महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-154, verse-14

आश्रमेषु चतुर्ष्वाहुर्दममेवोत्तमं व्रतम् ।
तस्य लिङ्गानि वक्ष्यामि येषां समुदयो दमः ॥१४॥

14. āśrameṣu caturṣvāhurdamamevottamaṁ vratam ,
tasya liṅgāni vakṣyāmi yeṣāṁ samudayo damaḥ.

14. āśrameṣu caturṣu āhuḥ damam eva uttamam vratam
tasya liṅgāni vakṣyāmi yeṣām samudayaḥ damaḥ

14. caturṣu āśrameṣu damam eva uttamam vratam āhuḥ
tasya liṅgāni vakṣyāmi yeṣām samudayaḥ damaḥ

14. It is declared that self-control (dama) is indeed the most excellent discipline in the four stages of life (āśrama). I will describe the characteristics, the sum of which constitutes this self-control (dama).

Words meanings summery:

• आश्रमेषु (āśrameṣu) - in the (four) stages of life (āśrama) (in the stages of life, in hermitages)

• चतुर्षु (caturṣu) - in the four (stages of life) (in the four)

• आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they declare, it is said

• दमम् (damam) - self-control, restraint

• एव (eva) - indeed, only, just, exactly

• उत्तमम् (uttamam) - best, excellent, highest

• व्रतम् (vratam) - vow, sacred observance, discipline

• तस्य (tasya) - its (of self-control) (of him, of that, its)

• लिङ्गानि (liṅgāni) - characteristics, marks, signs, symptoms

• वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - I will speak, I will declare, I will tell

• येषाम् (yeṣām) - of which (characteristics) (of whom, of which)

• समुदयः (samudayaḥ) - the sum/aggregate (collection, aggregate, rise, origin)

• दमः (damaḥ) - self-control, restraint

Words meanings and morphology

आश्रमेषु (āśrameṣu) - in the (four) stages of life (āśrama) (in the stages of life, in hermitages)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of āśrama

āśrama - hermitage, a stage of life (āśrama), an order of ascetics

From root 'śram' (to toil, exert oneself) with prefix 'ā'. Place of exertion or effort for spiritual progress.

Prefix: ā

Root: śram (class 4)

चतुर्षु (caturṣu) - in the four (stages of life) (in the four)

(numeral)

आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they declare, it is said

(verb)

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

Present Tense, Active Voice

Irregular verb; often used in impersonal constructions (it is said).

Root: ah (class 2)

दमम् (damam) - self-control, restraint

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dama

dama - self-control, restraint, subjugation, taming

From root 'dam' (to subdue, control).

Root: dam (class 4)

एव (eva) - indeed, only, just, exactly

(indeclinable)

Emphatic particle.

उत्तमम् (uttamam) - best, excellent, highest

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of uttama

uttama - best, excellent, highest, principal, supreme

Superlative degree

Superlative of 'ut' (up, out) or 'ud'.

व्रतम् (vratam) - vow, sacred observance, discipline

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of vrata

vrata - vow, sacred observance, religious practice, discipline, duty

From root 'vṛ' (to choose, vow).

Root: vṛ (class 5)

तस्य (tasya) - its (of self-control) (of him, of that, its)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it (demonstrative pronoun)

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Refers to 'damaḥ'.

लिङ्गानि (liṅgāni) - characteristics, marks, signs, symptoms

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, plural of liṅga

liṅga - mark, sign, characteristic, symptom, gender (grammatical), symbol

वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - I will speak, I will declare, I will tell

(verb)

1st person , singular, active, future (lṛṭ) of vac

Future Tense, Active Voice

From root 'vac' (to speak); aorist base with future suffix.

Root: vac (class 2)

येषाम् (yeṣām) - of which (characteristics) (of whom, of which)

(pronoun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of yad

yad - which, who, what (relative pronoun)

Relative pronoun.

Note: Refers to 'liṅgāni'.

समुदयः (samudayaḥ) - the sum/aggregate (collection, aggregate, rise, origin)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of samudaya

samudaya - collection, aggregate, multitude, rise, origin, prosperity

From prefix 'sam' + 'ud' + root 'i' (to go, rise).

Prefixes: sam+ud

Root: i (class 2)

दमः (damaḥ) - self-control, restraint

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dama

dama - self-control, restraint, subjugation, taming

From root 'dam' (to subdue, control).

Root: dam (class 4)