महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-12, verse-1

रुरुरुवाच ।
कथं हिंसितवान्सर्पान्क्षत्रियो जनमेजयः ।
सर्पा वा हिंसितास्तात किमर्थं द्विजसत्तम ॥१॥

1. rururuvāca ,
kathaṁ hiṁsitavānsarpānkṣatriyo janamejayaḥ ,
sarpā vā hiṁsitāstāta kimarthaṁ dvijasattama.

1. ruruḥ uvāca | katham hiṃsitavān sarpān kṣatriyaḥ
janamejayaḥ | sarpāḥ vā hiṃsitāḥ tāta kimartham dvijasattama

1. Ruru said: 'How did the Kshatriya Janamejaya harm the serpents? Or, O dear one, for what purpose were the serpents harmed, O best of twice-born?'

Words meanings summery:

• रुरुः (ruruḥ) - Ruru (Ruru (proper name))

• उवाच (uvāca) - said (said, spoke)

• कथम् (katham) - why, how (how, why)

• हिंसितवान् (hiṁsitavān) - harmed, killed (killed, harmed)

• सर्पान् (sarpān) - the serpents (serpents)

• क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - the Kṣatriya (King Janamejaya) (a Kṣatriya, warrior)

• जनमेजयः (janamejayaḥ) - Janamejaya (Janamejaya (proper name))

• सर्पाः (sarpāḥ) - the serpents (serpents)

• वा (vā) - or (or, either)

• हिंसिताः (hiṁsitāḥ) - were harmed, killed (harmed, killed)

• तात (tāta) - O dear one (a term of endearment, often used by younger to elder) (O father, O dear one)

• किमर्थम् (kimartham) - for what purpose (for what purpose, why)

• द्विजसत्तम (dvijasattama) - O best of Brahmins (the Rishi) (O best of twice-born)

Words meanings and morphology

रुरुः (ruruḥ) - Ruru (Ruru (proper name))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ruru

ruru - Ruru (proper name of a sage, grandson of Cyavana)

Note: Subject of 'uvāca'.

उवाच (uvāca) - said (said, spoke)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of vac

Root: vac (class 2)

कथम् (katham) - why, how (how, why)

(indeclinable)

Note: Interrogative adverb.

हिंसितवान् (hiṁsitavān) - harmed, killed (killed, harmed)

(nominal form)

Nominative, masculine, singular of hiṃsitavat

hiṁs - to harm, injure, kill

Root: hiṃs (class 7)

Note: Refers to Janamejaya.

सर्पान् (sarpān) - the serpents (serpents)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of sarpa

sarpa - serpent, snake

Note: Object of 'hiṃsitavān'.

क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - the Kṣatriya (King Janamejaya) (a Kṣatriya, warrior)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kṣatriya

kṣatriya - a member of the warrior or ruling class

Note: Appositive to Janamejaya.

जनमेजयः (janamejayaḥ) - Janamejaya (Janamejaya (proper name))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of janamejaya

janamejaya - Janamejaya (proper name of a Kuru king)

Note: Subject of 'hiṃsitavān'.

सर्पाः (sarpāḥ) - the serpents (serpents)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of sarpa

sarpa - serpent, snake

Note: Subject of implied 'were harmed'.

वा (vā) - or (or, either)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects two interrogative clauses.

हिंसिताः (hiṁsitāḥ) - were harmed, killed (harmed, killed)

(nominal form)

Nominative, masculine, plural of hiṃsita

hiṁs - to harm, injure, kill

Root: hiṃs (class 7)

Note: Refers to 'sarpāḥ'.

तात (tāta) - O dear one (a term of endearment, often used by younger to elder) (O father, O dear one)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of tāta

tāta - father, dear one, sir (vocative)

Note: Addressed to the Rishi.

किमर्थम् (kimartham) - for what purpose (for what purpose, why)

(indeclinable)

Compound type : tatpurusha (kim+artha)

• kim – what, which, why
  pronoun
• artha – purpose, aim, meaning, object
  noun (masculine)

Note: Interrogative adverb.

द्विजसत्तम (dvijasattama) - O best of Brahmins (the Rishi) (O best of twice-born)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of dvijasattama

dvijasattama - best among the twice-born

Compound type : tatpurusha (dvija+sattama)

• dvija – twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya; often specifically Brahmin)
  noun (masculine)
• sattama – best, most excellent
  adjective

Note: Addressed to the Rishi.