महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-136, verse-197

तस्मादभीतवद्भीतो विश्वस्तवदविश्वसन् ।
न ह्यप्रमत्तश्चलति चलितो वा विनश्यति ॥१९७॥

197. tasmādabhītavadbhīto viśvastavadaviśvasan ,
na hyapramattaścalati calito vā vinaśyati.

197. tasmāt abhītavat bhītaḥ viśvastavat aviśvasan
na hi apramattaḥ calati calitaḥ vā vinaśyati

197. tasmāt bhītaḥ abhītavat aviśvasan viśvastavat
na hi apramattaḥ calati vā calitaḥ na vinaśyati

197. Therefore, one who is fearful should act as if fearless, and one who is distrustful should act as if trusting. For a vigilant person (apramatta) does not falter; and if they do falter, they certainly do not perish.

Words meanings summery:

• तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore, from that, from this reason

• अभीतवत् (abhītavat) - as if fearless, fearlessly, like one unafraid

• भीतः (bhītaḥ) - afraid, fearful

• विश्वस्तवत् (viśvastavat) - as if trusting, trustingly, like one confident

• अविश्वसन् (aviśvasan) - not trusting, distrusting, suspicious

• न (na) - not, no

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

• अप्रमत्तः (apramattaḥ) - vigilant, heedful, not careless, attentive

• चलति (calati) - moves, stirs, deviates, falters

• चलितः (calitaḥ) - one who has moved, faltered, deviated

• वा (vā) - or, and

• विनश्यति (vinaśyati) - perishes, is destroyed, disappears

Words meanings and morphology

तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore, from that, from this reason

(indeclinable)

Indeclinable form derived from the demonstrative pronoun 'tad' (that) + the ablative suffix 'sim' (or its equivalent meaning), indicating 'from that' or 'therefore'.

Root: tad

Note: functions as an adverb

अभीतवत् (abhītavat) - as if fearless, fearlessly, like one unafraid

(indeclinable)

Formed from 'abhīta' (fearless) + the 'vat' suffix, meaning 'like' or 'as if'.

Compound type : prādi-samāsa (a+bhīta)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix
• bhīta – afraid, fearful
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root 'bhī' (to fear)
  Root: bhī (class 3)

Note: Adverbial formation

भीतः (bhītaḥ) - afraid, fearful

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīta

bhīta - afraid, fearful, having feared

Past Passive Participle

Derived from the root 'bhī' (to fear), participle formed with suffix 'kta'.

Root: bhī (class 3)

Note: Used here substantively as 'one who is afraid'.

विश्वस्तवत् (viśvastavat) - as if trusting, trustingly, like one confident

(indeclinable)

Formed from 'viśvasta' (trusted, confident) + the 'vat' suffix, meaning 'like' or 'as if'.

Note: Adverbial formation

अविश्वसन् (aviśvasan) - not trusting, distrusting, suspicious

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of aviśvasat

aviśvasat - not trusting, distrusting, suspicious

Present Active Participle

Derived from root 'śvas' (to breathe, trust) with prefix 'vi' (viśvas) + negative prefix 'a'.

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+viśvasat)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix
• viśvasat – trusting, believing
  adjective (masculine)
  Present Active Participle
  Derived from root 'śvas' (to breathe, trust) with prefix 'vi'
  Prefix: vi
  Root: śvas (class 2)

Note: Used here substantively as 'one who is distrusting'.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Primary negative particle.

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

(indeclinable)

Emphatic or causal particle.

अप्रमत्तः (apramattaḥ) - vigilant, heedful, not careless, attentive

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of apramatta

apramatta - not negligent, vigilant, heedful, attentive

Past Passive Participle (with negative prefix)

Derived from root 'mad' (to be intoxicated, negligent) with prefix 'pra' (pramatta) + negative prefix 'a'.

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+pramatta)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix
• pramatta – careless, negligent, intoxicated
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root 'mad' (to be intoxicated, negligent) with prefix 'pra'
  Prefix: pra
  Root: mad (class 4)

Note: Used here substantively as 'a vigilant person'.

चलति (calati) - moves, stirs, deviates, falters

(verb)

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

Present Indicative

3rd person singular, present active.

Root: cal (class 1)

चलितः (calitaḥ) - one who has moved, faltered, deviated

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of calita

calita - moved, stirred, faltered, deviated

Past Passive Participle

Derived from the root 'cal' (to move, waver) with suffix 'kta'.

Root: cal (class 1)

वा (vā) - or, and

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

विनश्यति (vinaśyati) - perishes, is destroyed, disappears

(verb)

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

Present Indicative

3rd person singular, present active. Prefix 'vi' intensifies or modifies the meaning.

Prefix: vi

Root: naś (class 4)