महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-179, verse-12

अब्भक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च फलाहारा दृढव्रताः ।
दुर्बला हि बलीयांसो विप्रा हि ब्रह्मतेजसा ॥१२॥

12. abbhakṣā vāyubhakṣāśca phalāhārā dṛḍhavratāḥ ,
durbalā hi balīyāṁso viprā hi brahmatejasā.

12. ap bhakṣāḥ vāyubhakṣāḥ ca phalāhārāḥ dṛḍhavratāḥ
durbalāḥ hi balīyāṃsaḥ viprāḥ hi brahmatejasā

12. Brahmins subsist on water, air, and fruits, and maintain firm vows. Although they may appear weak, they are indeed very powerful due to their spiritual radiance (brahman-tejas).

Words meanings summery:

• अप् (ap) - water

• भक्षाः (bhakṣāḥ) - eaters, consuming, subsisting on

• वायुभक्षाः (vāyubhakṣāḥ) - subsisting on air, air-eaters

• च (ca) - and, also

• फलाहाराः (phalāhārāḥ) - subsisting on fruits, fruit-eaters

• दृढव्रताः (dṛḍhavratāḥ) - having firm vows, steadfast in observances

• दुर्बलाः (durbalāḥ) - weak, feeble, powerless

• हि (hi) - for, indeed, because

• बलीयांसः (balīyāṁsaḥ) - stronger, very powerful, mighty

• विप्राः (viprāḥ) - Brahmins, inspired ones, wise ones

• हि (hi) - for, indeed, because

• ब्रह्मतेजसा (brahmatejasā) - by spiritual radiance, by priestly power

Words meanings and morphology

अप् (ap) - water

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, plural of ap

ap - water (always plural in classical Sanskrit, but singular in some compounds)

Note: Forms part of a compound `abbhakṣāḥ`.

भक्षाः (bhakṣāḥ) - eaters, consuming, subsisting on

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of bhakṣa

bhakṣa - eating, food, eater

Derived from root `bhakṣ` (to eat).

Root: bhakṣ (class 1)

Note: Part of compound `apbhakṣāḥ`.

वायुभक्षाः (vāyubhakṣāḥ) - subsisting on air, air-eaters

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vāyubhakṣa

vāyubhakṣa - subsisting on air, eating air

Bahuvrīhi compound: `vāyu` (air) + `bhakṣa` (eater).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (vāyu+bhakṣa)

• vāyu – wind, air, vital breath
  noun (masculine)
• bhakṣa – eating, food, eater
  adjective (masculine)
  Derived from root `bhakṣ` (to eat).
  Root: bhakṣ (class 1)

Note: Refers to Brahmins.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects `apbhakṣāḥ` and `vāyubhakṣāḥ`.

फलाहाराः (phalāhārāḥ) - subsisting on fruits, fruit-eaters

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of phalāhāra

phalāhāra - subsisting on fruits, eating fruits

Bahuvrīhi compound: `phala` (fruit) + `āhāra` (food/eating).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (phala+āhāra)

• phala – fruit, result, consequence
  noun (neuter)
• āhāra – food, eating, taking
  noun (masculine)
  From `ā-hṛ` (to take, to collect).
  Prefix: ā
  Root: hṛ (class 1)

Note: Refers to Brahmins.

दृढव्रताः (dṛḍhavratāḥ) - having firm vows, steadfast in observances

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dṛḍhavrata

dṛḍhavrata - having firm vows, steadfast in observances, resolute

Bahuvrīhi compound: `dṛḍha` (firm, strong) + `vrata` (vow, observance).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (dṛḍha+vrata)

• dṛḍha – firm, strong, steadfast, solid
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Past passive participle of root `dṛh` (to be firm).
  Root: dṛh (class 7)
• vrata – vow, sacred observance, religious duty
  noun (neuter)

Note: Refers to Brahmins.

दुर्बलाः (durbalāḥ) - weak, feeble, powerless

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of durbala

durbala - weak, feeble, powerless

Compound of `dur` (bad, difficult) + `bala` (strength).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dur+bala)

• dur – bad, difficult, ill-
  indeclinable
  Prefix for negation/difficulty.
• bala – strength, power, force
  noun (masculine)

Note: Refers to Brahmins.

हि (hi) - for, indeed, because

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic or causal particle.

बलीयांसः (balīyāṁsaḥ) - stronger, very powerful, mighty

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of balīyas

balīyas - stronger, very powerful, mighty

Comparative form of `balin` (strong).

Note: Refers to Brahmins.

विप्राः (viprāḥ) - Brahmins, inspired ones, wise ones

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vipra

vipra - a Brahmin, an inspired one, a sage, wise

From root `vip` (to tremble, to be inspired).

हि (hi) - for, indeed, because

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic or causal particle.

ब्रह्मतेजसा (brahmatejasā) - by spiritual radiance, by priestly power

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of brahmatejas

brahmatejas - spiritual radiance, priestly power, the glory of brahman

Tatpuruṣa compound: `brahman` (divine, sacred knowledge, priest) + `tejas` (radiance, power, spiritual energy).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (brahman+tejas)

• brahman – the Absolute, universal spirit, sacred word, sacred knowledge, a priest
  noun (neuter)
• tejas – radiance, brilliance, spiritual energy, power, splendor
  noun (neuter)
  From root `tij` (to be sharp).
  Root: tij (class 1)

Note: Refers to the power of the divine (brahman) or priestly (brahmaṇa) nature. Bracketed in translation.