महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-133, verse-1

भीष्म उवाच ।
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
यथा दस्युः समर्यादः प्रेत्यभावे न नश्यति ॥१॥

1. bhīṣma uvāca ,
atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam ,
yathā dasyuḥ samaryādaḥ pretyabhāve na naśyati.

1. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca atra api udāharanti imam itihāsam
purātanam yathā dasyuḥ sa-maryādaḥ pretyabhāve na naśyati

1. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca atra api imam purātanam itihāsam udāharanti
yathā sa-maryādaḥ dasyuḥ pretyabhāve na naśyati

1. Bhishma said: In this context, they also relate this ancient story (itihāsa) about how even a robber (dasyu), if he maintains proper conduct (maryādā), does not perish in the afterlife (pretyabhāva).

Words meanings summery:

• भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma (proper noun)

• उवाच (uvāca) - he said, he spoke

• अत्र (atra) - here, in this matter, in this context

• अपि (api) - also, even, too

• उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite, they relate, they exemplify

• इमम् (imam) - this

• इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history, narrative, legend, epic

• पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient, old

• यथा (yathā) - just as, how, according to

• दस्युः (dasyuḥ) - robber, bandit, enemy

• स-मर्यादः (sa-maryādaḥ) - disciplined, principled, abiding by limits/rules

• प्रेत्यभावे (pretyabhāve) - in the state after death, in the next life/existence

• न (na) - not, no

• नश्यति (naśyati) - perishes, is destroyed, disappears

Words meanings and morphology

भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma (proper noun)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - Bhishma (name of a prominent character in the Mahabharata)

Note: Speaker of the verse.

उवाच (uvāca) - he said, he spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (liṭ) of vac

3rd person singular, perfect tense (liṭ), active voice

Root: vac (class 2)

अत्र (atra) - here, in this matter, in this context

(indeclinable)

Locative adverb of idam (this)

अपि (api) - also, even, too

(indeclinable)

उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite, they relate, they exemplify

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of udāhṛ

3rd person plural, present tense, active voice

Prefixes: ud+ā

Root: hṛ (class 1)

इमम् (imam) - this

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this (demonstrative pronoun)

Note: Object of udāharanti.

इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history, narrative, legend, epic

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of itihāsa

itihāsa - history, tradition, legendary history, epic (e.g., Mahabharata)

Derived from 'iti ha āsa' (thus indeed it was)

Note: Object of udāharanti.

पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient, old

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of purātana

purātana - ancient, old, former

Derived from purā (formerly)

Note: Qualifies itihāsam.

यथा (yathā) - just as, how, according to

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces a clause explaining the nature of the itihāsa.

दस्युः (dasyuḥ) - robber, bandit, enemy

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dasyu

dasyu - robber, bandit, enemy, demon

Note: Subject of naśyati.

स-मर्यादः (sa-maryādaḥ) - disciplined, principled, abiding by limits/rules

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sa-maryāda

sa-maryāda - observing rules, disciplined, principled, with limits

Compound of sa (with) and maryādā (limit, rule, proper conduct)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (sa+maryādā)

• sa – with, together with
  indeclinable
  Prefix indicating association
• maryādā – limit, boundary, rule, proper conduct, social norm
  noun (feminine)

Note: Qualifies dasyuḥ.

प्रेत्यभावे (pretyabhāve) - in the state after death, in the next life/existence

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of pretyabhāva

pretyabhāva - state after death, future existence, the afterlife

Compound of pretya (having died) and bhāva (state, existence)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (pretya+bhāva)

• pretya – having died, after death
  indeclinable
  Absolutive (gerund)
  From pra- + i- (to go)
  Prefix: pra
  Root: i (class 2)
• bhāva – state, condition, existence, being
  noun (masculine)
  Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Location or condition for not perishing.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates the verb naśyati.

नश्यति (naśyati) - perishes, is destroyed, disappears

(verb)

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

3rd person singular, present tense, active voice

Root: naś (class 4)