योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-5, chapter-9, verse-8

आदावन्तेऽप्यनन्तोऽहं मध्ये पेलवजीवितः ।
बालश्चित्रेन्दुनेवाहं किं मुधा धृतिमास्थितः ॥ ८ ॥

ādāvante'pyananto'haṃ madhye pelavajīvitaḥ ,
bālaścitrendunevāhaṃ kiṃ mudhā dhṛtimāsthitaḥ 8

8. ādau ante api anantaḥ aham madhye pelavajīvitaḥ
bālaḥ citrendunā iva aham kim mudhā dhṛtim āsthitaḥ

8. aham ādau ante api anantaḥ madhye pelavajīvitaḥ.
aham bālaḥ citrendunā iva mudhā dhṛtim kim āsthitaḥ?

8. I am infinite at the beginning and at the end, but in the middle, my life is fragile. Why do I, like a child captivated by a painted moon, vainly cling to resolve?

Words meanings summery:

• आदौ (ādau) - at the beginning (in the beginning, first)

• अन्ते (ante) - at the end (at the end, finally)

• अपि (api) - and, even (also, even, and)

• अनन्तः (anantaḥ) - infinite (endless, infinite, eternal)

• अहम् (aham) - I

• मध्ये (madhye) - in the middle (of life) (in the middle, in between)

• पेलवजीवितः (pelavajīvitaḥ) - whose life is fragile (whose life is fragile/tender/weak)

• बालः (bālaḥ) - a child (child, young, foolish)

• चित्रेन्दुना (citrendunā) - by a painted moon (implying illusory or unreal) (by a painted moon, by a moon in a picture)

• इव (iva) - like (like, as, as if)

• अहम् (aham) - I

• किम् (kim) - why (what, why, whether)

• मुधा (mudhā) - vainly, uselessly (in vain, uselessly, falsely)

• धृतिम् (dhṛtim) - resolve (firmness, courage, resolve, steadfastness)

• आस्थितः (āsthitaḥ) - clinging to, adopted (situated, abiding in, taken up, adopted)

Words meanings and morphology

आदौ (ādau) - at the beginning (in the beginning, first)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of ādi

ādis - beginning, commencement, source

अन्ते (ante) - at the end (at the end, finally)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of anta

anta - end, limit, boundary

अपि (api) - and, even (also, even, and)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects "ādau" and "ante".

अनन्तः (anantaḥ) - infinite (endless, infinite, eternal)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ananta

ananta - endless, infinite, eternal; the infinite

Compound type : bahuvrihi (an+anta)

• an – not, un-
  prefix
• anta – end, limit, boundary
  noun (masculine)

Note: Modifies "aham".

अहम् (aham) - I

(pronoun)

Nominative, singular of asmad

asmad - I, me

Note: Subject of the sentence.

मध्ये (madhye) - in the middle (of life) (in the middle, in between)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of madhya

madhya - middle, center, mid-point

पेलवजीवितः (pelavajīvitaḥ) - whose life is fragile (whose life is fragile/tender/weak)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pelavajīvita

pelavajīvita - having a tender/fragile life

Compound type : bahuvrihi (pelava+jīvita)

• pelava – tender, soft, delicate, weak
  adjective
• jīvita – life, livelihood; lived
  noun (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root jīv, past passive participle used as a noun.
  Root: jīv (class 1)

Note: Modifies "aham".

बालः (bālaḥ) - a child (child, young, foolish)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bāla

bāla - child, boy; young, foolish, ignorant

Note: In apposition to "aham".

चित्रेन्दुना (citrendunā) - by a painted moon (implying illusory or unreal) (by a painted moon, by a moon in a picture)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of citrendu

citrendu - painted moon, moon in a picture

Compound type : karmadhāraya (citra+indu)

• citra – picture, painting; wonderful, variegated
  noun (neuter)
• indu – moon, drop, soma
  noun (masculine)

Note: Used in a simile with "iva".

इव (iva) - like (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

अहम् (aham) - I

(pronoun)

Nominative, singular of asmad

asmad - I, me

Note: Subject of the sentence.

किम् (kim) - why (what, why, whether)

(indeclinable)

Note: Used as an interrogative particle, meaning "why".

मुधा (mudhā) - vainly, uselessly (in vain, uselessly, falsely)

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb modifying "āsthitaḥ".

धृतिम् (dhṛtim) - resolve (firmness, courage, resolve, steadfastness)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of dhṛti

dhṛti - firmness, steadfastness, resolve, courage

From root dhṛ (to hold)

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Object of "āsthitaḥ".

आस्थितः (āsthitaḥ) - clinging to, adopted (situated, abiding in, taken up, adopted)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of āsthita

āsthita - situated, placed; resorted to, adopted, taken up

Past Passive Participle

From root sthā with prefix ā, past passive participle.

Prefix: ā

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Modifies "aham".