महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-179, verse-5

तत्कथं त्वकृतास्त्रेण प्राणतो दुर्बलीयसा ।
बटुमात्रेण शक्यं हि सज्यं कर्तुं धनुर्द्विजाः ॥५॥

5. tatkathaṁ tvakṛtāstreṇa prāṇato durbalīyasā ,
baṭumātreṇa śakyaṁ hi sajyaṁ kartuṁ dhanurdvijāḥ.

5. tat katham tu akṛtāstreṇa prāṇataḥ durbalīyasā
baṭumātreṇa śakyam hi sajyam kartum dhanuḥ dvijāḥ

5. O twice-born (dvijāḥ) ones, how then can that bow possibly be strung by a mere boy who is untrained in weaponry, barely alive, and much weaker?

Words meanings summery:

• तत् (tat) - that, therefore, in that regard

• कथम् (katham) - how, why

• तु (tu) - but, however, indeed

• अकृतास्त्रेण (akṛtāstreṇa) - by one unskilled in weapons, by an untrained person

• प्राणतः (prāṇataḥ) - barely alive, struggling to breathe

• दुर्बलीयसा (durbalīyasā) - by a much weaker one

• बटुमात्रेण (baṭumātreṇa) - by a mere boy, by a youth only

• शक्यम् (śakyam) - possible, capable (to be done)

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely

• सज्यम् (sajyam) - strung (with a string)

• कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do, to make

• धनुः (dhanuḥ) - bow

• द्विजाः (dvijāḥ) - O twice-born ones, O Brahmins

Words meanings and morphology

तत् (tat) - that, therefore, in that regard

(indeclinable)

Note: Used adverbially to mean 'therefore' or 'in that case'.

कथम् (katham) - how, why

(indeclinable)

तु (tu) - but, however, indeed

(indeclinable)

अकृतास्त्रेण (akṛtāstreṇa) - by one unskilled in weapons, by an untrained person

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of akṛtāstra

akṛtāstra - unskilled in weapons, unpracticed in archery

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (a+kṛta+astra)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
• kṛta – done, made, performed, mastered
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from the root √kṛ (to do, make).
  Root: kṛ
• astra – weapon, missile
  noun (neuter)

Note: Qualifies the implied 'boy'.

प्राणतः (prāṇataḥ) - barely alive, struggling to breathe

(indeclinable)

Formed with the adverbial suffix -tas from prāṇa (life-breath).

Note: Adverbial usage, describing the state of weakness.

दुर्बलीयसा (durbalīyasā) - by a much weaker one

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of durbalīyas

durbalīyas - weaker, very weak, feebler (comparative degree of durbala)

Comparative form of 'durbala' (weak).

Note: Qualifies the implied 'boy'.

बटुमात्रेण (baṭumātreṇa) - by a mere boy, by a youth only

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of baṭumātra

baṭumātra - a mere boy, only a boy/youth

Compound type : karmadhāraya (baṭu+mātra)

• baṭu – boy, youth, student
  noun (masculine)
• mātra – mere, only, a measure, size
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Qualifies the implied 'boy'.

शक्यम् (śakyam) - possible, capable (to be done)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śakya

śakya - possible, capable, able to be done

Gerundive / Future Passive Participle

Derived from the root √śak (to be able).

Root: śak

Note: Predicative adjective for 'dhanuḥ' (bow).

हि (hi) - indeed, surely

(indeclinable)

सज्यम् (sajyam) - strung (with a string)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of sajya

sajya - having a string, strung (a bow)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (sa+jyā)

• sa – with, together with
  indeclinable
• jyā – bowstring
  noun (feminine)

Note: Qualifies 'dhanuḥ' in its state of being strung.

कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do, to make

(indeclinable)

Infinitive

Derived from the root √kṛ (to do, make).

Root: kṛ

धनुः (dhanuḥ) - bow

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of dhanus

dhanus - bow

Note: Subject of the verb 'śakyam'.

द्विजाः (dvijāḥ) - O twice-born ones, O Brahmins

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, plural of dvija

dvija - twice-born (a Brahmin, Kshatriya, or Vaishya; also a bird, a tooth)

Note: Addressing the audience.