महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-154, verse-7

दमं निःश्रेयसं प्राहुर्वृद्धा निश्चयदर्शिनः ।
ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण दमो धर्मः सनातनः ॥७॥

7. damaṁ niḥśreyasaṁ prāhurvṛddhā niścayadarśinaḥ ,
brāhmaṇasya viśeṣeṇa damo dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ.

7. damam niḥśreyasam prāhuḥ vṛddhāḥ niścayadarśinaḥ
brāhmaṇasya viśeṣeṇa damaḥ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

7. niścayadarśinaḥ vṛddhāḥ damam niḥśreyasam prāhuḥ.
viśeṣeṇa brāhmaṇasya damaḥ sanātanaḥ dharmaḥ.

7. Those elders who possess definite insight declare self-control (dama) to be the ultimate good (niḥśreyasa). Especially for a Brahmin, self-control (dama) is the eternal natural law (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

• दमम् (damam) - self-control (dama), as the object of declaration. (self-control, restraint (accusative))

• निःश्रेयसम् (niḥśreyasam) - the ultimate good (niḥśreyasa). (highest good, ultimate liberation, salvation)

• प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they declare. (they declare, they say)

• वृद्धाः (vṛddhāḥ) - wise elders or those who are experienced and wise. (elders, old people, wise ones)

• निश्चयदर्शिनः (niścayadarśinaḥ) - who possess definite insight. (those who see certainty, having definite insight)

• ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - for a Brahmin (genitive of purpose/relation). (of a Brahmin)

• विशेषेण (viśeṣeṇa) - especially. (especially, particularly, by distinction)

• दमः (damaḥ) - self-control (dama). (self-control, restraint)

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law (dharma). (dharma, natural law, duty, righteousness)

• सनातनः (sanātanaḥ) - eternal. (eternal, perpetual, ancient)

Words meanings and morphology

दमम् (damam) - self-control (dama), as the object of declaration. (self-control, restraint (accusative))

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dama

dama - self-control, restraint, mastery, taming

Root: dam (class 4)

निःश्रेयसम् (niḥśreyasam) - the ultimate good (niḥśreyasa). (highest good, ultimate liberation, salvation)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of niḥśreyasa

niḥśreyasa - highest good, ultimate welfare, final beatitude, liberation

Compound: 'nis-' (out, final) + 'śreyas' (highest good).

Compound type : tatpurusha (nis+śreyas)

• nis – out, forth, without, final
  indeclinable
  Prefix indicating completion or absence.
• śreyas – good, excellence, welfare, highest good
  noun (neuter)
  Comparative/superlative form of 'śrī' or 'praśasta'.

Note: Often refers to final liberation or the ultimate spiritual goal.

प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they declare. (they declare, they say)

(verb)

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

Present tense, 3rd person plural

Root √ah (anomalous present), with prefix 'pra-'.

Prefix: pra

Root: ah (class 2)

Note: The root 'ah' is defective and usually used in certain forms.

वृद्धाः (vṛddhāḥ) - wise elders or those who are experienced and wise. (elders, old people, wise ones)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vṛddha

vṛddha - old, aged, experienced, wise, grown

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root √vṛdh (to grow, increase).

Root: vṛdh (class 1)

Note: Often refers to venerable or respected individuals due to age and wisdom.

निश्चयदर्शिनः (niścayadarśinaḥ) - who possess definite insight. (those who see certainty, having definite insight)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of niścayadarśin

niścayadarśin - one who sees clearly/certainly, having definite insight

Compound type : tatpurusha (niścaya+darśin)

• niścaya – certainty, definite conclusion, conviction
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from root √ci (to gather, observe) with prefixes 'nis-' and 'śaya'.
  Root: ci (class 5)
• darśin – seeing, perceiving, showing, a seer
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent noun/adjective
  Derived from root √dṛś (to see) with suffix -in.
  Root: dṛś (class 1)

Note: Describes the quality of the elders.

ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - for a Brahmin (genitive of purpose/relation). (of a Brahmin)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, related to Brahma, sacred text

Derived from 'brahman' (neuter) or 'brahmā' (masculine).

विशेषेण (viśeṣeṇa) - especially. (especially, particularly, by distinction)

(indeclinable)

Derived from √śiṣ (to distinguish) with prefix 'vi'.

Prefix: vi

Root: śiṣ (class 7)

Note: Instrumental case often used adverbially to mean 'by means of', 'with', 'especially'.

दमः (damaḥ) - self-control (dama). (self-control, restraint)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dama

dama - self-control, restraint, mastery, taming

Derived from root √dam (to tame, control).

Root: dam (class 4)

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law (dharma). (dharma, natural law, duty, righteousness)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, duty, virtue, righteousness, religion

From root √dhṛ (to uphold, sustain).

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

सनातनः (sanātanaḥ) - eternal. (eternal, perpetual, ancient)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sanātana

sanātana - eternal, perpetual, ancient, primeval

From 'sanā' (always) + 'tana' (suffix).