महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-2, verse-31

आत्मेव वेदितव्येषु प्रियेष्विव च जीवितम् ।
इतिहासः प्रधानार्थः श्रेष्ठः सर्वागमेष्वयम् ॥३१॥

31. ātmeva veditavyeṣu priyeṣviva ca jīvitam ,
itihāsaḥ pradhānārthaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvāgameṣvayam.

31. ātmā iva veditavyeṣu priyeṣu iva ca jīvitam
itihāsaḥ pradhānārthaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvāgameṣu ayam

31. This epic, with its profound meaning, is supreme among all scriptures, just as the Self is paramount among all things to be known, and life is dearest among all dear things.

Words meanings summery:

• आत्मा (ātmā) - the Self (the ultimate reality) (self, soul, spirit)

• इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as if)

• वेदितव्येषु (veditavyeṣu) - among all that should be known (among things to be known)

• प्रियेषु (priyeṣu) - among things that are dear (among dear ones, among dear things)

• इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as if)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life (as a vital principle) (life, livelihood, living)

• इतिहासः (itihāsaḥ) - this epic (Mahābhārata) (history, epic, tradition)

• प्रधानार्थः (pradhānārthaḥ) - having a profound, principal meaning (having a principal meaning/purpose, significant in meaning)

• श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - supreme, most excellent (best, most excellent, supreme)

• सर्वागमेषु (sarvāgameṣu) - among all sacred traditions or scriptures (among all traditions/scriptures/sciences)

• अयम् (ayam) - this (epic) (this (masculine singular nominative))

Words meanings and morphology

आत्मा (ātmā) - the Self (the ultimate reality) (self, soul, spirit)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - self, soul, spirit

Note: Subject of an implied verb 'is'.

इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

Note: Particle of comparison.

वेदितव्येषु (veditavyeṣu) - among all that should be known (among things to be known)

(gerundive)

Note: Used as a substantive, 'among knowables'.

प्रियेषु (priyeṣu) - among things that are dear (among dear ones, among dear things)

(adjective)

Locative, neuter, plural of priya

priya - dear, beloved, agreeable

Note: Used as a substantive, 'among dear things'.

इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

Note: Particle of comparison.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunction.

जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life (as a vital principle) (life, livelihood, living)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jīvita

jīvita - life, livelihood, noun/past passive participle

action noun or P.P.P. from √jīv

Root: jīv (class 1)

Note: Subject of an implied verb 'is'.

इतिहासः (itihāsaḥ) - this epic (Mahābhārata) (history, epic, tradition)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of itihāsa

itihāsa - history, epic, tradition

Note: Subject of the sentence.

प्रधानार्थः (pradhānārthaḥ) - having a profound, principal meaning (having a principal meaning/purpose, significant in meaning)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pradhānārtha

pradhānārtha - principal meaning/purpose

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (pradhāna+artha)

• pradhāna – principal, chief, prominent
  adjective (masculine/neuter)
  Prefix: pra
• artha – meaning, purpose, wealth
  noun (masculine)

Note: Predicate adjective for 'itihāsaḥ'.

श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - supreme, most excellent (best, most excellent, supreme)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, most excellent, supreme

superlative of praśasya

Note: Predicate adjective for 'itihāsaḥ'.

सर्वागमेषु (sarvāgameṣu) - among all sacred traditions or scriptures (among all traditions/scriptures/sciences)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of sarvāgama

sarvāgama - all traditions/scriptures

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sarva+āgama)

• sarva – all, every
  pronoun/adjective (masculine/feminine/neuter)
• āgama – tradition, scripture, sacred text
  noun (masculine)
  action noun
  from ā-√gam
  Prefix: ā
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Expresses 'among all X'.

अयम् (ayam) - this (epic) (this (masculine singular nominative))

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this

Note: Refers to 'itihāsaḥ'.