महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-160, verse-9

उवाच सर्वधर्मज्ञो धनुर्वेदस्य पारगः ।
शरतल्पगतो भीष्मो नकुलाय महात्मने ॥९॥

9. uvāca sarvadharmajño dhanurvedasya pāragaḥ ,
śaratalpagato bhīṣmo nakulāya mahātmane.

9. uvāca sarvadharmajñaḥ dhanurvedasya pāragaḥ
śaratpalpagataḥ bhīṣmaḥ nakulāya mahātmane

9. bhīṣmaḥ sarvadharmajñaḥ dhanurvedasya pāragaḥ
śaratpalpagataḥ mahātmane nakulāya uvāca

9. Bhishma, who understood all principles (dharma) and was an expert in the science of archery (Dhanurveda), spoke to the great-souled (mahātman) Nakula while lying on his bed of arrows.

Words meanings summery:

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• सर्वधर्मज्ञः (sarvadharmajñaḥ) - knower of all laws/principles, omniscient

• धनुर्वेदस्य (dhanurvedasya) - of the science of archery, of Dhanurveda

• पारगः (pāragaḥ) - one who has gone to the other shore, expert, master

• शरत्पल्पगतः (śaratpalpagataḥ) - lying on a bed of arrows

• भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - The warrior Bhishma, son of Ganga. (Bhishma (proper name))

• नकुलाय (nakulāya) - to Nakula

• महात्मने (mahātmane) - Refers to Nakula. (to the great-souled one)

Words meanings and morphology

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (Liṭ) of vac

Perfect Tense (Liṭ)

Irregular perfect formation, 3rd person singular active

Root: vac (class 2)

सर्वधर्मज्ञः (sarvadharmajñaḥ) - knower of all laws/principles, omniscient

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sarvadharmajña

sarvadharmajña - knower of all principles, one who knows all (dharma)

Compound formed from 'sarva' and 'dharmajña'. 'dharmajña' is from 'dharma' + root 'jñā' (to know) + suffix 'ka' (agent).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sarva+dharmajña)

• sarva – all, every, whole
  adjective (masculine)
• dharmajña – knower of (dharma), one who knows laws/principles
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent noun from dharma + root jñā.
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Refers to Bhishma.

धनुर्वेदस्य (dhanurvedasya) - of the science of archery, of Dhanurveda

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dhanurveda

dhanurveda - the science of archery, skill in using a bow

Compound of 'dhanus' (bow) and 'veda' (knowledge/science).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dhanus+veda)

• dhanus – bow, weapon
  noun (neuter)
• veda – knowledge, science, sacred text
  noun (masculine)
  From root 'vid' (to know).
  Root: vid (class 2)

पारगः (pāragaḥ) - one who has gone to the other shore, expert, master

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pāraga

pāraga - one who has reached the other side, an expert, master

Compound of 'pāra' (other shore/limit) and 'ga' (one who goes).

Compound type : upapada tatpuruṣa (pāra+ga)

• pāra – other shore, limit, end
  noun (neuter)
• ga – one who goes, moving
  agent noun/adjective (masculine)
  From root 'gam' with suffix 'ḍa'
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Refers to Bhishma.

शरत्पल्पगतः (śaratpalpagataḥ) - lying on a bed of arrows

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śaratpalpagata

śaratpalpagata - lying on a bed of arrows (śara-talpa-gata)

Compound of 'śara' (arrow), 'talpa' (bed), and 'gata' (gone/lying).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (śara+talpa+gata)

• śara – arrow
  noun (masculine)
  Root: śṛ (class 3)
• talpa – bed, couch, mattress
  noun (neuter)
• gata – gone, reached, situated in, lying on
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root 'gam' (to go) + suffix 'kta'.
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Refers to Bhishma.

भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - The warrior Bhishma, son of Ganga. (Bhishma (proper name))

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - formidable, terrible; proper name of a character in the Mahabharata

From root 'bhīṣ' (to frighten).

Root: bhīṣ (class 1)

Note: Subject of the sentence.

नकुलाय (nakulāya) - to Nakula

(proper noun)

Dative, masculine, singular of nakula

nakula - mongoose; proper name of a character in the Mahabharata

Note: Recipient of Bhishma's words.

महात्मने (mahātmane) - Refers to Nakula. (to the great-souled one)

(adjective)

Dative, masculine, singular of mahātman

mahātman - great-souled, noble, magnanimous, (a great soul) (ātman)

Compound of 'mahā' (great) and 'ātman' (soul/self).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (mahā+ātman)

• mahā – great, large, mighty
  adjective
  Feminine stem of mahat. Often used as the first part of compounds.
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies Nakula.