योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-6, chapter-83, verse-27

तत्त्वस्यास्य महार्थस्य गुरूपकथनं गतम् ।
अकारणं कारणतां मणेरिव कपर्दकः ॥ २७ ॥

tattvasyāsya mahārthasya gurūpakathanaṃ gatam ,
akāraṇaṃ kāraṇatāṃ maṇeriva kapardakaḥ 27

27. tattvasya asya mahārthasya gurūpakathanam
gatam akāraṇam kāraṇatām maṇeḥ iva kapardakaḥ

27. asya mahārthasya tattvasya gurūpakathanam
gatam kapardakaḥ maṇeḥ kāraṇatām iva akāraṇam

27. For this profound reality (tattva), the guru's (guru) exposition has become the means. (Any other means is like) a cowrie (kapardaka), which is not the cause of a jewel's (maṇi) efficacy.

Words meanings summery:

• तत्त्वस्य (tattvasya) - of the truth, of the reality, of the essence

• अस्य (asya) - of this

• महार्थस्य (mahārthasya) - of great meaning, of great purpose, of great value

• गुरूपकथनम् (gurūpakathanam) - the guru's (guru) exposition/statement

• गतम् (gatam) - is attained or is the way/means (gone, attained, reached, understood, become the way)

• अकारणम् (akāraṇam) - not the cause or incapable of being the cause (not a cause, without cause, ineffective)

• कारणताम् (kāraṇatām) - the state of being a cause, causality, causative power

• मणेः (maṇeḥ) - of a jewel, of a gem

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• कपर्दकः (kapardakaḥ) - a thing of little value, something inadequate for a great task (a cowrie, a small shell)

Words meanings and morphology

तत्त्वस्य (tattvasya) - of the truth, of the reality, of the essence

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, singular of tattva

tattva - truth, reality, principle, essence

From tad + tva.

अस्य (asya) - of this

(pronoun)

Genitive, neuter, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

Demonstrative pronoun, masculine/neuter genitive singular.

महार्थस्य (mahārthasya) - of great meaning, of great purpose, of great value

(adjective)

Genitive, neuter, singular of mahārtha

mahārtha - of great value, having a great object or aim, profound meaning

From mahat + artha.

Compound type : karmadhāraya (mahat+artha)

• mahat – great, large, important
  adjective
  Root mah- (to be great) + at suffix.
  Root: mah (class 1)
• artha – meaning, purpose, object, wealth
  noun (masculine)
  From root ṛ- (to go, attain) + tha suffix.
  Root: ṛ (class 3)

Note: Agrees with tattvasya.

गुरूपकथनम् (gurūpakathanam) - the guru's (guru) exposition/statement

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of gurūpakathana

gurūpakathana - guru's instruction, exposition by a guru

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (guru+upakathana)

• guru – teacher, preceptor, spiritual guide
  noun (masculine)
• upakathana – narration, exposition, statement
  noun (neuter)
  From root kath- (to tell, speak) with upasarga upa-.
  Prefix: upa
  Root: kath (class 10)

Note: Subject of gatam.

गतम् (gatam) - is attained or is the way/means (gone, attained, reached, understood, become the way)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of gam

gam - to go, move, attain, understand

Past Passive Participle

From root gam- (to go), suffix -kta.

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Functions as a predicate.

अकारणम् (akāraṇam) - not the cause or incapable of being the cause (not a cause, without cause, ineffective)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of akāraṇa

akāraṇa - without cause, causeless, not a cause, ineffective

From na + kāraṇa.

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (na+kāraṇa)

• na – not
  indeclinable
  Negative particle.
• kāraṇa – cause, reason, instrument, motive
  noun (neuter)
  From root kṛ- (to do, make) + ana suffix.
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Predicate for kapardakaḥ (implied bhavati).

कारणताम् (kāraṇatām) - the state of being a cause, causality, causative power

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of kāraṇatā

kāraṇatā - causality, the state of being a cause, causative power

From kāraṇa + tā (suffix for abstract feminine noun).

Note: The object of akāraṇam (in terms of purpose or result).

मणेः (maṇeḥ) - of a jewel, of a gem

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of maṇi

maṇi - jewel, gem, pearl

i-stem masculine noun, genitive singular.

Note: Also ablative singular. Here genitive.

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

Particle of comparison.

कपर्दकः (kapardakaḥ) - a thing of little value, something inadequate for a great task (a cowrie, a small shell)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kapardaka

kapardaka - a small cowrie shell, small coin, something trivial

From kaparda + ka (diminutive/agent suffix).