महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-115, verse-15

तं स्वकर्माणि कुर्वाणं प्रतिकर्तुं य इच्छति ।
भस्मकूट इवाबुद्धिः खरो रजसि मज्जति ॥१५॥

15. taṁ svakarmāṇi kurvāṇaṁ pratikartuṁ ya icchati ,
bhasmakūṭa ivābuddhiḥ kharo rajasi majjati.

15. tam svakarmāṇi kurvāṇam pratikartum yaḥ icchati
abuddhiḥ kharaḥ rajasi majjati bhasmakūṭaḥ iva

15. yaḥ tam svakarmāṇi kurvāṇam pratikartum icchati,
saḥ abuddhiḥ kharaḥ rajasi majjati,
bhasmakūṭaḥ iva

15. Whoever wishes to retaliate against one performing his own (rightful) actions (karma), that unintelligent person (abuddhi), like a senseless donkey, plunges into the dust, much like (disturbing) a heap of ashes (only creates more dust or is a futile act).

Words meanings summery:

• तम् (tam) - him (referring to the great soul from previous verse, or generally 'one') (him, that)

• स्वकर्माणि (svakarmāṇi) - one's own rightful actions or duties (dharma) (his own actions, one's own duties)

• कुर्वाणम् (kurvāṇam) - performing, doing, making

• प्रतिकर्तुम् (pratikartum) - to oppose, to retaliate, to act against

• यः (yaḥ) - who, he who

• इच्छति (icchati) - desires, wishes

• अबुद्धिः (abuddhiḥ) - unintelligent, senseless, foolish

• खरः (kharaḥ) - a donkey, ass

• रजसि (rajasi) - in dust, in dirt

• मज्जति (majjati) - plunges, sinks, dives, drowns

• भस्मकूटः (bhasmakūṭaḥ) - a heap of ashes, a pile of cinders

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

Words meanings and morphology

तम् (tam) - him (referring to the great soul from previous verse, or generally 'one') (him, that)

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Demonstrative pronoun.

स्वकर्माणि (svakarmāṇi) - one's own rightful actions or duties (dharma) (his own actions, one's own duties)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, plural of svakarma

svakarma - one's own action, one's own duty, one's specific work (karma)

Tatpurusha compound sva (own) + karma (action).

Compound type : tatpurusha (sva+karma)

• sva – own, one's own
  pronoun/adjective
• karma – action, deed, work, duty, fate
  noun (neuter)
  From root kṛ (to do) with man suffix.
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

कुर्वाणम् (kurvāṇam) - performing, doing, making

(participle)

Accusative, masculine, singular of kurvāṇa

kurvāṇa - doing, performing, making

Present Active Participle (Ātmanepada)

From root kṛ (to do) with śānac suffix.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

प्रतिकर्तुम् (pratikartum) - to oppose, to retaliate, to act against

(infinitive)

यः (yaḥ) - who, he who

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what

Relative pronoun.

इच्छति (icchati) - desires, wishes

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of iṣ

Root iṣ in the tudā class (6th class).

Root: iṣ (class 6)

अबुद्धिः (abuddhiḥ) - unintelligent, senseless, foolish

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of abuddhi

abuddhi - unintelligent, senseless, foolish; lacking wisdom or understanding

Negative compound a (not) + buddhi (intellect).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (a+buddhi)

• a – not, non-, un-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix.
• buddhi – intellect, understanding, discernment, perception
  noun (feminine)
  From root budh (to know, perceive).
  Root: budh (class 1)

Note: Agrees with kharaḥ.

खरः (kharaḥ) - a donkey, ass

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of khara

khara - donkey, ass; harsh, sharp, cruel

Note: Subject of majjati.

रजसि (rajasi) - in dust, in dirt

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of rajas

rajas - dust, dirt, pollen, impurity, passion, menstrual fluid

मज्जति (majjati) - plunges, sinks, dives, drowns

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of majj

Root majj (variant of masj) in the 6th class.

Root: majj (class 6)

भस्मकूटः (bhasmakūṭaḥ) - a heap of ashes, a pile of cinders

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhasmakūṭa

bhasmakūṭa - a heap of ashes, a pile of cinders

Tatpurusha compound bhasma (ashes) + kūṭa (heap).

Compound type : tatpurusha (bhasma+kūṭa)

• bhasma – ashes, cinders
  noun (neuter)
  From root bhas (to consume by fire).
  Root: bhas (class 1)
• kūṭa – heap, pile, mass, summit, peak
  noun (masculine/neuter)

Note: Part of the simile.

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

Particle expressing comparison or similitude.