महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-1, verse-202

ह्रदानामुदधिः श्रेष्ठो गौर्वरिष्ठा चतुष्पदाम् ।
यथैतानि वरिष्ठानि तथा भारतमुच्यते ॥२०२॥

202. hradānāmudadhiḥ śreṣṭho gaurvariṣṭhā catuṣpadām ,
yathaitāni variṣṭhāni tathā bhāratamucyate.

202. hradānām udadhiḥ śreṣṭhaḥ gauḥ variṣṭhā catuṣpadām
yathā etāni variṣṭhāni tathā bhāratam ucyate

202. The ocean is the foremost among lakes; a cow is the most excellent among quadrupeds. Just as these are superior, so too is the Mahābhārata declared to be.

Words meanings summery:

• ह्रदानाम् (hradānām) - among lakes (of lakes, among lakes)

• उदधिः (udadhiḥ) - the ocean (ocean, sea)

• श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - the best (best, most excellent, supreme)

• गौः (gauḥ) - a cow (cow, ox, earth, ray of light)

• वरिष्ठा (variṣṭhā) - the best (best, most excellent)

• चतुष्पदाम् (catuṣpadām) - among four-footed animals (of four-footed animals, among four-footed animals)

• यथा (yathā) - just as (just as, as)

• एतानि (etāni) - these (referring to the examples) (these)

• वरिष्ठानि (variṣṭhāni) - are the best (best, most excellent)

• तथा (tathā) - so too (so, thus, similarly)

• भारतम् (bhāratam) - the Mahābhārata (the Mahābhārata, relating to India)

• उच्यते (ucyate) - is declared to be (is said, is called, is declared)

Words meanings and morphology

ह्रदानाम् (hradānām) - among lakes (of lakes, among lakes)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of hrada

hrada - lake, pond, deep pool

Root: hrad (class 1)

Note: Used in the sense of 'among'.

उदधिः (udadhiḥ) - the ocean (ocean, sea)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of udadhi

udadhi - ocean, sea

Compound type : karmadhāraya (udan+dhi)

• udan – water
  noun (neuter)
• dhi – receptacle, holding
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhā (class 3)

Note: The -an in udan combines with dhi.

श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - the best (best, most excellent, supreme)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, most excellent, supreme, chief

superlative

Root: praśas

गौः (gauḥ) - a cow (cow, ox, earth, ray of light)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of go

go - cow, ox, earth, ray of light

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Here refers to a female cow.

वरिष्ठा (variṣṭhā) - the best (best, most excellent)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of variṣṭha

variṣṭha - best, most excellent, chief

superlative

Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: Agrees with `gauḥ`.

चतुष्पदाम् (catuṣpadām) - among four-footed animals (of four-footed animals, among four-footed animals)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of catuṣpad

catuṣpad - four-footed, quadruped

Compound type : dvigu (catur+pad)

• catur – four
  numeral
• pad – foot
  noun (neuter)
  Root: pad (class 4)

Note: Used in the sense of 'among'.

यथा (yathā) - just as (just as, as)

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces the simile.

एतानि (etāni) - these (referring to the examples) (these)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of etad

etad - this, these

Note: Also can be accusative plural.

वरिष्ठानि (variṣṭhāni) - are the best (best, most excellent)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, plural of variṣṭha

variṣṭha - best, most excellent, chief

superlative

Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: Agrees with `etāni`.

तथा (tathā) - so too (so, thus, similarly)

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces the consequence of the simile.

भारतम् (bhāratam) - the Mahābhārata (the Mahābhārata, relating to India)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of bhārata

bhārata - relating to Bharata, Indian, the Mahābhārata

उच्यते (ucyate) - is declared to be (is said, is called, is declared)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of vac

passive

Root: vac (class 2)