योगवासिष्ठः yogavāsiṣṭhaḥ - book-7, chapter-66, verse-18

ससुरासुरगन्धर्वाः कालः कलयति प्रजाः ।
दोर्भिः कल्पयुगाब्दैश्च स्वपशूनिव पालकः ॥ १८ ॥

sasurāsuragandharvāḥ kālaḥ kalayati prajāḥ ,
dorbhiḥ kalpayugābdaiśca svapaśūniva pālakaḥ 18

18. sasurāsuragandharvāḥ kālaḥ kalayati prajāḥ
dorbhiḥ kalpayugābdaiḥ ca svapaśūn iva pālakaḥ

18. kālaḥ sasurāsuragandharvāḥ prajāḥ dorbhiḥ
kalpayugābdaiḥ ca svapaśūn iva pālakaḥ kalayati

18. Time (kāla) controls all beings—including gods, demons, and gandharvas—just as a herdsman (controls) his own animals, using its 'arms' of kalpas, yugas, and years.

Words meanings summery:

• ससुरासुरगन्धर्वाः (sasurāsuragandharvāḥ) - with gods, demons, and gandharvas; including gods, demons, and gandharvas

• कालः (kālaḥ) - Time

• कलयति (kalayati) - he counts, he drives, he impels, he carries away, he controls

• प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - creatures, beings, offspring

• दोर्भिः (dorbhiḥ) - by arms, by hands, by means of power

• कल्पयुगाब्दैः (kalpayugābdaiḥ) - by kalpas, yugas, and years

• च (ca) - and

• स्वपशून् (svapaśūn) - his own animals

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• पालकः (pālakaḥ) - a protector, a herdsman, a guardian

Words meanings and morphology

ससुरासुरगन्धर्वाः (sasurāsuragandharvāḥ) - with gods, demons, and gandharvas; including gods, demons, and gandharvas

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of sasurāsuragandharva

sasurāsuragandharva - accompanied by gods, demons, and gandharvas; including gods, demons, and gandharvas

From 'sa' (with) + dvandva compound 'sura-asura-gandharva'.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (sa+sura+asura+gandharva)

• sa – with, accompanied by
  indeclinable
• sura – god, deity
  noun (masculine)
• asura – demon, anti-god
  noun (masculine)
  From a-sura (not god).
• gandharva – celestial musician, divine being
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies `prajāḥ` implicitly or as a distinct list of beings.

कालः (kālaḥ) - Time

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kāla

kāla - time, duration, period

Root: kal

Note: Subject of the verb `kalayati`.

कलयति (kalayati) - he counts, he drives, he impels, he carries away, he controls

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of kalay

Present Active Indicative

Denominative verb from `kala` (a small part/time unit), or from `kal` (to count, compute, know). Root `kal` class 10.

Root: kal (class 10)

Note: Predicate for `kālaḥ`.

प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - creatures, beings, offspring

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, plural of prajā

prajā - progeny, offspring, creatures, subjects, people

From pra-jan (to be born).

Prefix: pra

Root: jan (class 4)

दोर्भिः (dorbhiḥ) - by arms, by hands, by means of power

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of dos

dos - arm, hand, power

Strong stem of `dhanus` (bow) or `dhanvan` (bow). More commonly `dos` (arm, hand).

Note: Here, 'arms' can metaphorically represent power or instruments.

कल्पयुगाब्दैः (kalpayugābdaiḥ) - by kalpas, yugas, and years

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of kalpayugābda

kalpayugābda - kalpas, yugas, and years

Compound type : dvandva (kalpa+yuga+abda)

• kalpa – a cosmic age, a day of Brahmā (4.32 billion years)
  noun (masculine)
  Root: kḷp (class 1)
• yuga – an age, an epoch (e.g., Satya Yuga, Kali Yuga)
  noun (neuter)
  Root: yuj (class 7)
• abda – year
  noun (masculine)
  From ap (water) + da (giving), meaning 'rain-giver' or 'cloud', by extension 'year' (due to rainy season).
  Root: dā (class 1)

Note: Along with `dorbhiḥ`, indicates the instruments of Time.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects `dorbhiḥ` and `kalpayugābdaiḥ`.

स्वपशून् (svapaśūn) - his own animals

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of svapaśu

svapaśu - one's own animal/cattle

From 'sva' (own) + 'paśu' (animal).

Compound type : tatpurusha (sva+paśu)

• sva – own, one's own
  pronoun (masculine)
• paśu – animal, cattle
  noun (masculine)
  Root: paś

Note: The object of the implied verb in the comparison, parallel to `prajāḥ`.

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

पालकः (pālakaḥ) - a protector, a herdsman, a guardian

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pālaka

pālaka - protector, guardian, herdsman, ruler

Agent Noun

From root pā (to protect, nourish) + -ka suffix.

Root: pā (class 1)

Note: Acts as the subject of the implied verb in the simile.