Sanskrit is Special
Human mind works on operating system that we refer to as language. Language has to be learnt to communicate thru language. This - prior learning - was absent when the first language emerged. Language had to bootstrap itself. संस्कृत is a special langauge because it bootstrapped this operating system of mind. When it emerged, संस्कृत could be and had to be expressed and understood without prior language learning.
As a result, Sanskrit words have to have meanings derived from its componants [^1]. And most elemental componants वर्ण have to have meanings built into hard ware of the brain.
They was H2O can mean water, ice and steam - depending on context; Sanskrit words can mean anything derivable from constituent वर्ण. There is no “correct” interpretation. Because Sanskrit emerged BEFORE lexicons were made, there was no place to refer meanings from. Meanings were and are contained in the constituents of the word itself. Sanskrit is not like other languages where the meanings of words are derived from established usage - रुढि.
H2O does not derive its physical and chemical properties from any reference book. Similarly, Sanskrit words do not derive meanings from a dictionary. Meaning is derived from the components it is made from.
This leads to a challenge when we, who are habituated to understand words with रुढ meanings, are rigid in our interpretation. We are accustomed to reading “water” or “ice” or “steam”, and when we read “H2O” we restrict our interpretation.
To understand Sanskrit, at least the emerging Sanskkrit, we need to unlearn this aspect.
When we read नेत्र if we refer to a dictionary to find a meaning, we are behaving in post-sanskrit manner, so to say. If we find meaning of नेत्र, from constituent components namely न ए त्र, we are behaving in a way where we are eligible to understand संस्कृत.
The following example will demonstrate the point -
Refer to meaning of नेत्र here first (because you are in refer-dictionary mode yet)
https://kosha.sanskrit.today/word/sa/netra?q=%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0&scope=kosha
Now consider this -
नेत्र = ए of (न) + त्र = संप्रदान of न + त्र
Hence, नेत्र means connection to pull a place
leading = connection to pull place
eye = connection to pull (attraction?) place
root of tree = connect to pull place
woven silk = referring to process of extracting silk
cart = connect to pull place
churning string = connect to pull place
enema pipe = connection to pull place
tubular vessel = connect to pull place
river = a place to receive pull (from)
Lakshmi = connect to pull (metaphoric) place
There was a period when नेत्र was understood from its comstituents. Later this ability to “derive” meanings was replaced with “refer-dictionary” model of language - when bootstrp process was over - and we have these variety of meanings preserved for नेत्र
[^1] : As far as extant linguistic traditions and texts indicate यास्क and शकटयन are the only grammarians known to have made the claim - all words are derived words. and Sanskrit the only language where such claims exist.