3.4.17
Brahma Sūtra / Adhyāya 3 / 3.4.17
ऊर्ध्वरेतस्सु च शब्दे हि
ūrdhvaretassu ca śabde hi
The line
A compound: upward, and retassu (रेतस्सु) and, in a word.
Where it sits
In Brahma Sūtra (सूत्र), adhyāya (अध्याय) 3. Sādhana (साधन). The means: who is fit, what is meditated on, and the soul's path. The line is short. upamardaṃ (उपमर्दं) from 3.4.16 is still in force. A sūtra (सूत्र) leaves a word out when the line before still holds it. That carrying is anuvṛtti (अनुवृत्ति).
Split: ūrdhva-retassu (ऊर्ध्व-रेतस्सु) + ca (च) + śabde (शब्दे) + hi (हि)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| ūrdhva-retassu (ऊर्ध्व-रेतस्सु) | a compound, the ending is on the last member | a compound: upward, and retassu (रेतस्सु). Read it from the end |
| ca (च) | indeclinable | and |
| śabde (शब्दे) | locative singular, or nominative or accusative dual, neuter | a word |
| hi (हि) | indeclinable | for, indeed |
The phrases
ūrdhva-retassu (ऊर्ध्व-रेतस्सु) is a compound: upward, and retassu (रेतस्सु). Read it from the end. It stands as a compound, the ending is on the last member. ca (च) is and. It stands as indeclinable.
śabde (शब्दे) is a word. It stands as locative singular, or nominative or accusative dual, neuter. hi (हि) is for, indeed. It stands as indeclinable.
Sanskrit in this line
ūrdhva-retassu (ऊर्ध्व-रेतस्सु) is one compound. The hyphen is a teaching mark. Only the last member wears the case.
Say it back
Cover the English. Gloss ūrdhva-retassu (ऊर्ध्व-रेतस्सु) and śabde (शब्दे).