योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-7, chapter-184, verse-17

परमार्थश्च सर्गश्च पर्यायौ तरुवृक्षवत् ।
बोधादेतदबोधात्तु द्वैतं दुःखाय केवलम् ॥ १७ ॥

paramārthaśca sargaśca paryāyau taruvṛkṣavat ,
bodhādetadabodhāttu dvaitaṃ duḥkhāya kevalam 17

17. paramārthaḥ ca sargaḥ ca paryāyau taru-vṛkṣa-vat
| bodhāt etat abodhāt tu dvaitam duḥkhāya kevalam

17. paramārthaḥ ca sargaḥ ca taru-vṛkṣa-vat paryāyau (staḥ).
bodhāt etat (satyatvam bhavati).
abodhāt tu dvaitam kevalam duḥkhāya (bhavati).

17. Ultimate reality (paramārtha) and creation (sarga) are synonyms, just like "tree" and "vṛkṣa". Through understanding, this (oneness) is realized, but through lack of understanding, duality (dvaita) leads only to suffering.

Words meanings summery:

• परमार्थः (paramārthaḥ) - ultimate reality (paramārtha) (ultimate reality, highest truth)

• च (ca) - and

• सर्गः (sargaḥ) - creation (sarga) (creation, emanation)

• च (ca) - and

• पर्यायौ (paryāyau) - synonyms (synonyms, reciprocal terms)

• तरु-वृक्ष-वत् (taru-vṛkṣa-vat) - just like "tree" and "vṛkṣa" (like taru and vṛkṣa (synonyms for tree))

• बोधात् (bodhāt) - through understanding (from knowledge, through understanding)

• एतत् (etat) - this (oneness) (this (neuter))

• अबोधात् (abodhāt) - through lack of understanding (from ignorance, through lack of understanding)

• तु (tu) - but (but, however)

• द्वैतम् (dvaitam) - duality (dvaita) (duality, dualism)

• दुःखाय (duḥkhāya) - leads to suffering (for suffering, leading to sorrow)

• केवलम् (kevalam) - only (only, merely, exclusively)

Words meanings and morphology

परमार्थः (paramārthaḥ) - ultimate reality (paramārtha) (ultimate reality, highest truth)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of paramārtha

paramārtha - ultimate reality, highest truth, supreme goal

Compound type : tatpurusha (parama+artha)

• parama – supreme, highest, ultimate
  adjective
• artha – meaning, purpose, reality, object
  noun (masculine)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

सर्गः (sargaḥ) - creation (sarga) (creation, emanation)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sarga

sarga - creation, emanation, dissolution

Root: sṛj (class 6)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

पर्यायौ (paryāyau) - synonyms (synonyms, reciprocal terms)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of paryāya

paryāya - synonym, turn, order, succession

Prefix: pari

Root: i (class 2)

Note: Dual form for "paramārtha" and "sarga".

तरु-वृक्ष-वत् (taru-vṛkṣa-vat) - just like "tree" and "vṛkṣa" (like taru and vṛkṣa (synonyms for tree))

(indeclinable)

Compound of 'taru' (tree) and 'vṛkṣa' (tree) with '-vat' suffix indicating similarity.

Compound type : dvandva (taru+vṛkṣa+vat)

• taru – tree
  noun (masculine)
• vṛkṣa – tree
  noun (masculine)
• vat – like, as, in the manner of
  indeclinable

Note: 'Taru' and 'vṛkṣa' are two different words for 'tree', used here as an example of synonyms.

बोधात् (bodhāt) - through understanding (from knowledge, through understanding)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of bodha

bodha - knowledge, understanding, awakening, perception

Root: budh (class 1)

Note: Indicates cause or means.

एतत् (etat) - this (oneness) (this (neuter))

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etad

etad - this

Note: Refers to the previously stated non-duality/synonymity.

अबोधात् (abodhāt) - through lack of understanding (from ignorance, through lack of understanding)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of abodha

abodha - ignorance, lack of understanding

Compound type : tatpurusha (a+bodha)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
• bodha – knowledge, understanding
  noun (masculine)
  Root: budh (class 1)

Note: Contrasts with 'bodhāt'.

तु (tu) - but (but, however)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects contrasting clauses.

द्वैतम् (dvaitam) - duality (dvaita) (duality, dualism)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of dvaita

dvaita - duality, dualism, pair

Derived from 'dvi' (two) + suffix '-ta' or '-tva'.

दुःखाय (duḥkhāya) - leads to suffering (for suffering, leading to sorrow)

(noun)

Dative, neuter, singular of duḥkha

duḥkha - suffering, pain, sorrow, misery

Note: Dative of purpose.

केवलम् (kevalam) - only (only, merely, exclusively)

(adjective)

neuter, singular of kevala

kevala - alone, sole, mere, exclusive, whole, entire

Note: Adverbial usage possible. Agrees with 'dvaitam' in its general meaning of 'mere duality'.

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