महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-124, verse-3

कथं नु प्राप्यते शीलं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भारत ।
किंलक्षणं च तत्प्रोक्तं ब्रूहि मे वदतां वर ॥३॥

3. kathaṁ nu prāpyate śīlaṁ śrotumicchāmi bhārata ,
kiṁlakṣaṇaṁ ca tatproktaṁ brūhi me vadatāṁ vara.

3. katham nu prāpyate śīlam śrotum icchāmi bhārata
kimlakṣaṇam ca tat proktam brūhi me vadatām vara

3. bhārata vadatām vara katham nu śīlam
prāpyate ca tat kimlakṣaṇam proktam me brūhi

3. O Bhārata, I wish to hear how good character is obtained. And what are its defining characteristics? Tell me that, O best among speakers.

Words meanings summery:

• कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner

• नु (nu) - then, indeed, now (particle)

• प्राप्यते (prāpyate) - is obtained, is reached, is acquired

• शीलम् (śīlam) - good conduct, character, virtuous disposition

• श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear

• इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish, I desire

• भारत (bhārata) - O king (common address in Mahābhārata, here to Dhṛtarāṣṭra via Bhishma to Yudhiṣṭhira) (O descendant of Bharata)

• किम्लक्षणम् (kimlakṣaṇam) - what are its characteristics, what is its nature

• च (ca) - and

• तत् (tat) - that, it

• प्रोक्तम् (proktam) - declared, said, spoken

• ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell, speak

• मे (me) - to me, for me

• वदताम् (vadatām) - of speakers, among those who speak

• वर (vara) - O best, O excellent one

Words meanings and morphology

कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner

(indeclinable)

नु (nu) - then, indeed, now (particle)

(indeclinable)

Note: Expresses inquiry or emphasis.

प्राप्यते (prāpyate) - is obtained, is reached, is acquired

(verb)

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

Prefix: pra

Root: āp (class 5)

Note: Root āp- with upasarga pra-.

शीलम् (śīlam) - good conduct, character, virtuous disposition

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śīla

śīla - nature, character, habit, conduct, virtue, good disposition

श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear

(indeclinable)

Infinitive

Infinitive form of root śru- (to hear)

Root: śru (class 5)

इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish, I desire

(verb)

1st person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of iṣ

Root: iṣ (class 6)

भारत (bhārata) - O king (common address in Mahābhārata, here to Dhṛtarāṣṭra via Bhishma to Yudhiṣṭhira) (O descendant of Bharata)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of bhārata

bhārata - descendant of Bharata, relating to Bharata; India

किम्लक्षणम् (kimlakṣaṇam) - what are its characteristics, what is its nature

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kimlakṣaṇa

kimlakṣaṇa - having what characteristics, what are the features of

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (kim+lakṣaṇa)

• kim – what, which
  pronoun (neuter)
• lakṣaṇa – mark, sign, characteristic, definition
  noun (neuter)

Note: Agrees with 'tat' referring to 'śīlam'.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

तत् (tat) - that, it

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Refers to 'śīlam'.

प्रोक्तम् (proktam) - declared, said, spoken

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of prokta

prokta - declared, said, spoken, proclaimed

Past Passive Participle

From root vac- (to speak) with upasarga pra-.

Prefix: pra

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Agrees with 'tat' and 'śīlam'.

ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell, speak

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of brū

Root: brū (class 2)

Note: Archaic form of 'speak!'

मे (me) - to me, for me

(pronoun)

Dative, singular of asmad

asmad - I, we (first person pronoun)

Note: Also genitive singular. Context implies dative.

वदताम् (vadatām) - of speakers, among those who speak

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of vadat

vadat - speaking, speaker

Present Active Participle

Derived from root vad- (to speak)

Root: vad (class 1)

वर (vara) - O best, O excellent one

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - best, excellent; boon; bridegroom