महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-3, verse-171

पथि गच्छता मया ऋषभो दृष्टः ।
तं च पुरुषोऽधिरूढः ।
तेनास्मि सोपचारमुक्तः ।
उत्तङ्कास्य ऋषभस्य पुरीषं भक्षय ।
उपाध्यायेनापि ते भक्षितमिति ।
ततस्तद्वचनान्मया तदृषभस्य पुरीषमुपयुक्तम् ।
तदिच्छामि भवतोपदिष्टं किं तदिति ॥१७१॥

171. pathi gacchatā mayā ṛṣabho dṛṣṭaḥ ,
taṁ ca puruṣo'dhirūḍhaḥ ,
tenāsmi sopacāramuktaḥ ,
uttaṅkāsya ṛṣabhasya purīṣaṁ bhakṣaya ,
upādhyāyenāpi te bhakṣitamiti ,
tatastadvacanānmayā tadṛṣabhasya purīṣamupayuktam ,
tadicchāmi bhavatopadiṣṭaṁ kiṁ taditi.

171. pathi gacchatā mayā ṛṣabhaḥ dṛṣṭaḥ | tam ca puruṣaḥ adhirūḍhaḥ | tena
asmi sopacāram uktaḥ | uttaṅka asya ṛṣabhasya purīṣam bhakṣaya |
upādhyāyena api te bhakṣitam iti | tataḥ tat vacanāt mayā tat
ṛṣabhasya purīṣam upayuktam | tat icchāmi bhavatā upadiṣṭam kim tat iti

171. While traveling on the path, I saw a bull. A man was mounted upon it. He then courteously told me, 'O Uttanka, eat the dung of this bull. Your preceptor also ate it.' Thereupon, following his words, I consumed the dung of that bull. Therefore, I wish to know from you, what was that?

Words meanings summery:

• पथि (pathi) - on the path, way

• गच्छता (gacchatā) - by me, while I was going (by the one going; while going)

• मया (mayā) - by me

• ऋषभः (ṛṣabhaḥ) - a bull, referring to a specific animal encountered by the speaker (bull; chief, best)

• दृष्टः (dṛṣṭaḥ) - was seen (by me) (seen, perceived)

• तम् (tam) - that bull (referring to the previously mentioned bull) (him, that (masculine accusative))

• च (ca) - and, also

• पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - a specific man who was riding the bull (man, male person)

• अधिरूढः (adhirūḍhaḥ) - was mounted upon (the bull) (mounted upon, ascended)

• तेन (tena) - by that man (who was mounted on the bull) (by him, by that)

• अस्मि (asmi) - I am

• सोपचारम् (sopacāram) - in a polite or respectful manner (with courtesy, politely)

• उक्तः (uktaḥ) - was told (by him) (said, spoken, told)

• उत्तङ्क (uttaṅka) - addressing the listener (Uttanka) in the vocative case (Uttanka (a proper name))

• अस्य (asya) - of this (bull) (of this, his)

• ऋषभस्य (ṛṣabhasya) - of the bull

• पुरीषम् (purīṣam) - dung, feces

• भक्षय (bhakṣaya) - eat! consume!

• उपाध्यायेन (upādhyāyena) - by your preceptor (by the preceptor/teacher)

• अपि (api) - also, even

• ते (te) - by your (preceptor), or 'for you' as in 'your's' (by you (agentive dative/genitive))

• भक्षितम् (bhakṣitam) - it was eaten (eaten, consumed)

• इति (iti) - marks the end of direct speech (thus, so)

• ततः (tataḥ) - then, thereupon; from that

• तत् (tat) - his (referring to the man's) words (that, his, its)

• वचनात् (vacanāt) - following his command/words (from the words, on account of the speech)

• मया (mayā) - by me

• तत् (tat) - that (previously mentioned) bull (that (demonstrative))

• ऋषभस्य (ṛṣabhasya) - of the bull

• पुरीषम् (purīṣam) - dung, feces

• उपयुक्तम् (upayuktam) - was consumed (by me) (used, consumed, employed)

• तत् (tat) - that (experience/question) (that (neuter accusative))

• इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish, I desire

• भवता (bhavatā) - Uttanka politely addresses his preceptor (by your honor, by you)

• उपदिष्टम् (upadiṣṭam) - that which has been explained or revealed by you (instructed, taught, advised)

• किम् (kim) - an interrogative particle for 'what was that?' (what?)

• तत् (tat) - that (event or substance) (that (neuter nominative))

• इति (iti) - marks the end of the question (thus, so)

Words meanings and morphology

पथि (pathi) - on the path, way

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of path

path - path, road, way

गच्छता (gacchatā) - by me, while I was going (by the one going; while going)

(nominal form)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of gacchat

gacchat - going, moving

present active participle

From root gam- 'to go'.

Root: gam (class 1)

मया (mayā) - by me

(pronoun)

Instrumental, singular of mad

mad - I, me (first person pronoun)

ऋषभः (ṛṣabhaḥ) - a bull, referring to a specific animal encountered by the speaker (bull; chief, best)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ṛṣabha

ṛṣabha - bull; the chief, best, or noblest of a class

दृष्टः (dṛṣṭaḥ) - was seen (by me) (seen, perceived)

(nominal form)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dṛṣṭa

dṛṣṭa - seen, observed, perceived; shown, manifested

past passive participle

From root dṛś- 'to see'.

