योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-7, chapter-31, verse-20

चिच्छ्लिष्टा चेत्यनिष्ठत्वात्तादृश्येवात्र कास्तिता ।
तस्मात्केव कुतः कुत्र वासना किंस्वरूपिणी ॥ २० ॥

cicchliṣṭā cetyaniṣṭhatvāttādṛśyevātra kāstitā ,
tasmātkeva kutaḥ kutra vāsanā kiṃsvarūpiṇī 20

20. cit śliṣṭā cetyaniṣṭhatvāt tādṛśī eva atra kā astitā
| tasmāt kā iva kutaḥ kutra vāsanā kim svarūpiṇī ||

20. cetyaniṣṭhatvāt cit śliṣṭā atra tādṛśī kā eva astitā?
tasmāt vāsanā kā iva kutaḥ kutra kim svarūpiṇī?

20. Consciousness (cit) appears to be attached to objects due to its connection with the knowable; but what real existence (astitā) can it truly have in such a state? Therefore, what is this latent impression (vāsanā)? From where does it arise, where does it reside, and what is its true nature?

Words meanings summery:

• चित् (cit) - consciousness (cit) (consciousness, spirit, pure intelligence)

• श्लिष्टा (śliṣṭā) - attached, entangled (embraced, connected, attached, entangled)

• चेत्यनिष्ठत्वात् (cetyaniṣṭhatvāt) - due to its connection/attachment to knowable objects (due to adherence to the knowable)

• तादृशी (tādṛśī) - such (consciousness) (such, of such a kind)

• एव (eva) - truly, indeed (emphasizing the question) (indeed, only)

• अत्र (atra) - here, in this state (here, in this matter)

• का (kā) - what (kind of) (what, which, who)

• अस्तिता (astitā) - real existence (astitā) (existence, being)

• तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore (therefore, from that)

• का (kā) - what (kind of) (what, which)

• इव (iva) - what (kind of) like, implying a rhetorical question. 'what indeed?' (like, as, as if)

• कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where (from where, whence, why)

• कुत्र (kutra) - where (where, in what place)

• वासना (vāsanā) - latent impression (vāsanā) (latent impression, desire, inclination)

• किम् (kim) - of what (nature) (what, of what)

• स्वरूपिणी (svarūpiṇī) - having the true nature of (having the nature of, having the form of)

Words meanings and morphology

चित् (cit) - consciousness (cit) (consciousness, spirit, pure intelligence)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of cit

cit - consciousness, intelligence, spirit, thought

From root `cit` (to perceive, know).

Root: cit (class 1)

Note: Subject of the implied verb 'is'.

श्लिष्टा (śliṣṭā) - attached, entangled (embraced, connected, attached, entangled)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of śliṣṭa

śliṣṭa - embraced, clinging, connected, joined, entangled

Past Passive Participle

From root `śliṣ` (to cling, embrace) + `kta` suffix.

Root: śliṣ (class 4)

Note: Predicative adjective.

चेत्यनिष्ठत्वात् (cetyaniṣṭhatvāt) - due to its connection/attachment to knowable objects (due to adherence to the knowable)

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of cetyaniṣṭhatva

cetyaniṣṭhatva - the state of being fixed in/adhering to the knowable

Compound `cetya` (knowable) + `niṣṭhatva` (adherence).

Compound type : Tatpurusha (cetya+niṣṭhatva)

• cetya – to be perceived, knowable, object of thought
  adjective/noun (neuter)
  Gerundive (N.V.P.)
  From root `cit` (to perceive, know) + `ṇyat` suffix.
  Root: cit (class 1)
• niṣṭhatva – adherence, devotion, being fixed in, foundation
  noun (neuter)
  From `niṣṭha` (fixed in, adhering to) + `tva` (suffix forming abstract neuter noun). `ni-ṣṭha` from `sthā` with `ni`.
  Prefix: ni
  Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Denotes cause, 'because of the adherence to the knowable'.

तादृशी (tādṛśī) - such (consciousness) (such, of such a kind)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of tādṛśa

tādṛśa - such, like that, of such a kind

`tad` + `dṛś` (to see) + `aṇ` suffix.

Root: dṛś (class 1)

एव (eva) - truly, indeed (emphasizing the question) (indeed, only)

(indeclinable)

अत्र (atra) - here, in this state (here, in this matter)

(indeclinable)

From `idam` (this) + `tral` suffix.

का (kā) - what (kind of) (what, which, who)

(interrogative pronoun)

Note: Forms part of the question.

अस्तिता (astitā) - real existence (astitā) (existence, being)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of astitā

astitā - existence, being, reality

From `asti` (is) + `tā` (suffix forming abstract feminine noun).

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Subject of the implied verb.

तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore (therefore, from that)

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverbial use.

का (kā) - what (kind of) (what, which)

(interrogative pronoun)

Note: Part of the question.

इव (iva) - what (kind of) like, implying a rhetorical question. 'what indeed?' (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where (from where, whence, why)

(indeclinable)

Ablative form of `kim` used adverbially.

कुत्र (kutra) - where (where, in what place)

(indeclinable)

Locative form of `kim` used adverbially.

वासना (vāsanā) - latent impression (vāsanā) (latent impression, desire, inclination)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of vāsanā

vāsanā - latent impression, desire, mental inclination, perfume

From root `vas` (to dwell, perfume) + `ani` suffix.

Root: vas (class 1)

Note: Subject of the implied question.

किम् (kim) - of what (nature) (what, of what)

(interrogative pronoun)

स्वरूपिणी (svarūpiṇī) - having the true nature of (having the nature of, having the form of)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of svarūpiṇī

svarūpin - having its own form or nature, being in essence

From `svarūpa` (own form) + `in` (possessive suffix) + feminine `ī`.

Note: Used in the interrogative compound `kim-svarūpiṇī`.

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