योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-6, chapter-120, verse-18

बद्धवासनमर्थो यः सेव्यते सुखयत्यसौ ।
यत्सुखाय तदेवाशु वस्तु दुःखाय नाशतः ॥ १८ ॥

baddhavāsanamartho yaḥ sevyate sukhayatyasau ,
yatsukhāya tadevāśu vastu duḥkhāya nāśataḥ 18

18. baddhavāsanam arthaḥ yaḥ sevyate sukhayati asau
yat sukhāya tat eva āśu vastu duḥkhāya nāśataḥ

18. baddhavāsanam yaḥ arthaḥ sevyate,
asau sukhayati.
yat vastu sukhāya (bhavati),
tat eva āśu duḥkhāya nāśataḥ.

18. An object that is pursued with strong attachment (vāsanam) indeed provides happiness. However, that very object, which is a source of happiness, quickly leads to sorrow because of its perishable nature.

Words meanings summery:

• बद्धवासनम् (baddhavāsanam) - having bound impressions/desires, with strong attachment

• अर्थः (arthaḥ) - an object of desire or pursuit (object, purpose, meaning, wealth)

• यः (yaḥ) - who, which

• सेव्यते (sevyate) - is served, is pursued, is enjoyed

• सुखयति (sukhayati) - makes happy, gives happiness

• असौ (asau) - Refers to the `arthaḥ` (object). (that (one), he, she, it)

• यत् (yat) - which, whatever

• सुखाय (sukhāya) - for happiness, for joy

• तत् (tat) - Refers to the 'vastu' (object). (that)

• एव (eva) - only, merely, indeed, truly

• आशु (āśu) - quickly, swiftly

• वस्तु (vastu) - object, thing, substance

• दुःखाय (duḥkhāya) - for sorrow, for suffering

• नाशतः (nāśataḥ) - from perishing, due to destruction, because of its perishable nature

Words meanings and morphology

बद्धवासनम् (baddhavāsanam) - having bound impressions/desires, with strong attachment

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of baddhavāsana

baddhavāsana - having bound impressions/desires, with strong attachment

Bahuvrīhi compound, 'one for whom `vāsanā` is bound'.

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (baddha+vāsanā)

• baddha – bound, tied, restrained
  Past Passive Participle (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root `bandh` (class 9)
  Root: bandh (class 9)
• vāsanā – impression, inclination, desire, subconscious tendency
  noun (feminine)
  From root `vas` (to dwell, to perfume).
  Root: vas (class 1)

Note: Used adverbially to describe the manner of pursuing an object.

अर्थः (arthaḥ) - an object of desire or pursuit (object, purpose, meaning, wealth)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of artha

artha - object, purpose, meaning, wealth

यः (yaḥ) - who, which

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - which, whatever

Nominative singular masculine of 'yad'.

सेव्यते (sevyate) - is served, is pursued, is enjoyed

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (lat) of sev

present middle indicative

3rd person singular, ātmanepada (passive form).

Root: sev (class 1)

सुखयति (sukhayati) - makes happy, gives happiness

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (lat) of sukhay

present active indicative (causative)

Denominative verb from `sukha` (happiness). 3rd person singular, parasmaipada.

Root: sukha

असौ (asau) - Refers to the `arthaḥ` (object). (that (one), he, she, it)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of adas

adas - that (yonder), he, she, it

Nominative singular masculine of `adas`.

यत् (yat) - which, whatever

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of yad

yad - which, whatever

Nominative singular neuter of 'yad'.

सुखाय (sukhāya) - for happiness, for joy

(noun)

Dative, neuter, singular of sukha

sukha - happiness, joy, pleasure

Dative singular of 'sukha'.

तत् (tat) - Refers to the 'vastu' (object). (that)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Nominative singular neuter of 'tad'.

एव (eva) - only, merely, indeed, truly

(indeclinable)

आशु (āśu) - quickly, swiftly

(indeclinable)

वस्तु (vastu) - object, thing, substance

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of vastu

vastu - object, thing, substance, reality

Root: vas (class 1)

दुःखाय (duḥkhāya) - for sorrow, for suffering

(noun)

Dative, neuter, singular of duḥkha

duḥkha - sorrow, suffering, pain

Dative singular of 'duḥkha'.

नाशतः (nāśataḥ) - from perishing, due to destruction, because of its perishable nature

(indeclinable)

Ablative singular of `nāśa` or derived adverbial from `naś` root with -taḥ suffix.

Root: naś (class 4)

Note: Functions adverbially to explain 'why' it turns to sorrow.