योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-7, chapter-3, verse-4

अबोधस्त्वनयोः श्रेयान्बोधो दुःखाय चैतयोः ।
तस्मात्सदेव बुद्ध्यस्व माऽसद्बुद्ध्यस्व राघव ॥ ४ ॥

abodhastvanayoḥ śreyānbodho duḥkhāya caitayoḥ ,
tasmātsadeva buddhyasva mā'sadbuddhyasva rāghava 4

4. abodhaḥ tu anayoḥ śreyān bodhaḥ duḥkhāya ca etayoḥ
tasmāt sat eva buddhyasva mā asat buddhyasva rāghava

4. tu anayoḥ abodhaḥ śreyān ca etayoḥ bodhaḥ duḥkhāya
tasmāt rāghava sat eva buddhyasva mā asat buddhyasva

4. Among these two (knowing and not-knowing), non-knowing is indeed superior, for knowing them leads to sorrow. Therefore, O Rāghava, understand only the existent and do not concern yourself with the non-existent.

Words meanings summery:

• अबोधः (abodhaḥ) - non-knowing, ignorance

• तु (tu) - but, indeed, however

• अनयोः (anayoḥ) - of these two (states of knowing and not-knowing) (of these two)

• श्रेयान् (śreyān) - better, superior, more excellent

• बोधः (bodhaḥ) - knowing (of phenomenal reality) (knowing, knowledge, understanding)

• दुःखाय (duḥkhāya) - leads to sorrow (for sorrow, for misery)

• च (ca) - and, also

• एतयोः (etayoḥ) - of these two (states of knowing and not-knowing) (of these two)

• तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore, thence

• सत् (sat) - the ultimate existent reality (the existent, reality, truth)

• एव (eva) - only, just, indeed

• बुद्ध्यस्व (buddhyasva) - understand (imperative command) (know, understand, perceive)

• मा (mā) - do not (used with imperative for prohibition) (do not, not)

• असत् (asat) - the unreal, phenomenal world (the non-existent, unreality)

• बुद्ध्यस्व (buddhyasva) - understand (imperative command) (know, understand, perceive)

• राघव (rāghava) - O Rāma (Vasiṣṭha's address to Rāma) (O descendant of Raghu, O Rāma)

Words meanings and morphology

अबोधः (abodhaḥ) - non-knowing, ignorance

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of abodha

abodha - non-understanding, ignorance, unconsciousness

from 'a' (negation) + 'bodha' (knowledge)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (na+bodha)

• na – not, no
  indeclinable
• bodha – understanding, knowledge, awakening
  noun (masculine)
  action noun
  from √budh (to know, awaken) + -a suffix
  Root: budh (class 1)

तु (tu) - but, indeed, however

(indeclinable)

अनयोः (anayoḥ) - of these two (states of knowing and not-knowing) (of these two)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, dual of idam

idam - this

श्रेयान् (śreyān) - better, superior, more excellent

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreyas

śreyas - better, superior, more excellent, preferable; good fortune

comparative form of śrī (good)

बोधः (bodhaḥ) - knowing (of phenomenal reality) (knowing, knowledge, understanding)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bodha

bodha - understanding, knowledge, awakening, perception

action noun

from √budh (to know, awaken) + -a suffix

Root: budh (class 1)

दुःखाय (duḥkhāya) - leads to sorrow (for sorrow, for misery)

(noun)

Dative, neuter, singular of duḥkha

duḥkha - sorrow, pain, misery, suffering, unhappiness

Note: Dative case expressing purpose or result.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

एतयोः (etayoḥ) - of these two (states of knowing and not-knowing) (of these two)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, dual of etas

etas - this, these

तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore, thence

(indeclinable)

ablative singular of 'tad' used as an adverb

सत् (sat) - the ultimate existent reality (the existent, reality, truth)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of sat

sat - existent, real, true, good; the truly existent, ultimate reality

present active participle

present participle of √as (to be)

Root: as (class 2)

एव (eva) - only, just, indeed

(indeclinable)

बुद्ध्यस्व (buddhyasva) - understand (imperative command) (know, understand, perceive)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, middle, imperative (lot) of budh

imperative mood

root √budh, Imperative, 2nd person singular, middle voice (ātmanepada)

Root: budh (class 4)

मा (mā) - do not (used with imperative for prohibition) (do not, not)

(indeclinable)

असत् (asat) - the unreal, phenomenal world (the non-existent, unreality)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of asat

asat - non-existent, unreal, false, evil; the non-existent, unreality

present active participle

from 'a' (negation) + 'sat' (present participle of √as 'to be')

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (na+sat)

• na – not, no
  indeclinable
• sat – existent, real, true, good
  adjective (neuter)
  present active participle
  present participle of √as (to be)
  Root: as (class 2)

बुद्ध्यस्व (buddhyasva) - understand (imperative command) (know, understand, perceive)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, middle, imperative (lot) of budh

imperative mood

root √budh, Imperative, 2nd person singular, middle voice (ātmanepada)

Root: budh (class 4)

राघव (rāghava) - O Rāma (Vasiṣṭha's address to Rāma) (O descendant of Raghu, O Rāma)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of rāghava

rāghava - descendant of Raghu; an epithet of Rāma

a patronymic from Raghu

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