महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-13, verse-2

आस्तीकश्च द्विजश्रेष्ठः किमर्थं जपतां वरः ।
मोक्षयामास भुजगान्दीप्तात्तस्माद्धुताशनात् ॥२॥

2. āstīkaśca dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ kimarthaṁ japatāṁ varaḥ ,
mokṣayāmāsa bhujagāndīptāttasmāddhutāśanāt.

2. āstīkaḥ ca dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ kimartham japatām varaḥ
mokṣayāmāsa bhujagān dīptāt tasmāt hutāśanāt

2. And for what reason did Āstīka, the foremost among the twice-born and the best among chanters, release the serpents from that blazing fire?

Words meanings summery:

• आस्तीकः (āstīkaḥ) - Āstīka (Āstīka (proper name))

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• द्विजश्रेष्ठः (dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ) - the foremost among the twice-born (best among the twice-born (brahmins))

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

• जपताम् (japatām) - among chanters (of those who chant/recite)

• वरः (varaḥ) - the best, foremost (best, excellent, choicest)

• मोक्षयामास (mokṣayāmāsa) - released (caused to be released, liberated, saved)

• भुजगान् (bhujagān) - the serpents (serpents, snakes)

• दीप्तात् (dīptāt) - from that blazing (from blazing, from burning)

• तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from that

• हुताशनात् (hutāśanāt) - from the fire (from fire)

Words meanings and morphology

आस्तीकः (āstīkaḥ) - Āstīka (Āstīka (proper name))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of āstīka

āstīka - Āstīka (name of a sage, son of Jaratkāru and Manasā)

Note: Subject of mokṣayāmāsa.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunction.

द्विजश्रेष्ठः (dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ) - the foremost among the twice-born (best among the twice-born (brahmins))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dvijaśreṣṭha

dvijaśreṣṭha - best of brahmins, pre-eminent twice-born

tatpurusha compound: dvija (twice-born) + śreṣṭha (best)

Compound type : tatpurusha (dvija+śreṣṭha)

• dvija – twice-born, brahmin, bird, tooth
  noun (masculine)
  compound dvi+ja
• śreṣṭha – best, most excellent, pre-eminent
  adjective (masculine)
  superlative of praśasya

Note: Epithet of Āstīka.

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

(indeclinable)

compound of kim + artha

Compound type : tatpurusha (kim+artha)

• kim – what, which
  pronoun (neuter)
• artha – purpose, meaning, object, wealth
  noun (masculine)

Note: Interrogative adverb.

जपताम् (japatām) - among chanters (of those who chant/recite)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of japat

japat - chanting, reciting, muttering prayers

present participle

present participle of √jap

Root: jap (class 1)

Note: Used substantively.

वरः (varaḥ) - the best, foremost (best, excellent, choicest)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - best, excellent, boon, suitor

Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: Qualifies Āstīka; best among japatām.

मोक्षयामास (mokṣayāmāsa) - released (caused to be released, liberated, saved)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past perfect (liṭ) of √muc

causative

causative of √muc, formed with -aya- suffix

Root: muc (class 6)

Note: Compound perfect.

भुजगान् (bhujagān) - the serpents (serpents, snakes)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of bhujaga

bhujaga - serpent, snake

compound of bhuja (arm/coiling) + ga (going)

Compound type : tatpurusha (bhuja+ga)

• bhuja – arm, hand, curve, coil
  noun (masculine)
• ga – going, moving, a mover
  adjective (masculine)
  agent noun
  from √gam
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Direct object of mokṣayāmāsa.

दीप्तात् (dīptāt) - from that blazing (from blazing, from burning)

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of dīpta

dīpta - blazing, shining, ignited

past passive participle

PPP of √dīp

Root: dīp (class 4)

Note: Modifies hutāśanāt.

तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from that

(pronoun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Modifies hutāśanāt.

हुताशनात् (hutāśanāt) - from the fire (from fire)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of hutāśana

hutāśana - fire, Agni

compound: huta (offered) + aśana (eating) = one who eats oblations

Compound type : bahuvrihi (huta+aśana)

• huta – offered (as oblation)
  adjective (neuter)
  past passive participle
  PPP of √hu
  Root: hu (class 3)
• aśana – eating, food
  noun (neuter)
  action noun
  from √aś
  Root: aś (class 9)

Note: The source from which the serpents were saved.