महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-138, verse-38

कर्मणा येन तेनेह मृदुना दारुणेन वा ।
उद्धरेद्दीनमात्मानं समर्थो धर्ममाचरेत् ॥३८॥

38. karmaṇā yena teneha mṛdunā dāruṇena vā ,
uddhareddīnamātmānaṁ samartho dharmamācaret.

38. karmaṇā yena tena iha mṛdunā dāruṇena vā
uddharet dīnam ātmānam samarthaḥ dharmam ācaret

38. iha yena mṛdunā vā dāruṇena karmaṇā tena dīnam
ātmānam uddharet samarthaḥ dharmam ācaret

38. In this world, one should uplift their distressed self (ātman) by whatever action (karma), whether gentle or harsh. A capable person should always practice their duty (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

• कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action, by deed

• येन (yena) - by which, by whom

• तेन (tena) - by that, by him

• इह (iha) - here, in this world

• मृदुना (mṛdunā) - by a gentle (action/means)

• दारुणेन (dāruṇena) - by a harsh (action/means)

• वा (vā) - or

• उद्धरेत् (uddharet) - one should uplift, deliver, rescue

• दीनम् (dīnam) - distressed, miserable, poor

• आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - oneself, the self (ātman)

• समर्थः (samarthaḥ) - capable, able, competent

• धर्मम् (dharmam) - duty, righteousness, constitution (dharma)

• आचरेत् (ācaret) - one should practice, perform, observe

Words meanings and morphology

कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action, by deed

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of karman

karman - action, deed, ritual (karma)

येन (yena) - by which, by whom

(pronoun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what

Note: Agrees with 'karmaṇā' (neuter)

तेन (tena) - by that, by him

(pronoun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Agrees with 'karmaṇā' (neuter)

इह (iha) - here, in this world

(indeclinable)

मृदुना (mṛdunā) - by a gentle (action/means)

(adjective)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of mṛdu

mṛdu - soft, gentle, mild

Note: Agrees with 'karmaṇā' (neuter)

दारुणेन (dāruṇena) - by a harsh (action/means)

(adjective)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of dāruṇa

dāruṇa - harsh, cruel, severe

Note: Agrees with 'karmaṇā' (neuter)

वा (vā) - or

(indeclinable)

उद्धरेत् (uddharet) - one should uplift, deliver, rescue

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhi liṅ) of uddhṛ

Prefix: ud

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

दीनम् (dīnam) - distressed, miserable, poor

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dīna

dīna - distressed, miserable, poor

Note: Agrees with 'ātmānam'

आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - oneself, the self (ātman)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - self, soul, spirit (ātman)

समर्थः (samarthaḥ) - capable, able, competent

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of samartha

samartha - capable, able, competent

धर्मम् (dharmam) - duty, righteousness, constitution (dharma)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - righteousness, duty, law, constitution, intrinsic nature (dharma)

आचरेत् (ācaret) - one should practice, perform, observe

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhi liṅ) of ācar

Prefix: ā

Root: car (class 1)