवेतालवृत्त्यर्थम् (manovetālavṛttyartham) - merely to sustain the restless activity of the mind, which is like a phantom (for the purpose of the activity of the mind-demon)

(indeclinable)

Compound. Can be considered an indeclinable when used to mean 'for the purpose of'.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (manas+vetāla+vṛtti+artha)

• manas – mind (manas)
  noun (neuter)
  Root: man (class 4)
• vetāla – demon, goblin, vampire-like being (vetāla)
  noun (masculine)
• vṛtti – activity, function, mode of being, livelihood
  noun (feminine)
  From root vṛt (to be, to exist).
  Root: vṛt (class 1)
• artha – purpose, meaning, sake
  noun (masculine)

Note: Functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose.

किमर्थम् (kimartham) - for what purpose? why?

(indeclinable)

From kim (what) + artha (purpose).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (kim+artha)

• kim – what, which, who
  pronoun (neuter)
  Interrogative pronoun.
• artha – purpose, meaning, sake
  noun (masculine)

उपजायते (upajāyate) - arises, comes into being, is born

(verb)

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

Present Tense

Derived from root jan (to be born) with prefix upa. 4th class verb, ātmanepada.

Prefix: upa

Root: jan (class 4)

Note: vikalpaśrīḥ is the subject.