महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-96, verse-3

अथ काशिपतेर्भीष्मः कन्यास्तिस्रोऽप्सरःसमाः ।
शुश्राव सहिता राजन्वृण्वतीर्वै स्वयं वरम् ॥३॥

3. atha kāśipaterbhīṣmaḥ kanyāstisro'psaraḥsamāḥ ,
śuśrāva sahitā rājanvṛṇvatīrvai svayaṁ varam.

3. atha kāśipateḥ bhīṣmaḥ kanyāḥ tisraḥ apsarassamāḥ
śuśrāva sahitāḥ rājan vṛṇvatīḥ vai svayam varam

3. Then, O King, Bhishma heard that the king of Kashi had three daughters, as beautiful as Apsaras, who were assembled there to choose their husbands in a svayamvara.

Words meanings summery:

• अथ (atha) - then, now, thereupon

• काशिपतेः (kāśipateḥ) - of the lord of Kashi, of the king of Kashi

• भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma

• कन्याः (kanyāḥ) - daughters, maidens, girls

• तिस्रः (tisraḥ) - three

• अप्सरस्समाः (apsarassamāḥ) - like Apsaras (heavenly nymphs)

• शुश्राव (śuśrāva) - he heard

• सहिताः (sahitāḥ) - gathered together (accompanied, together, assembled)

• राजन् (rājan) - O King (vocative) (king)

• वृण्वतीः (vṛṇvatīḥ) - choosing, selecting

• वै (vai) - indeed, certainly, verily

• स्वयम् (svayam) - oneself, by oneself, personally

• वरम् (varam) - groom (in the context of svayamvara) (choice, boon, best (groom))

Words meanings and morphology

अथ (atha) - then, now, thereupon

(indeclinable)

Note: Marks continuation of narrative.

काशिपतेः (kāśipateḥ) - of the lord of Kashi, of the king of Kashi

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of kāśipati

kāśipati - lord/king of Kashi

Compound type : genitive tatpurusha (kāśi+pati)

• kāśi – Kashi (Varanasi, proper name of a city/kingdom)
  proper noun (masculine)
• pati – lord, master, husband, ruler
  noun (masculine)

Note: Denotes possession/relation.

भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - Bhishma (proper name), terrible, formidable

Note: Subject of 'śuśrāva'.

कन्याः (kanyāḥ) - daughters, maidens, girls

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, plural of kanyā

kanyā - daughter, maiden, girl

Note: Object of 'śuśrāva' (heard about).

तिस्रः (tisraḥ) - three

(numeral)

Note: Adjective for 'kanyāḥ'.

अप्सरस्समाः (apsarassamāḥ) - like Apsaras (heavenly nymphs)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, plural of apsarassamā

apsarassamā - equal to Apsaras, resembling Apsaras

Compound type : tatpurusha (apsaras+samā)

• apsaras – heavenly nymph, celestial dancer
  noun (feminine)
• samā – equal, like, similar
  adjective (feminine)

Note: Qualifies 'kanyāḥ'.

शुश्राव (śuśrāva) - he heard

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (Lit) of śru

Perfect (Lit)

Root: śru (class 5)

Note: From root 'śru'.

सहिताः (sahitāḥ) - gathered together (accompanied, together, assembled)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, plural of sahita

sahita - accompanied, joined, united, together

Past Passive Participle

From prefix 'sa' and root 'dhā' (implied in 'hita' for 'joined')

Note: Qualifies 'kanyāḥ'.

राजन् (rājan) - O King (vocative) (king)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler

Root: rāj (class 1)

Note: Addresses Janamejaya.

वृण्वतीः (vṛṇvatīḥ) - choosing, selecting

(participle)

Accusative, feminine, plural of vṛṇvat

vṛṇvat - choosing, selecting

Present Active Participle

Feminine accusative plural of present active participle of root 'vṛ' (to choose)

Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: Qualifies 'kanyāḥ'.

वै (vai) - indeed, certainly, verily

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

स्वयम् (svayam) - oneself, by oneself, personally

(indeclinable)

Note: Part of the concept 'svayaṃvara'.

वरम् (varam) - groom (in the context of svayamvara) (choice, boon, best (groom))

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - choice, elected husband, boon, best, excellent

Root: vṛ (class 1)

Note: Object of 'vṛṇvatīḥ'.