महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-11, chapter-13, verse-19

कथं नु धर्मं धर्मज्ञैः समुद्दिष्टं महात्मभिः ।
त्यजेयुराहवे शूराः प्राणहेतोः कथंचन ॥१९॥

19. kathaṁ nu dharmaṁ dharmajñaiḥ samuddiṣṭaṁ mahātmabhiḥ ,
tyajeyurāhave śūrāḥ prāṇahetoḥ kathaṁcana.

19. katham nu dharmam dharmajñaiḥ samudiṣṭam mahātmabhiḥ
tyajeyuḥ āhave śūrāḥ prāṇahetoḥ kathaṃcana

19. śūrāḥ āhave prāṇahetoḥ kathaṃcana,
dharmajñaiḥ mahātmabhiḥ samudiṣṭam dharmam katham nu tyajeyuḥ

19. How indeed could brave warriors ever abandon the natural law (dharma), which has been clearly taught by great souls and those who know the natural law (dharma), for the sake of their lives in battle?

Words meanings summery:

• कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner, why

• नु (nu) - indeed, now, then, surely

• धर्मम् (dharmam) - natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness

• धर्मज्ञैः (dharmajñaiḥ) - by those who know dharma, by the knowers of righteousness

• समुदिष्टम् (samudiṣṭam) - clearly taught, clearly indicated, well-instructed

• महात्मभिः (mahātmabhiḥ) - by great souls, by noble persons

• त्यजेयुः (tyajeyuḥ) - they should abandon, they would abandon

• आहवे (āhave) - in battle, in combat

• शूराः (śūrāḥ) - brave warriors, heroes

• प्राणहेतोः (prāṇahetoḥ) - for the sake of life, on account of life

• कथंचन (kathaṁcana) - by any means, somehow, ever

Words meanings and morphology

कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner, why

(indeclinable)

नु (nu) - indeed, now, then, surely

(indeclinable)

धर्मम् (dharmam) - natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness

धर्मज्ञैः (dharmajñaiḥ) - by those who know dharma, by the knowers of righteousness

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of dharmajña

dharmajña - knowing dharma, righteous, expert in law

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+jña)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty
  noun (masculine)
• jña – knowing, conversant with, knower
  adjective (masculine)
  from root √jñā (to know)
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: functions as a noun here, 'by the knowers of dharma'

समुदिष्टम् (samudiṣṭam) - clearly taught, clearly indicated, well-instructed

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of samudiṣṭa

samudiṣṭa - well-declared, clearly indicated, taught

Past Passive Participle

From root √diś (to point, show) with upasargas sam- and ud-

Prefixes: sam+ud

Root: diś (class 6)

Note: agreeing with 'dharmam'

महात्मभिः (mahātmabhiḥ) - by great souls, by noble persons

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of mahātman

mahātman - great-souled, noble, eminent, a great person

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (mahā+ātman)

• mahā – great, large, mighty
  adjective (neuter)
• ātman – self, soul, essence, spirit
  noun (masculine)

त्यजेयुः (tyajeyuḥ) - they should abandon, they would abandon

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of √tyaj

Root: tyaj (class 1)

आहवे (āhave) - in battle, in combat

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of āhava

āhava - battle, war, combat

शूराः (śūrāḥ) - brave warriors, heroes

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of śūra

śūra - brave, valiant, hero, warrior

प्राणहेतोः (prāṇahetoḥ) - for the sake of life, on account of life

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of prāṇahetu

prāṇahetu - cause of life, for the sake of life

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (prāṇa+hetu)

• prāṇa – breath, life, vital air
  noun (masculine)
• hetu – cause, reason, motive, sake
  noun (masculine)

कथंचन (kathaṁcana) - by any means, somehow, ever

(indeclinable)