Root: dṛś (class 1)

तम् (tam) - that bull (referring to the previously mentioned bull) (him, that (masculine accusative))

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - a specific man who was riding the bull (man, male person)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of puruṣa

puruṣa - man, male, person; human being; spirit, self (in philosophy)

अधिरूढः (adhirūḍhaḥ) - was mounted upon (the bull) (mounted upon, ascended)

(nominal form)

Nominative, masculine, singular of adhirūḍha

adhirūḍha - mounted, ascended; ridden

past passive participle

From root ruh- 'to grow, ascend' with prefix adhi-.

Prefix: adhi

Root: ruh (class 1)

तेन (tena) - by that man (who was mounted on the bull) (by him, by that)

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

अस्मि (asmi) - I am

(verb)

1st person , singular, active, present (lat) of as

Root: as (class 2)

सोपचारम् (sopacāram) - in a polite or respectful manner (with courtesy, politely)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of sopacāra

sopacāra - accompanied by courtesy, respectful; polite, courteous

Compound type : avyayībhāva (sa+upacāra)

• sa – with, together with
  indeclinable
• upacāra – courtesy, civility, respect; service, attendance
  noun (masculine)
  Prefix: upa
  Root: car (class 1)

Note: Used adverbially here.

उक्तः (uktaḥ) - was told (by him) (said, spoken, told)

(nominal form)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ukta

ukta - said, spoken; expressed, declared

past passive participle

From root vac- 'to speak'.

Root: vac (class 2)

उत्तङ्क (uttaṅka) - addressing the listener (Uttanka) in the vocative case (Uttanka (a proper name))

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of uttaṅka

uttaṅka - Uttanka (name of a sage)

अस्य (asya) - of this (bull) (of this, his)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, he, she, it

ऋषभस्य (ṛṣabhasya) - of the bull

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of ṛṣabha

ṛṣabha - bull; the chief, best, or noblest of a class

पुरीषम् (purīṣam) - dung, feces

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of purīṣa

purīṣa - dung, feces; rubbish, dirt; any excrement

भक्षय (bhakṣaya) - eat! consume!

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of bhakṣ

denominative verb from bhakṣa 'food'

Root: bhakṣ (class 10)

उपाध्यायेन (upādhyāyena) - by your preceptor (by the preceptor/teacher)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of upādhyāya

upādhyāya - preceptor, teacher; especially a spiritual guide or one who teaches the Veda

अपि (api) - also, even

(indeclinable)

ते (te) - by your (preceptor), or 'for you' as in 'your's' (by you (agentive dative/genitive))

(pronoun)

Dative, singular of yuṣmad

yuṣmad - you (second person pronoun)

Note: Here used as dative of agent, 'by you'.

भक्षितम् (bhakṣitam) - it was eaten (eaten, consumed)

(nominal form)

Nominative, neuter, singular of bhakṣita

bhakṣita - eaten, consumed; devoured

past passive participle

From root bhakṣ- 'to eat'.

Root: bhakṣ (class 10)

इति (iti) - marks the end of direct speech (thus, so)

(indeclinable)

ततः (tataḥ) - then, thereupon; from that

(indeclinable)

तत् (tat) - his (referring to the man's) words (that, his, its)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

वचनात् (vacanāt) - following his command/words (from the words, on account of the speech)

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of vacana

vacana - speaking, saying; word, speech, statement, command

action noun

From root vac- 'to speak'.

Root: vac (class 2)

मया (mayā) - by me

(pronoun)

Instrumental, singular of mad

mad - I, me (first person pronoun)

तत् (tat) - that (previously mentioned) bull (that (demonstrative))

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

ऋषभस्य (ṛṣabhasya) - of the bull

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of ṛṣabha

ṛṣabha - bull; the chief, best, or noblest of a class

पुरीषम् (purīṣam) - dung, feces

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of purīṣa

purīṣa - dung, feces; rubbish, dirt; any excrement

उपयुक्तम् (upayuktam) - was consumed (by me) (used, consumed, employed)

(nominal form)

Nominative, neuter, singular of upayukta

upayukta - used, employed, applied; proper, suitable; consumed

past passive participle

From root yuj- 'to join' with prefix upa-.

Prefix: upa

Root: yuj (class 7)

तत् (tat) - that (experience/question) (that (neuter accusative))

(pronoun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish, I desire

(verb)

1st person , singular, active, present (lat) of iṣ

Root: iṣ (class 6)

भवता (bhavatā) - Uttanka politely addresses his preceptor (by your honor, by you)

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of bhavat

bhavat - your honor, you (polite address)

present active participle

From root bhū- 'to be'.

Root: bhū (class 1)

उपदिष्टम् (upadiṣṭam) - that which has been explained or revealed by you (instructed, taught, advised)

(nominal form)

Nominative, neuter, singular of upadiṣṭa

upadiṣṭa - instructed, taught, advised; declared, revealed

past passive participle

From root diś- 'to show, point out' with prefix upa-.

Prefix: upa

Root: diś (class 6)

किम् (kim) - an interrogative particle for 'what was that?' (what?)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kim

kim - what, which; why

तत् (tat) - that (event or substance) (that (neuter nominative))

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

इति (iti) - marks the end of the question (thus, so)

(indeclinable)