महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-128, verse-8

उपायं धर्मबहुलं यात्रार्थं शृणु भारत ।
नाहमेतादृशं धर्मं बुभूषे धर्मकारणात् ।
दुःखादान इहाढ्येषु स्यात्तु पश्चात्क्षमो मतः ॥८॥

8. upāyaṁ dharmabahulaṁ yātrārthaṁ śṛṇu bhārata ,
nāhametādṛśaṁ dharmaṁ bubhūṣe dharmakāraṇāt ,
duḥkhādāna ihāḍhyeṣu syāttu paścātkṣamo mataḥ.

8. upāyam dharmabahulam yātrārtham śṛṇu
bhārata na aham etādṛśam dharmam
bubhūṣe dharmakāraṇāt duḥkhādānam
iha āḍhyeṣu syāt tu paścāt kṣamaḥ mataḥ

8. bhārata yātrārtham dharmabahulam
upāyam śṛṇu aham na bubhūṣe etādṛśam
dharmam dharmakāraṇāt iha āḍhyeṣu
duḥkhādānam syāt tu paścāt kṣamaḥ mataḥ

8. Listen, O Bharata, to a path abundant in the intrinsic nature (dharma) for the sake of livelihood. I do not wish to (expound) such an intricate intrinsic nature (dharma) merely for the sake of (ordinary discourse on) natural law (dharma). For here, among the prosperous, it initially causes distress, but it is considered beneficial in the long run.

Words meanings summery:

• उपायम् (upāyam) - a path or method (method, means, path, stratagem)

• धर्मबहुलम् (dharmabahulam) - abundant in the intrinsic nature (dharma) (full of dharma, rich in dharma)

• यात्रार्थम् (yātrārtham) - for the sake of livelihood (for the sake of a journey, for livelihood)

• शृणु (śṛṇu) - listen (hear, listen)

• भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata (addressing Yudhishthira) (O descendant of Bharata)

• न (na) - not (not, no)

• अहम् (aham) - I (Bhishma) (I)

• एतादृशम् (etādṛśam) - such an intricate (such, of this kind)

• धर्मम् (dharmam) - such an intricate intrinsic nature (dharma) (intrinsic nature, duty, constitution, law)

• बुभूषे (bubhūṣe) - I desire to be (or embody/expound) (I desire to be/become)

• धर्मकारणात् (dharmakāraṇāt) - merely for the sake of (ordinary discourse on) natural law (dharma) (for the sake of dharma)

• दुःखादानम् (duḥkhādānam) - initially causes distress (causing sorrow, bringing misery)

• इह (iha) - here (in this context) (here, in this world)

• आढ्येषु (āḍhyeṣu) - among the prosperous (among the rich, in the case of the prosperous)

• स्यात् (syāt) - it may be (may be, let it be)

• तु (tu) - but (but, indeed)

• पश्चात् (paścāt) - in the long run, later (afterwards, behind, later)

• क्षमः (kṣamaḥ) - beneficial (beneficial, capable, patient)

• मतः (mataḥ) - considered (considered, thought, approved)

Words meanings and morphology

उपायम् (upāyam) - a path or method (method, means, path, stratagem)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of upāya

upāya - method, means, device, remedy, access

Prefix: upa

Root: i (class 2)

Note: Object of 'śṛṇu'.

धर्मबहुलम् (dharmabahulam) - abundant in the intrinsic nature (dharma) (full of dharma, rich in dharma)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharmabahula

dharmabahula - rich in dharma, abounding in righteousness

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+bahula)

• dharma – constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty, virtue, justice
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• bahula – much, abundant, manifold, frequent
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Adjective modifying 'upāyam'.

यात्रार्थम् (yātrārtham) - for the sake of livelihood (for the sake of a journey, for livelihood)

(indeclinable)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (yātrā+artha)

• yātrā – journey, procession, pilgrimage; livelihood, sustenance
  noun (feminine)
  Root: yā (class 2)
• artha – purpose, meaning, wealth, object
  noun (masculine)

Note: Used as an adverbial accusative or indeclinable.

शृणु (śṛṇu) - listen (hear, listen)

(verb)

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

imperative active

2nd person singular, imperative active

Root: śru (class 5)

Note: Command to Yudhishthira.

भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata (addressing Yudhishthira) (O descendant of Bharata)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of bhārata

bhārata - descendant of Bharata, relating to Bharata

Note: Address to Yudhishthira.

न (na) - not (not, no)

(indeclinable)

Note: Negating 'bubhūṣe'.

अहम् (aham) - I (Bhishma) (I)

(pronoun)

Nominative, singular of asmad

asmad - I, we

Note: Subject of 'bubhūṣe'.

एतादृशम् (etādṛśam) - such an intricate (such, of this kind)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of etādṛśa

etādṛśa - such, of this kind, like this

Note: Adjective modifying 'dharmam'.

धर्मम् (dharmam) - such an intricate intrinsic nature (dharma) (intrinsic nature, duty, constitution, law)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty, virtue, justice

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Object of 'bubhūṣe'.

बुभूषे (bubhūṣe) - I desire to be (or embody/expound) (I desire to be/become)

(verb)

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

desiderative active

1st person singular, present ātmanepada of desiderative of 'bhū'

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Expresses Bhishma's reluctance.

धर्मकारणात् (dharmakāraṇāt) - merely for the sake of (ordinary discourse on) natural law (dharma) (for the sake of dharma)

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of dharmakāraṇa

dharmakāraṇa - reason for dharma, for the sake of dharma

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+kāraṇa)

• dharma – constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty, virtue, justice
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• kāraṇa – cause, reason, instrument
  noun (neuter)
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Indicates the reason or purpose.

दुःखादानम् (duḥkhādānam) - initially causes distress (causing sorrow, bringing misery)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of duḥkhādāna

duḥkhādāna - causing pain, bringing misery, appropriation of sorrow

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (duḥkha+ādāna)

• duḥkha – suffering, pain, sorrow, misery
  noun (neuter)
• ādāna – taking, receiving, appropriation, causing
  noun (neuter)
  action noun
  action noun from root 'dā' with prefix 'ā'
  Prefix: ā
  Root: dā (class 3)

Note: Subject of 'syāt'.

इह (iha) - here (in this context) (here, in this world)

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb of place.

आढ्येषु (āḍhyeṣu) - among the prosperous (among the rich, in the case of the prosperous)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, plural of āḍhya

āḍhya - rich, wealthy, abundant, prosperous

Note: Refers to those who are wealthy or powerful.

स्यात् (syāt) - it may be (may be, let it be)

(verb)

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

optative active

3rd person singular, optative active

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Expresses possibility or potential.

तु (tu) - but (but, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces a contrast.

पश्चात् (paścāt) - in the long run, later (afterwards, behind, later)

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb of time.

क्षमः (kṣamaḥ) - beneficial (beneficial, capable, patient)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kṣama

kṣama - able, capable, fit, beneficial, patient

Root: kṣam (class 1)

Note: Predicate adjective, describing 'it' (the dharma).

मतः (mataḥ) - considered (considered, thought, approved)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mata

mata - thought, considered, opinion, approved

past passive participle

past passive participle of root 'man' (to think)

Root: man (class 4)

Note: Modifies 'kṣamaḥ', implying general opinion.