महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-137, verse-79

कर्म चात्महितं कार्यं तीक्ष्णं वा यदि वा मृदु ।
ग्रस्यतेऽकर्मशीलस्तु सदानर्थैरकिंचनः ॥७९॥

79. karma cātmahitaṁ kāryaṁ tīkṣṇaṁ vā yadi vā mṛdu ,
grasyate'karmaśīlastu sadānarthairakiṁcanaḥ.

79. karma ca ātmahitaṃ kāryaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ vā yadi vā mṛdu
grasyate akarmaśīlaḥ tu sadā anarthaiḥ akiṃcanaḥ

79. ātmahitaṃ karma ca tīkṣṇaṃ vā yadi vā mṛdu kāryaṃ.
tu akarmaśīlaḥ akiṃcanaḥ sadā anarthaiḥ grasyate.

79. One must undertake action (karma) that is beneficial to oneself, whether it be harsh or gentle. But a person who is inactive and possesses nothing is always overcome by calamities.

Words meanings summery:

• कर्म (karma) - (karma) (action, work, deed)

• च (ca) - and, also

• आत्महितं (ātmahitaṁ) - beneficial to oneself, one's own good

• कार्यं (kāryaṁ) - to be done, should be done, duty

• तीक्ष्णं (tīkṣṇaṁ) - harsh, sharp, severe, intense

• वा (vā) - or, either

• यदि (yadi) - if, whether

• वा (vā) - or, either

• मृदु (mṛdu) - mild, soft, gentle

• ग्रस्यते (grasyate) - is seized, is devoured, is overcome

• अकर्मशीलः (akarmaśīlaḥ) - inactive, indolent, one who avoids action

• तु (tu) - but, on the other hand

• सदा (sadā) - always, ever

• अनर्थैः (anarthaiḥ) - by misfortunes, by calamities, by evils

• अकिंचनः (akiṁcanaḥ) - destitute, poor, helpless, possessing nothing

Words meanings and morphology

कर्म (karma) - (karma) (action, work, deed)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of karman

karman - action, deed, work, ritual, destiny (as result of actions)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

आत्महितं (ātmahitaṁ) - beneficial to oneself, one's own good

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of ātmahita

ātmahita - one's own good, beneficial to oneself

Compound type : tatpurusha (ātman+hita)

• ātman – self, soul, essence, breath
  noun (masculine)
• hita – beneficial, good, placed, kind
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root dhā with irregular formation
  Root: dhā (class 3)

कार्यं (kāryaṁ) - to be done, should be done, duty

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kārya

kārya - to be done, proper to be done, business, duty, purpose

Gerundive

Derived from root kṛ with suffix -ya

Root: kṛ (class 8)

तीक्ष्णं (tīkṣṇaṁ) - harsh, sharp, severe, intense

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tīkṣṇa

tīkṣṇa - sharp, keen, pungent, hot, severe, harsh

वा (vā) - or, either

(indeclinable)

यदि (yadi) - if, whether

(indeclinable)

वा (vā) - or, either

(indeclinable)

मृदु (mṛdu) - mild, soft, gentle

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of mṛdu

mṛdu - soft, tender, mild, gentle, weak

ग्रस्यते (grasyate) - is seized, is devoured, is overcome

(verb)

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

Passive voice of root gras

Root: gras (class 1)

अकर्मशीलः (akarmaśīlaḥ) - inactive, indolent, one who avoids action

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of akarmaśīla

akarmaśīla - inactive, idle, not diligent, one who avoids work

Compound type : bahuvrihi (a+karma+śīla)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
• karman – action, deed, work
  noun (neuter)
  Root: kṛ (class 8)
• śīla – nature, habit, character, conduct
  noun (masculine)

तु (tu) - but, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

सदा (sadā) - always, ever

(indeclinable)

अनर्थैः (anarthaiḥ) - by misfortunes, by calamities, by evils

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of anartha

anartha - misfortune, calamity, evil, absurdity, uselessness

Compound type : tatpurusha (an+artha)

• an – not, non-
  indeclinable
• artha – aim, purpose, meaning, thing, wealth
  noun (masculine)

अकिंचनः (akiṁcanaḥ) - destitute, poor, helpless, possessing nothing

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of akiṃcana

akiṁcana - having nothing, destitute, poor, helpless

Compound type : bahuvrihi (a+kiṃcana)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
• kiṃcana – anything, something, whatsoever
  pronoun (neuter)