महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-2, verse-243

आख्यानं तदिदमनुत्तमं महार्थं विन्यस्तं महदिह पर्वसंग्रहेण ।
श्रुत्वादौ भवति नृणां सुखावगाहं विस्तीर्णं लवणजलं यथा प्लवेन ॥२४३॥

243. ākhyānaṁ tadidamanuttamaṁ mahārthaṁ; vinyastaṁ mahadiha parvasaṁgraheṇa ,
śrutvādau bhavati nṛṇāṁ sukhāvagāhaṁ; vistīrṇaṁ lavaṇajalaṁ yathā plavena.

243. ākhyānam tat idam anuttamam mahārtham
vinyastam mahat iha parvasaṅgraheṇa
śrutvā ādau bhavati nṛṇām sukhāvāgāham
vistīrṇam lavaṇajalam yathā plavena

243. This excellent narration, rich in profound meaning, is extensively presented here through a collection of sections. When heard initially, it becomes easily comprehensible for people, just as a vast saltwater ocean becomes easily traversable by means of a boat.

Words meanings summery:

• आख्यानम् (ākhyānam) - this epic narrative (narration, story)

• तत् (tat) - that (referring to the narration) (that)

• इदम् (idam) - this (referring to the narration) (this)

• अनुत्तमम् (anuttamam) - excellent, unparalleled (unsurpassed, excellent, best)

• महार्थम् (mahārtham) - full of profound meaning (of great meaning, significant)

• विन्यस्तम् (vinyastam) - presented, arranged (placed, arranged, composed, presented)

• महत् (mahat) - extensively, in a great manner (great, extensive, large)

• इह (iha) - here (in this work/text) (here, in this world, in this case)

• पर्वसङ्ग्रहेण (parvasaṅgraheṇa) - through a collection of chapters/books (by the collection of sections/chapters)

• श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - when heard (initially) (having heard, after hearing)

• आदौ (ādau) - initially, at first (in the beginning, initially, at first)

• भवति (bhavati) - it becomes (becomes, is, exists)

• नृणाम् (nṛṇām) - for people (of people, for people)

• सुखावागाहम् (sukhāvāgāham) - easily comprehensible / accessible (easily penetrable, easily accessible, easily comprehensible)

• विस्तीर्णम् (vistīrṇam) - vast (vast, extensive, wide)

• लवणजलम् (lavaṇajalam) - saltwater ocean (saltwater, ocean)

• यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, like)

• प्लवेन (plavena) - by means of a boat (by a boat, by a raft)

Words meanings and morphology

आख्यानम् (ākhyānam) - this epic narrative (narration, story)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of ākhyāna

ākhyāna - narration, story, legend, tradition

action noun

from ā-khyā (to tell) + ana (kṛt suffix)

Root: khyā (class 2)

Note: Refers to the Mahābhārata itself.

तत् (tat) - that (referring to the narration) (that)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Demonstrative pronoun, agreeing with `ākhyānam`.

इदम् (idam) - this (referring to the narration) (this)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of idam

idam - this, here

Note: Demonstrative pronoun, agreeing with `ākhyānam`.

अनुत्तमम् (anuttamam) - excellent, unparalleled (unsurpassed, excellent, best)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of anuttama

anuttama - unsurpassed, excellent, best

na + uttama (not best/supreme means unsurpassed)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (na+uttama)

• na – not
  indeclinable
• uttama – highest, best, supreme
  adjective
  from ud-tam (superlative)

Note: Adjective modifying `ākhyānam`.

महार्थम् (mahārtham) - full of profound meaning (of great meaning, significant)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of mahārtha

mahārtha - of great meaning, having great wealth, important

mahā (great) + artha (meaning)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (mahā+artha)

• mahā – great, large
  adjective
• artha – meaning, purpose, wealth, object
  noun (masculine)

Note: Adjective modifying `ākhyānam`.

विन्यस्तम् (vinyastam) - presented, arranged (placed, arranged, composed, presented)

(participle)

Nominative, neuter, singular of vinyasta

vinyasta - placed, arranged, composed, laid down

past passive participle

from vi-ni-as (to place) + kta

Prefixes: vi+ni

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Modifies `ākhyānam`.

महत् (mahat) - extensively, in a great manner (great, extensive, large)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of mahat

mahat - great, large, important

present active participle

from mah (to be great) + śatṛ

Root: mah (class 1)

Note: Qualifies `vinyastam`, implying 'greatly presented' or 'extensively presented'.

इह (iha) - here (in this work/text) (here, in this world, in this case)

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb of place.

पर्वसङ्ग्रहेण (parvasaṅgraheṇa) - through a collection of chapters/books (by the collection of sections/chapters)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of parvasaṅgraha

parvasaṅgraha - collection of sections, summary of chapters

parva (section/chapter) + saṅgraha (collection)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (parvan+saṅgraha)

• parvan – section, chapter, knot, joint
  noun (neuter)
• saṅgraha – collection, compilation, summary
  noun (masculine)
  from sam-grah (to seize/collect) + a
  Prefix: sam
  Root: grah (class 9)

Note: Indicates the means by which the narration is presented.

श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - when heard (initially) (having heard, after hearing)

(indeclinable)

absolutive

from śru (to hear) + ktvā

Root: śru (class 5)

Note: Indicates an action completed before the main verb.

आदौ (ādau) - initially, at first (in the beginning, initially, at first)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of ādi

ādi - beginning, commencement, first, etc.

Note: Used here in the locative case to indicate time.

भवति (bhavati) - it becomes (becomes, is, exists)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present indicative (laṭ) of bhū

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Main verb of the second half of the verse.

नृणाम् (nṛṇām) - for people (of people, for people)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of nṛ

nṛ - man, person, human being

Note: Used here to indicate 'for whom' it becomes easy.

सुखावागाहम् (sukhāvāgāham) - easily comprehensible / accessible (easily penetrable, easily accessible, easily comprehensible)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of sukhāvāgāha

sukhāvāgāha - easily penetrable, easily accessible, easily comprehensible

sukha (easy) + avagāha (penetration/access, from ava-gāh)

Compound type : karmadhāraya (sukha+avagāha)

• sukha – easy, pleasant, happiness
  noun/adjective (neuter)
• avagāha – plunging into, immersion, access, comprehension
  noun (masculine)
  action noun
  from ava-gāh (to plunge) + ghañ
  Prefix: ava
  Root: gāh (class 1)

Note: Predicate adjective for the implicit subject (the ākhyānam).

विस्तीर्णम् (vistīrṇam) - vast (vast, extensive, wide)

(participle)

Nominative, neuter, singular of vistīrṇa

vistīrṇa - spread out, wide, extensive, vast

past passive participle

from vi-stṛ (to spread out) + kta

Prefix: vi

Root: stṛ (class 5)

Note: Adjective modifying `lavaṇajalam`.

लवणजलम् (lavaṇajalam) - saltwater ocean (saltwater, ocean)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of lavaṇajala

lavaṇajala - saltwater, brackish water, ocean

lavaṇa (salt) + jala (water)

Compound type : karmadhāraya (lavaṇa+jala)

• lavaṇa – salt, salty
  noun/adjective (neuter)
• jala – water
  noun (neuter)

Note: Subject of the simile.

यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, like)

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces a simile.

प्लवेन (plavena) - by means of a boat (by a boat, by a raft)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of plava

plava - a boat, raft, swimming, floating

from plu (to float) + a

Root: plu (class 1)

Note: Instrument of traversing.