महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-101, verse-2

भीष्म उवाच ।
सत्येन हि स्थिता धर्मा उपपत्त्या तथापरे ।
साध्वाचारतया केचित्तथैवौपयिका अपि ।
उपायधर्मान्वक्ष्यामि सिद्धार्थानर्थधर्मयोः ॥२॥

2. bhīṣma uvāca ,
satyena hi sthitā dharmā upapattyā tathāpare ,
sādhvācāratayā kecittathaivaupayikā api ,
upāyadharmānvakṣyāmi siddhārthānarthadharmayoḥ.

2. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca satyena hi sthitāḥ dharmāḥ
upapattyā tathā apare sādhvācāratayā
kecit tathā eva aupayikāḥ api upāyadharmān
vakṣyāmi siddharthān arthadharmayoḥ

2. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca hi dharmāḥ satyena sthitāḥ
tathā apare upapattyā kecit sādhvācāratayā
tathā eva aupayikāḥ api arthadharmayoḥ
siddharthān upāyadharmān vakṣyāmi

2. Bhishma said: "Indeed, some principles of `dharma` are founded on truth, others on logical reasoning or appropriate means, and still others on virtuous conduct. Similarly, some are purely expedient. I will now explain these expedient principles of `dharma` (upāyadharmān) which are effective for achieving both worldly prosperity (artha) and righteousness (dharma)."

Words meanings summery:

• भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - The character Bhishma from the Mahabharata, responding to Yudhishthira. (Bhishma (proper name))

• उवाच (uvāca) - Bhishma said/spoke. (said, spoke)

• सत्येन (satyena) - Through the principle of truthfulness as a basis for dharma. (by truth, by reality)

• हि (hi) - Emphasizing the foundational nature of truth for some dharmas. (indeed, surely, for, because)

• स्थिताः (sthitāḥ) - Referring to dharmas that are established or based upon certain principles. (established, standing, situated, firm)

• धर्माः (dharmāḥ) - Various aspects or principles of righteous conduct. (dharma`s, duties, virtues, principles of righteousness)

• उपपत्त्या (upapattyā) - Based on pragmatic reasoning or appropriate means, as a foundation for dharma. (by reasoning, by argument, by expediency, by proper method)

• तथा (tathā) - Connecting different categories or bases of dharma. (likewise, so, thus, and)

• अपरे (apare) - Refers to 'other dharmas'. (others, other ones)

• साध्वाचारतया (sādhvācāratayā) - Based on upright and morally sound practices. (by good conduct, by virtuous behavior)

• केचित् (kecit) - Referring to some dharmas that are based on virtuous conduct. (some, certain ones)

• तथा (tathā) - Connecting the different categories of dharma, indicating similarity. (likewise, so, thus, and)

• एव (eva) - Emphasizing that these dharmas are 'purely' or 'also' expedient. (indeed, only, just, even)

• औपयिकाः (aupayikāḥ) - Referring to dharmas that are pragmatically suitable or politically effective for a given situation. (expedient, suitable, proper, useful)

• अपि (api) - Indicating that these types of dharma 'also' exist, in addition to the others mentioned. (even, also, too)

• उपायधर्मान् (upāyadharmān) - Principles of righteousness that involve practical strategies or methods, which Bhishma will explain. (dharma`s (principles) of expedients or means)

• वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - Bhishma stating his intention to explain the 'upāyadharmān'. (I will tell, I will speak)

• सिद्धर्थान् (siddharthān) - Describing the 'upāyadharmān' as being successful in their application. (having achieved their purpose, successful, effective)

• अर्थधर्मयोः (arthadharmayoḥ) - Referring to the twin goals of human life: material well-being and moral living. (of or for worldly prosperity (artha) and dharma (righteousness/duty))

Words meanings and morphology

भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - The character Bhishma from the Mahabharata, responding to Yudhishthira. (Bhishma (proper name))

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - formidable, terrible; Bhishma (name of a Kuru prince)

From root bhī (to fear).

Root: bhī (class 3)

उवाच (uvāca) - Bhishma said/spoke. (said, spoke)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of vac

Perfect (Lit)

3rd person singular, active voice

Root: vac (class 2)

सत्येन (satyena) - Through the principle of truthfulness as a basis for dharma. (by truth, by reality)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of satya

satya - truth, reality, honesty

From 'sat' (being, existing).

