महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-110, verse-15

श्रेयस्तत्रानृतं वक्तुं सत्यादिति विचारितम् ।
यः पापैः सह संबन्धान्मुच्यते शपथादिति ॥१५॥

15. śreyastatrānṛtaṁ vaktuṁ satyāditi vicāritam ,
yaḥ pāpaiḥ saha saṁbandhānmucyate śapathāditi.

15. śreyaḥ tatra anṛtam vaktum satyāt iti vicāritam
yaḥ pāpaiḥ saha saṃbandhāt mucyate śapathāt iti

15. iti vicāritam: tatra satyāt anṛtam vaktum śreyaḥ,
yaḥ pāpaiḥ saha saṃbandhāt śapathāt mucyate iti.

15. It has been determined that in such a situation, it is better to speak an untruth than the truth, [especially if by doing so] one is freed from association with sinful people and from the consequences of an oath.

Words meanings summery:

• श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - it is better, preferable (better, more excellent, welfare)

• तत्र (tatra) - in such a situation, in this context (there, in that case, in that situation)

• अनृतम् (anṛtam) - an untruth (untruth, falsehood, lie)

• वक्तुम् (vaktum) - to speak, to say

• सत्यात् (satyāt) - than truth, from truth

• इति (iti) - marking a direct quote or conclusion of a statement (thus, that) (thus, so, in this way)

• विचारितम् (vicāritam) - it has been considered/determined (considered, reflected, examined)

• यः (yaḥ) - if one, he who (who, whoever, which)

• पापैः (pāpaiḥ) - with sinful people (by/with wicked/sinful people)

• सह (saha) - with, together with

• संबन्धात् (saṁbandhāt) - from connection, from association

• मुच्यते (mucyate) - is freed, is released

• शपथात् (śapathāt) - from the consequences of an oath (from an oath, from a curse)

• इति (iti) - marking a direct quote or conclusion of a statement (thus, that) (thus, so, in this way)

Words meanings and morphology

श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - it is better, preferable (better, more excellent, welfare)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śreyas

śreyas - better, more excellent, superior, welfare, happiness

Comparative form derived from praśasya (excellent) or śrī (prosperity).

तत्र (tatra) - in such a situation, in this context (there, in that case, in that situation)

(indeclinable)

From 'tad' (that) + suffix 'trā'.

अनृतम् (anṛtam) - an untruth (untruth, falsehood, lie)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of anṛta

anṛta - untruth, false, lie, disorder

Compound of 'a' (negation) and 'ṛta' (truth, cosmic order).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+ṛta)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
  Negation prefix
• ṛta – truth, cosmic order, right
  noun (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root 'ṛ' (to go, to move).
  Root: ṛ (class 3)

वक्तुम् (vaktum) - to speak, to say

(indeclinable)

infinitive

From root 'vac' (to speak) with suffix '-tum'.

Root: vac (class 2)

सत्यात् (satyāt) - than truth, from truth

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of satya

satya - truth, real, true

From 'sat' (being, existence) + suffix '-ya'.

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Used in comparison ("than truth").

इति (iti) - marking a direct quote or conclusion of a statement (thus, that) (thus, so, in this way)

(indeclinable)

विचारितम् (vicāritam) - it has been considered/determined (considered, reflected, examined)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of vicārita

vicārita - considered, reflected upon, investigated

Past Passive Participle

From root 'car' with prefix 'vi' and suffix '-ita'.

Prefix: vi

Root: car (class 1)

Note: Functions as a predicate, implying "it is considered".

यः (yaḥ) - if one, he who (who, whoever, which)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what (relative pronoun)

पापैः (pāpaiḥ) - with sinful people (by/with wicked/sinful people)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of pāpa

pāpa - evil, wicked, sinful, sin, bad

सह (saha) - with, together with

(indeclinable)

संबन्धात् (saṁbandhāt) - from connection, from association

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of saṃbandha

saṁbandha - connection, relation, association

From root 'bandh' (to bind) with prefix 'sam'.

Prefix: sam

Root: bandh (class 9)

मुच्यते (mucyate) - is freed, is released

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of muc

passive voice, present tense, 3rd person singular

Present passive, Ātmanepada.

Root: muc (class 6)

शपथात् (śapathāt) - from the consequences of an oath (from an oath, from a curse)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of śapatha

śapatha - oath, curse, imprecation

From root 'śap' (to curse, to swear).

Root: śap (class 1)

इति (iti) - marking a direct quote or conclusion of a statement (thus, that) (thus, so, in this way)

(indeclinable)