योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-7, chapter-5, verse-3

शुद्धेऽल्पोऽप्युपदेशो हि निर्मले तैलबिन्दुवत् ।
लगत्युत्तानचित्तेषु नादर्श इव मौक्तिकम् ॥ ३ ॥

śuddhe'lpo'pyupadeśo hi nirmale tailabinduvat ,
lagatyuttānacitteṣu nādarśa iva mauktikam 3

3. śuddhe alpaḥ api upadeśaḥ hi nirmale tailabinduvat
| lagati uttānacitteṣu na ādarśaḥ iva mauktikam ||

3. Indeed, even a small amount of instruction (upadeśa) takes root in a pure mind, much like a drop of oil spreads on a clean surface. However, it does not take effect in shallow minds, just as a pearl does not stick to a mirror.

Words meanings summery:

• शुद्धे (śuddhe) - in a pure mind (in the pure, in the clean)

• अल्पः (alpaḥ) - small, little, few

• अपि (api) - even, also, too

• उपदेशः (upadeśaḥ) - instruction, advice, teaching

• हि (hi) - indeed, certainly, surely

• निर्मले (nirmale) - on a clean surface (on a clean, in a pure)

• तैलबिन्दुवत् (tailabinduvat) - like a drop of oil

• लगति (lagati) - sticks, adheres, takes effect, spreads

• उत्तानचित्तेषु (uttānacitteṣu) - in shallow minds, in superficial understandings

• न (na) - not, no

• आदर्शः (ādarśaḥ) - mirror

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• मौक्तिकम् (mauktikam) - a pearl

Words meanings and morphology

शुद्धे (śuddhe) - in a pure mind (in the pure, in the clean)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, singular of śuddha

śuddha - pure, clean, clear, stainless, holy

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root 'śudh' (to purify)

Root: शुध् (class 4)

Note: Refers to a 'mind' or 'person' in a pure state

अल्पः (alpaḥ) - small, little, few

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of alpa

alpa - small, little, minute, few

Note: Agrees with 'upadeśaḥ'

अपि (api) - even, also, too

(indeclinable)

उपदेशः (upadeśaḥ) - instruction, advice, teaching

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of upadeśa

upadeśa - instruction, advice, teaching, precept, spiritual guidance

From root 'diś' (to point, show) with prefix 'upa' (near, towards)

Prefix: upa

Root: दिश (class 6)

हि (hi) - indeed, certainly, surely

(indeclinable)

निर्मले (nirmale) - on a clean surface (on a clean, in a pure)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, singular of nirmala

nirmala - clean, pure, spotless, unsullied

From 'nis' (without) + 'mala' (dirt, impurity)

Note: Agrees with an implied noun like 'pātre' (vessel) or 'sthale' (place).

तैलबिन्दुवत् (tailabinduvat) - like a drop of oil

(indeclinable)

Suffix -vat means 'like' or 'as'

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (taila+bindu)

• taila – oil, sesame oil
  noun (neuter)
  From 'tila' (sesame seed)
• bindu – drop, point, dot
  noun (masculine)

लगति (lagati) - sticks, adheres, takes effect, spreads

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present indicative (laṭ) of lag

Root: लग् (class 1)

उत्तानचित्तेषु (uttānacitteṣu) - in shallow minds, in superficial understandings

(adjective)

Locative, neuter, plural of uttānacitta

uttānacitta - having a shallow mind, superficial in understanding

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (uttāna+citta)

• uttāna – lying on the back, supine, shallow, superficial
  adjective (masculine)
  From 'ut' (up) + root 'tan' (to stretch)
  Prefix: ut
  Root: तन् (class 8)
• citta – mind, consciousness, thought
  noun (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root 'cit' (to perceive, think)
  Root: चित् (class 1)

Note: Refers to people with shallow minds

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

आदर्शः (ādarśaḥ) - mirror

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ādarśa

ādarśa - mirror, reflection, model, example

From 'ā' + root 'dṛś' (to see)

Prefix: ā

Root: दृश् (class 1)

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

मौक्तिकम् (mauktikam) - a pearl

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of mauktika

mauktika - a pearl, made of pearl

Derived from 'muktā' (pearl)

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