महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-120, verse-7

नित्यं रक्षितमन्त्रः स्याद्यथा मूकः शरच्छिखी ।
श्लक्ष्णाक्षरतनुः श्रीमान्भवेच्छास्त्रविशारदः ॥७॥

7. nityaṁ rakṣitamantraḥ syādyathā mūkaḥ śaracchikhī ,
ślakṣṇākṣaratanuḥ śrīmānbhavecchāstraviśāradaḥ.

7. nityam rakṣitamantraḥ syāt yathā mūkaḥ śaracchikhī
ślakṣṇākṣaratanuḥ śrīmān bhavet śāstraviśāradaḥ

7. nityam rakṣitamantraḥ syāt yathā mūkaḥ śaracchikhī.
ślakṣṇākṣaratanuḥ śrīmān śāstraviśāradaḥ bhavet

7. One should always be one whose counsel (mantra) is kept secret, just as a peacock in autumn remains silent. He should be eloquent and glorious, skilled in the scriptures (śāstra).

Words meanings summery:

• नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly, perpetually

• रक्षितमन्त्रः (rakṣitamantraḥ) - one whose counsel is protected, having secret plans

• स्यात् (syāt) - should be, may be

• यथा (yathā) - just as, as, like

• मूकः (mūkaḥ) - silent, dumb, mute

• शरच्छिखी (śaracchikhī) - autumn peacock

• श्लक्ष्णाक्षरतनुः (ślakṣṇākṣaratanuḥ) - eloquent and refined in expression (having a body of smooth characters/words, eloquent and refined in expression)

• श्रीमान् (śrīmān) - glorious, prosperous, endowed with beauty/auspiciousness

• भवेत् (bhavet) - should be, may be, may become

• शास्त्रविशारदः (śāstraviśāradaḥ) - skilled in scriptures, expert in sciences/knowledge

Words meanings and morphology

नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly, perpetually

(indeclinable)

Note: Functions as an adverb here.

रक्षितमन्त्रः (rakṣitamantraḥ) - one whose counsel is protected, having secret plans

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rakṣitamantra

rakṣitamantra - one whose counsel (mantra) is protected/kept secret

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (rakṣita+mantra)

• rakṣita – protected, guarded, preserved
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root rakṣ 'to protect'
  Root: rakṣ (class 1)
• mantra – counsel, plan, sacred formula
  noun (masculine)
  Root: man (class 4)

Note: Predicative adjective to the subject of 'syāt'.

स्यात् (syāt) - should be, may be

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (liṅ) of as

Optative, third person singular

Root: as (class 2)

Note: The implied subject is 'one' (e.g., a ruler).

यथा (yathā) - just as, as, like

(indeclinable)

मूकः (mūkaḥ) - silent, dumb, mute

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mūka

mūka - mute, dumb, silent, speechless

शरच्छिखी (śaracchikhī) - autumn peacock

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śaracchikhin

śaracchikhin - a peacock in autumn (referring to the time when it is less vocal or its feathers are less glorious)

From śarat (autumn) + śikhin (peacock)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (śarat+śikhin)

• śarat – autumn
  noun (feminine)
• śikhin – peacock (lit. having a crest)
  noun (masculine)
  Possessive suffix -in

Note: Used in a simile.

श्लक्ष्णाक्षरतनुः (ślakṣṇākṣaratanuḥ) - eloquent and refined in expression (having a body of smooth characters/words, eloquent and refined in expression)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ślakṣṇākṣaratanu

ślakṣṇākṣaratanu - having a body/form of smooth characters/words, hence, eloquent, refined in speech/expression

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (ślakṣṇa+akṣara+tanu)

• ślakṣṇa – smooth, soft, delicate, refined
  adjective
• akṣara – letter, word, syllable, imperishable
  noun (neuter)
• tanu – body, form, person, delicate
  noun (feminine)
  Root: tan (class 8)

Note: Refers to the grace and precision in speaking or writing, fitting for one skilled in scriptures.

श्रीमान् (śrīmān) - glorious, prosperous, endowed with beauty/auspiciousness

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śrīmat

śrīmat - beautiful, glorious, prosperous, fortunate, illustrious, venerable

Possessive suffix -mat

भवेत् (bhavet) - should be, may be, may become

(verb)

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

Optative, third person singular

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: The implied subject is 'one' (e.g., a ruler).

शास्त्रविशारदः (śāstraviśāradaḥ) - skilled in scriptures, expert in sciences/knowledge

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śāstraviśārada

śāstraviśārada - skilled in scriptures (śāstra), expert in sciences or branches of knowledge

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (śāstra+viśārada)

• śāstra – treatise, scripture, science, rule, instruction
  noun (neuter)
  Root: śās (class 2)
• viśārada – skilled, expert, proficient, learned
  adjective (masculine)
  Prefix: vi
  Root: śṛd (class 1)

Note: Predicative adjective to the subject of 'bhavet'.