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?

171. בדרכי ראיתי שור, ואדם רכב עליו. הוא פנה אלי בנימוס ואמר, הו אוּתַּנְקַה, אכול את גללי השור הזה, גם המורה שלך אכל אותם. ולפי דבריו אכלתי את גללי השור. אני מבקש שתסביר לי מה כל זה.

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)

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