महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-68, verse-56

ब्राह्मणो द्विपदां श्रेष्ठो गौर्वरिष्ठा चतुष्पदाम् ।
गुरुर्गरीयसां श्रेष्ठः पुत्रः स्पर्शवतां वरः ॥५६॥

56. brāhmaṇo dvipadāṁ śreṣṭho gaurvariṣṭhā catuṣpadām ,
gururgarīyasāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ putraḥ sparśavatāṁ varaḥ.

56. brāhmaṇaḥ dvipadāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ gauḥ variṣṭhā catuṣpadām
guruḥ garīyasāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ putraḥ sparśavatāṃ varaḥ

56. A Brahmin is the foremost among two-footed beings, a cow is the best among four-footed beings, a guru is the greatest among the venerable, and a son is the best among all things that can be touched.

Words meanings summery:

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

• द्विपदां (dvipadāṁ) - of two-footed beings

• श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - best, foremost

• गौः (gauḥ) - cow

• वरिष्ठा (variṣṭhā) - best, most excellent

• चतुष्पदाम् (catuṣpadām) - of four-footed beings

• गुरुः (guruḥ) - a guru, a venerable person

• गरीयसां (garīyasāṁ) - of the more venerable, of the heavier/greater ones

• श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - best, foremost

• पुत्रः (putraḥ) - son

• स्पर्शवतां (sparśavatāṁ) - of those having touch, of touchable things

• वरः (varaḥ) - best, excellent

Words meanings and morphology

ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - Brahmin, one belonging to the priestly class

द्विपदां (dvipadāṁ) - of two-footed beings

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of dvipad

dvipad - two-footed, biped

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (dvi+pad)

• dvi – two
  numeral
• pad – foot
  noun (masculine)

श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - best, foremost

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, most excellent, foremost, principal

Superlative degree from praśasya (excellent)

गौः (gauḥ) - cow

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of go

go - cow, ox, cattle, earth, ray of light

वरिष्ठा (variṣṭhā) - best, most excellent

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of variṣṭha

variṣṭha - best, greatest, most excellent, most desirable

Superlative degree from vara (excellent)

चतुष्पदाम् (catuṣpadām) - of four-footed beings

(noun)

Genitive, feminine, plural of catuṣpad

catuṣpad - four-footed, quadruped

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (catur+pad)

• catur – four
  numeral
• pad – foot
  noun (masculine)

गुरुः (guruḥ) - a guru, a venerable person

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of guru

guru - teacher, preceptor, venerable, heavy, important

गरीयसां (garīyasāṁ) - of the more venerable, of the heavier/greater ones

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of garīyas

garīyas - heavier, graver, more venerable, greater (comparative of guru)

Comparative degree from guru

श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - best, foremost

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, most excellent, foremost, principal

Superlative degree from praśasya (excellent)

पुत्रः (putraḥ) - son

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of putra

putra - son

स्पर्शवतां (sparśavatāṁ) - of those having touch, of touchable things

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sparśavat

sparśavat - having touch, tangible, touchable

Derived from sparśa (touch) with suffix -mat/-vat

वरः (varaḥ) - best, excellent

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - best, excellent, principal, boon, husband

Root: vṛ (class 5)