महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-1, chapter-97, verse-21

जानामि चैव सत्यं तन्मदर्थं यदभाषथाः ।
आपद्धर्ममवेक्षस्व वह पैतामहीं धुरम् ॥२१॥

21. jānāmi caiva satyaṁ tanmadarthaṁ yadabhāṣathāḥ ,
āpaddharmamavekṣasva vaha paitāmahīṁ dhuram.

21. jānāmi ca eva satyam tat madartham yat abhāṣathāḥ
āpaddharmam avekṣasva vaha paitāmahīm dhuram

21. I certainly know that truth which you spoke for my sake. Therefore, consider the special duty in times of calamity (āpaddharma) and bear the ancestral burden.

Words meanings summery:

• जानामि (jānāmi) - I know, I understand

• च (ca) - and

• एव (eva) - Emphasizes the preceding statement (indeed, certainly, only)

• सत्यम् (satyam) - Refers to the truth of Vyāsa's words to Janamejaya (truth, true)

• तत् (tat) - Refers to 'that truth' (that, it)

• मदर्थम् (madartham) - For Janamejaya's benefit (for my sake, for my purpose)

• यत् (yat) - Introduces the relative clause 'which you spoke' (which, that)

• अभाषथाः (abhāṣathāḥ) - Refers to Vyāsa speaking to Janamejaya (you spoke)

• आपद्धर्मम् (āpaddharmam) - The special rules or duties applicable during an emergency or calamity (the law/duty for times of distress, emergency duty (dharma))

• अवेक्षस्व (avekṣasva) - Janamejaya is being advised to adhere to `āpaddharma` (consider, observe, look to)

• वह (vaha) - Bear the burden of the ancestral lineage (bear, carry)

• पैतामहीम् (paitāmahīm) - Referring to the burden/yoke of the ancestors/grandfather (ancestral, pertaining to the grandfather)

• धुरम् (dhuram) - The responsibility of continuing the royal line and its duties (burden, yoke, responsibility)

Words meanings and morphology

जानामि (jānāmi) - I know, I understand

(verb)

1st person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of jñā

present tense, 1st person singular

From root `jñā` (9th class), present tense, parasmaipada

Root: jñā (class 9)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - Emphasizes the preceding statement (indeed, certainly, only)

(indeclinable)

सत्यम् (satyam) - Refers to the truth of Vyāsa's words to Janamejaya (truth, true)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of satya

satya - truth, real, true, existent

From `sat` (being, existent)

Note: Functions as the object of `jānāmi`

तत् (tat) - Refers to 'that truth' (that, it)

(pronoun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, it, he, she

Demonstrative pronoun

Note: Refers back to `satyam`

मदर्थम् (madartham) - For Janamejaya's benefit (for my sake, for my purpose)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of madartha

madartha - for my sake, for my purpose

Compound: `mat` (my, genitive of `aham`) + `artha` (purpose, sake)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (mat+artha)

• mat – my, mine (genitive of I)
  pronoun
  From `aham` (I), genitive/ablative form
• artha – purpose, aim, meaning, wealth
  noun (masculine)

Note: Accusative form used adverbially, meaning 'for the sake of'

यत् (yat) - Introduces the relative clause 'which you spoke' (which, that)

(pronoun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of yad

yad - which, that, who

Relative pronoun

अभाषथाः (abhāṣathāḥ) - Refers to Vyāsa speaking to Janamejaya (you spoke)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, middle, imperfect past (laṅ) of bhāṣ

imperfect tense, 2nd person singular

From root `bhāṣ` (1st class, ātmanepada) with augment `a` for imperfect

Root: bhāṣ (class 1)

आपद्धर्मम् (āpaddharmam) - The special rules or duties applicable during an emergency or calamity (the law/duty for times of distress, emergency duty (dharma))

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of āpaddharma

āpaddharma - duty in distress, emergency law/constitution (dharma)

Compound: `āpad` (calamity, distress) + `dharma` (duty, law)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (āpad+dharma)

• āpad – calamity, distress, misfortune
  noun (feminine)
• dharma – constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness, virtue
  noun (masculine)
  From root `dhṛ` (to uphold, support)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Object of `avekṣasva`

अवेक्षस्व (avekṣasva) - Janamejaya is being advised to adhere to `āpaddharma` (consider, observe, look to)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, middle, imperative (loṭ) of avekṣ

imperative, 2nd person singular

From `ava` (down) + root `īkṣ` (to see, 1st class), ātmanepada imperative

Prefix: ava

Root: īkṣ (class 1)

वह (vaha) - Bear the burden of the ancestral lineage (bear, carry)

(verb)

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

imperative, 2nd person singular

From root `vah` (1st class), present tense, parasmaipada imperative

Root: vah (class 1)

पैतामहीम् (paitāmahīm) - Referring to the burden/yoke of the ancestors/grandfather (ancestral, pertaining to the grandfather)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of paitāmahī

paitāmahī - ancestral, paternal, pertaining to the grandfather

Derived from `pitāmaha` (grandfather) with `ī` suffix

धुरम् (dhuram) - The responsibility of continuing the royal line and its duties (burden, yoke, responsibility)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of dhur

dhur - yoke, burden, charge, responsibility, front part

From root `dhṛ` (to bear)

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Object of `vaha`