महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-181, verse-15

वर्णाश्चत्वार एते हि येषां ब्राह्मी सरस्वती ।
विहिता ब्रह्मणा पूर्वं लोभात्त्वज्ञानतां गताः ॥१५॥

15. varṇāścatvāra ete hi yeṣāṁ brāhmī sarasvatī ,
vihitā brahmaṇā pūrvaṁ lobhāttvajñānatāṁ gatāḥ.

15. varṇāḥ catvāraḥ ete hi yeṣām brāhmī sarasvatī
vihitā brahmaṇā pūrvam lobhāt tu ajñānatām gatāḥ

15. hi ete catvāraḥ varṇāḥ yeṣām brāhmī sarasvatī
pūrvam brahmaṇā vihitā tu lobhāt ajñānatām gatāḥ

15. Indeed, these are the four social classes (varṇa) for whom the sacred knowledge (brāhmī sarasvatī) was formerly ordained by Brahmā. But due to greed, they have fallen into ignorance.

Words meanings summery:

• वर्णाः (varṇāḥ) - social classes, castes, colors

• चत्वारः (catvāraḥ) - four

• एते (ete) - these

• हि (hi) - indeed, certainly, for

• येषाम् (yeṣām) - of whom, for whom

• ब्राह्मी (brāhmī) - relating to Brahman, divine, sacred

• सरस्वती (sarasvatī) - sacred speech, divine knowledge (speech, knowledge, Sarasvati (goddess))

• विहिता (vihitā) - ordained, prescribed, established, arranged

• ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā) - by Brahmā (the creator) (by Brahmā (the creator god), by Brahman (the Absolute))

• पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - formerly, previously, before

• लोभात् (lobhāt) - from greed, due to greed, out of covetousness

• तु (tu) - but, however, on the other hand

• अज्ञानताम् (ajñānatām) - ignorance, a state of not knowing

• गताः (gatāḥ) - fallen into (gone, attained, reached)

Words meanings and morphology

वर्णाः (varṇāḥ) - social classes, castes, colors

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of varṇa

varṇa - color, social class, caste, quality, character

Root: vṛ (class 5)

चत्वारः (catvāraḥ) - four

(numeral)

एते (ete) - these

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of etat

etat - this, that

हि (hi) - indeed, certainly, for

(indeclinable)

येषाम् (yeṣām) - of whom, for whom

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of yad

yad - who, which, what

ब्राह्मी (brāhmī) - relating to Brahman, divine, sacred

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of brāhmī

brāhmī - relating to Brahman, divine, sacred, pertaining to a Brahmin

Feminine form of brāhma.

सरस्वती (sarasvatī) - sacred speech, divine knowledge (speech, knowledge, Sarasvati (goddess))

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of sarasvatī

sarasvatī - Sarasvati (goddess of knowledge), speech, eloquence, river

विहिता (vihitā) - ordained, prescribed, established, arranged

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of vihita

vihita - ordered, prescribed, arranged, performed, enjoined

Past Passive Participle

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

Prefix: vi

Root: dhā (class 3)

ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā) - by Brahmā (the creator) (by Brahmā (the creator god), by Brahman (the Absolute))

(proper noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of brahman

brahman - Brahman (the Absolute), sacred word, Veda, prayer; Brahmā (the creator god)

Root: bṛh (class 1)

पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - formerly, previously, before

(indeclinable)

Note: Used adverbially in neuter singular.

लोभात् (lobhāt) - from greed, due to greed, out of covetousness

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of lobha

lobha - greed, covetousness, desire

Root: lubh (class 4)

तु (tu) - but, however, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

अज्ञानताम् (ajñānatām) - ignorance, a state of not knowing

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of ajñānatā

ajñānatā - ignorance, lack of knowledge

Derived from ajñāna (ignorance) + -tā (suffix for abstract noun).

गताः (gatāḥ) - fallen into (gone, attained, reached)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of gata

gata - gone, moved, obtained, attained, departed

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root √gam (to go).

Root: gam (class 1)