महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-139, verse-37

आपत्सु विहितं स्तेयं विशिष्टसमहीनतः ।
परं परं भवेत्पूर्वमस्तेयमिति निश्चयः ॥३७॥

37. āpatsu vihitaṁ steyaṁ viśiṣṭasamahīnataḥ ,
paraṁ paraṁ bhavetpūrvamasteyamiti niścayaḥ.

37. āpatsu vihitam steyam viśiṣṭasamahīnataḥ
param param bhavet pūrvam asteyam iti niścayaḥ

37. āpatsu viśiṣṭasamahīnataḥ steyam vihitam (asti).
iti niścayaḥ (yat) asteyam pūrvam bhavet (ca) param param (bhavet steyam).

37. In times of distress, theft is permitted from those who are superior, equal, or inferior. However, it is a firm conclusion that non-theft (asteya) is the primary principle, and theft is only a subsequent course of action.

Words meanings summery:

• आपत्सु (āpatsu) - in times of distress, in calamities

• विहितम् (vihitam) - enjoined, prescribed, permitted

• स्तेयम् (steyam) - theft, stealing

• विशिष्टसमहीनतः (viśiṣṭasamahīnataḥ) - from (those who are) superior, equal, or inferior

• परम् (param) - subsequent, later, other

• परम् (param) - subsequent, later, other

• भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be

• पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - prior, earlier, primary, first

• अस्तेयम् (asteyam) - non-theft, abstention from stealing

• इति (iti) - thus, so

• निश्चयः (niścayaḥ) - certainty, firm conclusion

Words meanings and morphology

आपत्सु (āpatsu) - in times of distress, in calamities

(noun)

Locative, feminine, plural of āpad

āpad - distress, calamity, misfortune

विहितम् (vihitam) - enjoined, prescribed, permitted

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of vihita

vihita - enjoined, prescribed, placed, arranged, permitted

Past Passive Participle

Derived from √dhā (to place, arrange, hold) with prefix vi-.

Prefix: vi

Root: dhā (class 3)

Note: Agrees in gender, number, and case with 'steyam'.

स्तेयम् (steyam) - theft, stealing

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of steya

steya - theft, stealing (as an act)

Derived from √stī / √stīy (to steal) + suffix -ya.

Root: stī (class 1)

विशिष्टसमहीनतः (viśiṣṭasamahīnataḥ) - from (those who are) superior, equal, or inferior

(noun)

Ablative, singular of viśiṣṭasamahīna

viśiṣṭasamahīna - (a group of) superior, equal, or inferior (persons)

Compound type : dvandva (viśiṣṭa+sama+hīna)

• viśiṣṭa – distinguished, superior, excellent
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from √śiṣ (to distinguish) with prefix vi-
  Prefix: vi
  Root: śiṣ (class 7)
• sama – equal, same, like
  adjective (masculine)
• hīna – inferior, deficient, low
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from √hā (to abandon, forsake, leave)
  Root: hā (class 3)

Note: The suffix '-taḥ' indicates 'from' or 'by reason of', applied to the collective noun/adjective.

परम् (param) - subsequent, later, other

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of para

para - other, different, subsequent, supreme, ultimate

Note: In 'param param', it implies 'successively' or 'as a secondary step'.

परम् (param) - subsequent, later, other

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of para

para - other, different, subsequent, supreme, ultimate

Note: In 'param param', it implies 'successively' or 'as a secondary step'.

भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (Vidhi Liṅ) of bhū

Root: bhū (class 1)

पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - prior, earlier, primary, first

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pūrva

pūrva - former, earlier, prior, first

अस्तेयम् (asteyam) - non-theft, abstention from stealing

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of asteya

asteya - non-theft, abstention from stealing (asteya)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+steya)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
• steya – theft, stealing
  noun (neuter)
  Action noun from √stī / √stīy (to steal)
  Root: stī (class 1)

इति (iti) - thus, so

(indeclinable)

निश्चयः (niścayaḥ) - certainty, firm conclusion

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of niścaya

niścaya - certainty, firm conclusion, determination

Derived from √ci (to gather, observe) with prefix nis-.

Prefix: nis

Root: ci (class 5)