Root: as (class 2)

हि (hi) - Emphasizing the foundational nature of truth for some dharmas. (indeed, surely, for, because)

(indeclinable)

स्थिताः (sthitāḥ) - Referring to dharmas that are established or based upon certain principles. (established, standing, situated, firm)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of sthita

sthita - standing, situated, established, firm

Past Passive Participle

From root sthā (to stand).

Root: sthā (class 1)

धर्माः (dharmāḥ) - Various aspects or principles of righteous conduct. (dharma`s, duties, virtues, principles of righteousness)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dharma

dharma - dharma; cosmic law, natural law, righteousness, duty, virtue, intrinsic nature, constitution, proper conduct

From root dhṛ (to uphold, support).

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

उपपत्त्या (upapattyā) - Based on pragmatic reasoning or appropriate means, as a foundation for dharma. (by reasoning, by argument, by expediency, by proper method)

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of upapatti

upapatti - occurrence, proof, reason, expediency, proper method

From upa- + root pad + suffix -ti.

Prefix: upa

Root: pad (class 4)

तथा (tathā) - Connecting different categories or bases of dharma. (likewise, so, thus, and)

(indeclinable)

अपरे (apare) - Refers to 'other dharmas'. (others, other ones)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of apara

apara - other, another, subsequent

साध्वाचारतया (sādhvācāratayā) - Based on upright and morally sound practices. (by good conduct, by virtuous behavior)

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of sādhvācāratā

sādhvācāratā - goodness of conduct, virtue, moral behavior

Compound type : tatpurusha (sādhu+ācāra+tā)

• sādhu – good, virtuous, righteous
  adjective (masculine)
• ācāra – conduct, practice, custom
  noun (masculine)
  From prefix ā + root car
  Prefix: ā
  Root: car (class 1)
• tā – state, condition, -ness
  suffix (feminine)
  Suffix forming abstract feminine nouns.

केचित् (kecit) - Referring to some dharmas that are based on virtuous conduct. (some, certain ones)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of ka

ka - who, which (interrogative pronoun)

Compound with 'cid' particle to mean 'some'.

Note: Used with a plural noun (implied 'dharmāḥ').

तथा (tathā) - Connecting the different categories of dharma, indicating similarity. (likewise, so, thus, and)

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - Emphasizing that these dharmas are 'purely' or 'also' expedient. (indeed, only, just, even)

(indeclinable)

An emphatic particle.

औपयिकाः (aupayikāḥ) - Referring to dharmas that are pragmatically suitable or politically effective for a given situation. (expedient, suitable, proper, useful)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of aupayika

aupayika - expedient, suitable, appropriate, useful

Derived from upāya (means, expedient).

Note: Agrees with implied 'dharmāḥ'.

अपि (api) - Indicating that these types of dharma 'also' exist, in addition to the others mentioned. (even, also, too)

(indeclinable)

उपायधर्मान् (upāyadharmān) - Principles of righteousness that involve practical strategies or methods, which Bhishma will explain. (dharma`s (principles) of expedients or means)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of upāyadharma

upāyadharma - expedient dharma, dharma as a means/strategy

Compound type : tatpurusha (upāya+dharma)

• upāya – means, expedient, method
  noun (masculine)
  From upa- + root i (to go)
  Prefix: upa
  Root: i (class 2)
• dharma – dharma; duty, righteousness
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Object of 'vakṣyāmi'.

वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - Bhishma stating his intention to explain the 'upāyadharmān'. (I will tell, I will speak)

(verb)

1st person , singular, active, future (lṛṭ) of vac

Future (Lṛṭ)

1st person singular, active voice

Root: vac (class 2)

सिद्धर्थान् (siddharthān) - Describing the 'upāyadharmān' as being successful in their application. (having achieved their purpose, successful, effective)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, plural of siddhārtha

siddhārtha - having accomplished one's object, successful, effective

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (siddha+artha)

• siddha – accomplished, perfected, achieved
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root sidh
  Root: sidh (class 4)
• artha – purpose, aim, meaning, wealth, worldly prosperity
  noun (masculine)

Note: Agrees with 'upāyadharmān'.

अर्थधर्मयोः (arthadharmayoḥ) - Referring to the twin goals of human life: material well-being and moral living. (of or for worldly prosperity (artha) and dharma (righteousness/duty))

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, dual of arthadharma

arthadharma - worldly prosperity and dharma (righteousness)

Compound type : dvandva (artha+dharma)

• artha – purpose, aim, wealth, worldly prosperity, material gain
  noun (masculine)
• dharma – dharma; duty, righteousness, moral law
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Genitive indicating 'for the sake of' or 'pertaining to'.