महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-128, verse-38

अर्थार्थमन्यद्भवति विपरीतमथापरम् ।
अनर्थार्थमथाप्यन्यत्तत्सर्वं ह्यर्थलक्षणम् ।
एवं बुद्ध्या संप्रपश्येन्मेधावी कार्यनिश्चयम् ॥३८॥

38. arthārthamanyadbhavati viparītamathāparam ,
anarthārthamathāpyanyattatsarvaṁ hyarthalakṣaṇam ,
evaṁ buddhyā saṁprapaśyenmedhāvī kāryaniścayam.

38. arthārtham anyat bhavati viparītam atha
aparam anarthārtham atha api anyat
tat sarvam hi arthalakṣaṇam evam
buddhyā saṃprapaśyet medhāvī kāryaniścayam

38. arthārtham anyat bhavati,
atha aparam viparītam (bhavati) atha api anyat anarthārtham (bhavati) tat sarvam hi arthalakṣaṇam evam medhāvī buddhyā kāryaniścayam saṃprapaśyet

38. One action (or outcome) is for gain (artha), while another yields the opposite result. Yet another is for non-gain or harm. All of this is indeed characterized by purpose (artha). Thus, an intelligent person (medhāvī) should discern the true nature of an action through their intellect.

Words meanings summery:

• अर्थार्थम् (arthārtham) - for the purpose of gain or benefit (for the sake of purpose, for gain, for wealth)

• अन्यत् (anyat) - another (action or outcome) (another, other)

• भवति (bhavati) - results in, happens (is, becomes, exists, happens)

• विपरीतम् (viparītam) - the opposite (outcome), contrary to benefit (opposite, contrary, inverted)

• अथ (atha) - and, while (then, moreover, and)

• अपरम् (aparam) - another (action or outcome) (another, other, subsequent)

• अनर्थार्थम् (anarthārtham) - for the purpose of harm or no benefit (for the sake of misfortune, for harm, for no gain)

• अथ (atha) - and, then (then, moreover, and)

• अपि (api) - also (even, also, too)

• अन्यत् (anyat) - yet another (action or outcome) (another, other)

• तत् (tat) - all that (which was described) (that, those)

• सर्वम् (sarvam) - all (these outcomes) (all, whole, every)

• हि (hi) - indeed, certainly (indeed, for, because)

• अर्थलक्षणम् (arthalakṣaṇam) - is characterized by purpose (artha) (characteristic of purpose/meaning/wealth)

• एवम् (evam) - thus, in this way (thus, in this manner, so)

• बुद्ध्या (buddhyā) - through their intellect (by intellect, by understanding, with intelligence)

• संप्रपश्येत् (saṁprapaśyet) - should clearly discern (should clearly see, should discern, should perceive)

• मेधावी (medhāvī) - a discerning or intelligent person (medhāvī) (intelligent person, wise one, discerning)

• कार्यनिश्चयम् (kāryaniścayam) - the true nature or decision regarding an action (determination of action, decision about a task, certainty of an action)

Words meanings and morphology

अर्थार्थम् (arthārtham) - for the purpose of gain or benefit (for the sake of purpose, for gain, for wealth)

(indeclinable)

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (artha+artha)

• artha – purpose, meaning, wealth, gain
  noun (masculine)
• artha – purpose, for the sake of
  noun (masculine)

Note: Here, the second 'artha' means 'for the sake of'.

अन्यत् (anyat) - another (action or outcome) (another, other)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of anya

anya - other, another, different

भवति (bhavati) - results in, happens (is, becomes, exists, happens)

(verb)

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

present tense

Root: bhū (class 1)

विपरीतम् (viparītam) - the opposite (outcome), contrary to benefit (opposite, contrary, inverted)

(adjective)

neuter, singular of viparīta

viparīta - reversed, opposite, contrary

Past Passive Participle

P.P.P. of pari-i with vi

Prefixes: vi+pari

Root: i (class 2)

Note: Functions here as a predicate adjective.

अथ (atha) - and, while (then, moreover, and)

(indeclinable)

अपरम् (aparam) - another (action or outcome) (another, other, subsequent)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of apara

apara - other, another, subsequent

अनर्थार्थम् (anarthārtham) - for the purpose of harm or no benefit (for the sake of misfortune, for harm, for no gain)

(indeclinable)

Formed from 'anartha' and 'artha'

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (anartha+artha)

• anartha – misfortune, evil, harm
  noun (masculine)
• artha – purpose, for the sake of
  noun (masculine)

अथ (atha) - and, then (then, moreover, and)

(indeclinable)

अपि (api) - also (even, also, too)

(indeclinable)

अन्यत् (anyat) - yet another (action or outcome) (another, other)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of anya

anya - other, another, different

तत् (tat) - all that (which was described) (that, those)

(pronoun)

neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, it

Note: Agrees with 'sarvam'.

सर्वम् (sarvam) - all (these outcomes) (all, whole, every)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of sarva

sarva - all, whole, every

Note: Functions here as a noun, 'all of it'.

हि (hi) - indeed, certainly (indeed, for, because)

(indeclinable)

अर्थलक्षणम् (arthalakṣaṇam) - is characterized by purpose (artha) (characteristic of purpose/meaning/wealth)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of arthalakṣaṇa

arthalakṣaṇa - characteristic of purpose/meaning/wealth

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (artha+lakṣaṇa)

• artha – purpose, meaning, wealth
  noun (masculine)
• lakṣaṇa – characteristic, mark, sign, definition
  noun (neuter)
  Root: lakṣ (class 10)

Note: Predicative noun.

एवम् (evam) - thus, in this way (thus, in this manner, so)

(indeclinable)

बुद्ध्या (buddhyā) - through their intellect (by intellect, by understanding, with intelligence)

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of buddhi

buddhi - intellect, understanding, intelligence

From root budh

Root: budh (class 1)

संप्रपश्येत् (saṁprapaśyet) - should clearly discern (should clearly see, should discern, should perceive)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of saṃprapaś

optative mood

Optative of root dṛś (with paśya stem) with prefixes sam and pra

Prefixes: sam+pra

Root: dṛś (class 1)

मेधावी (medhāvī) - a discerning or intelligent person (medhāvī) (intelligent person, wise one, discerning)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of medhāvin

medhāvin - intelligent, wise, discerning

Formed from 'medhā' (intellect) with suffix -vin

कार्यनिश्चयम् (kāryaniścayam) - the true nature or decision regarding an action (determination of action, decision about a task, certainty of an action)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of kāryaniścaya

kāryaniścaya - determination of action, decision about a task

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (kārya+niścaya)

• kārya – action, duty, to be done
  noun (neuter)
  Gerundive
  Gerundive of root kṛ
  Root: kṛ (class 8)
• niścaya – ascertainment, certainty, decision
  noun (masculine)
  From root ci with prefix ni and suffix -aya
  Prefix: ni
  Root: ci (class 5)