योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-5, chapter-82, verse-60

अकर्तुः करणस्यास्य शक्तिः काचिन्न विद्यते ।
दात्रस्य लावकाभावे कर्तुं किमिव शक्तता ॥ ६० ॥

akartuḥ karaṇasyāsya śaktiḥ kācinna vidyate ,
dātrasya lāvakābhāve kartuṃ kimiva śaktatā 60

60. akartuḥ karaṇasya asya śaktiḥ kācit na vidyate
| dātrasya lāvakābhāve kartum kim iva śaktatā

60. akartuḥ asya karaṇasya kācit śaktiḥ na vidyate
lāvakābhāve dātrasya kartum kim iva śaktatā (bhavati)

60. This instrument, being a non-doer, possesses no power (śakti) whatsoever. What capability can a sickle have to act in the absence of a reaper?

Words meanings summery:

• अकर्तुः (akartuḥ) - of the non-doer, of that which does not act

• करणस्य (karaṇasya) - of the instrument, of the means

• अस्य (asya) - of this

• शक्तिः (śaktiḥ) - power (śakti) (power, capacity, energy)

• काचित् (kācit) - any, some, a certain (feminine)

• न (na) - not

• विद्यते (vidyate) - exists, is found

• दात्रस्य (dātrasya) - of the sickle

• लावकाभावे (lāvakābhāve) - in the absence of a reaper

• कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do, to make, to act

• किम् (kim) - what, how, why

• इव (iva) - like, as, as it were

• शक्तता (śaktatā) - capability, power, ability

Words meanings and morphology

अकर्तुः (akartuḥ) - of the non-doer, of that which does not act

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of akartṛ

akartṛ - non-doer, not an agent

Negation of kartṛ (agent, doer)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+kartṛ)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
• kartṛ – agent, doer, maker
  noun (masculine)
  From √kṛ + tṛc
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Qualifies "karaṇasya".

करणस्य (karaṇasya) - of the instrument, of the means

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, singular of karaṇa

karaṇa - instrument, means, cause

From √kṛ + ana

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Possessive case, connected to "śaktiḥ".

अस्य (asya) - of this

(pronoun)

Genitive, neuter, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

Note: Refers to "karaṇasya".

शक्तिः (śaktiḥ) - power (śakti) (power, capacity, energy)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of śakti

śakti - power, strength, capability, energy, faculty; the divine feminine principle

From √śak (to be able)

Root: śak (class 5)

Note: Subject of 'vidyate'.

काचित् (kācit) - any, some, a certain (feminine)

(pronoun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of kaścid

kaścid - someone, something, any, a certain

Compound of kim (what/who) + cid (indefinite particle)

Compound type : avyayībhāva (kim+cid)

• kim – who, what, which
  pronoun (feminine)
• cid – an indefinite particle, used to make pronouns indefinite
  indeclinable

Note: Modifies "śaktiḥ".

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates the verb 'vidyate'.

विद्यते (vidyate) - exists, is found

(verb)

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

Present Tense, Middle Voice

Root vid, 3rd person singular, Atmanepada

Root: vid (class 4)

Note: Intransitive verb.

दात्रस्य (dātrasya) - of the sickle

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, singular of dātra

dātra - sickle, scythe

From √dā (to cut) + tra (instrumental suffix)

Root: dā (class 1)

Note: Possessive, connected to 'śaktatā'.

लावकाभावे (lāvakābhāve) - in the absence of a reaper

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of lāvakābhāva

lāvakābhāva - absence of a reaper

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (lāvaka+abhāva)

• lāvaka – a reaper, a cutter
  noun (masculine)
  From √lū (to cut) + ṇvuc suffix
  Root: lū (class 9)
• abhāva – absence, non-existence, negation
  noun (masculine)
  Negation of bhāva (existence, state)
  Prefix: a
  Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Locative absolute construction, indicating a condition.

कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do, to make, to act

(indeclinable)

Infinitive

Root kṛ + tumun suffix

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Expresses purpose or capability.

किम् (kim) - what, how, why

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kim

kim - what, which, who, why, how

Note: Interrogative pronoun, acting as a rhetorical question.

इव (iva) - like, as, as it were

(indeclinable)

Note: Particle used for comparison or emphasis.

शक्तता (śaktatā) - capability, power, ability

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of śaktatā

śaktatā - capability, power, ability

From śakta (able, capable) + -tā (suffix forming abstract nouns)

Root: śak (class 5)

Note: Subject of the rhetorical question, implied verb "is".

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