महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-10, chapter-1, verse-46

पतंगाग्निसमां वृत्तिमास्थायात्मविनाशिनीम् ।
न्यायतो युध्यमानस्य प्राणत्यागो न संशयः ।
छद्मना तु भवेत्सिद्धिः शत्रूणां च क्षयो महान् ॥४६॥

46. pataṁgāgnisamāṁ vṛttimāsthāyātmavināśinīm ,
nyāyato yudhyamānasya prāṇatyāgo na saṁśayaḥ ,
chadmanā tu bhavetsiddhiḥ śatrūṇāṁ ca kṣayo mahān.

46. pataṅgāgnisamām vṛttim āsthāya
ātma-vināśinīm nyāyataḥ yudhyamānasya
prāṇa-tyāgaḥ na saṃśayaḥ chadmanā tu
bhavet siddhiḥ śatrūṇām ca kṣayaḥ mahān

46. nyāyataḥ yudhyamānasya pataṅgāgnisamām ātma-vināśinīm vṛttim āsthāya prāṇa-tyāgaḥ na saṃśayaḥ.
tu chadmanā siddhiḥ bhavet ca śatrūṇām mahān kṣayaḥ.

46. When one adopts a self-destructive attitude, akin to a moth drawn to a fire, there is no doubt that one fighting righteously, according to natural law (dharma), will sacrifice their life. However, success and a great destruction of enemies can be achieved through deceit.

Words meanings summery:

• पतङ्गाग्निसमाम् (pataṅgāgnisamām) - like a moth to a fire, comparable to a moth and fire

• वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - conduct, attitude, behavior, mode of being

• आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having adopted, having taken up, having resorted to

• आत्म-विनाशिनीम् (ātma-vināśinīm) - self-destructive

• न्यायतः (nyāyataḥ) - according to justice, justly, righteously, legitimately

• युध्यमानस्य (yudhyamānasya) - of one fighting, of one warring

• प्राण-त्यागः (prāṇa-tyāgaḥ) - sacrifice of life, abandonment of life

• न (na) - not, no

• संशयः (saṁśayaḥ) - doubt, uncertainty

• छद्मना (chadmanā) - by deceit, by trickery, by fraud

• तु (tu) - but, on the other hand, however

• भवेत् (bhavet) - it would be, there should be, it may happen

• सिद्धिः (siddhiḥ) - success, accomplishment, attainment

• शत्रूणाम् (śatrūṇām) - of enemies

• च (ca) - and

• क्षयः (kṣayaḥ) - destruction, end, loss

• महान् (mahān) - great, large, vast

Words meanings and morphology

पतङ्गाग्निसमाम् (pataṅgāgnisamām) - like a moth to a fire, comparable to a moth and fire

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of pataṅgāgnisama

pataṅgāgnisama - like a moth to a fire, comparable to a moth and fire

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (pataṅga+agni+sama)

• pataṅga – a moth, a butterfly, a bird
  noun (masculine)
• agni – fire, sacrificial fire
  noun (masculine)
• sama – like, similar, equal, same
  adjective

Note: Adjective agreeing with 'vṛttim'

वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - conduct, attitude, behavior, mode of being

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of vṛtti

vṛtti - conduct, attitude, behavior, mode of being, livelihood, commentary

Root: vṛt (class 1)

आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having adopted, having taken up, having resorted to

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (gerund)

Formed from root sthā with prefix ā and suffix -ya

Prefix: ā

Root: sthā (class 1)

आत्म-विनाशिनीम् (ātma-vināśinīm) - self-destructive

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of ātma-vināśin

ātma-vināśin - self-destructive, destroying oneself

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (ātman+vināśin)

• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence (ātman)
  noun (masculine)
• vināśin – destroying, perishing, destructive
  adjective
  Agent noun/Adjective from root naś with prefix vi
  Derived from vi-naś + -in
  Prefix: vi
  Root: naś (class 4)

Note: Adjective agreeing with 'vṛttim'

न्यायतः (nyāyataḥ) - according to justice, justly, righteously, legitimately

(indeclinable)

Formed from nyāya with adverbial suffix -tasi

युध्यमानस्य (yudhyamānasya) - of one fighting, of one warring

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of yudhyamāna

yudhyamāna - fighting, warring, combatant

Present Middle Participle (śānac)

Derived from root yudh with suffix śānac

Root: yudh (class 4)

प्राण-त्यागः (prāṇa-tyāgaḥ) - sacrifice of life, abandonment of life

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of prāṇa-tyāga

prāṇa-tyāga - sacrifice of life, abandonment of life, giving up breath

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (prāṇa+tyāga)

• prāṇa – life, breath, vital air
  noun (masculine)
• tyāga – abandonment, sacrifice, relinquishment
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from root tyaj
  Root: tyaj (class 1)

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

संशयः (saṁśayaḥ) - doubt, uncertainty

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of saṃśaya

saṁśaya - doubt, uncertainty, hesitation

Prefix: sam

Root: śī (class 2)

छद्मना (chadmanā) - by deceit, by trickery, by fraud

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of chadman

chadman - deceit, trickery, fraud, disguise

Root: chad (class 1)

तु (tu) - but, on the other hand, however

(indeclinable)

भवेत् (bhavet) - it would be, there should be, it may happen

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of bhū

Root: bhū (class 1)

सिद्धिः (siddhiḥ) - success, accomplishment, attainment

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of siddhi

siddhi - success, accomplishment, attainment, perfection, supernatural power

Root: sidh (class 4)

शत्रूणाम् (śatrūṇām) - of enemies

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of śatru

śatru - enemy, foe, rival

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

क्षयः (kṣayaḥ) - destruction, end, loss

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kṣaya

kṣaya - destruction, end, loss, decay, decrease

Root: kṣi (class 1)

महान् (mahān) - great, large, vast

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mahat

mahat - great, large, mighty, considerable

Note: Nominative singular masculine form of mahat