महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-182, verse-1

भरद्वाज उवाच ।
ब्राह्मणः केन भवति क्षत्रियो वा द्विजोत्तम ।
वैश्यः शूद्रश्च विप्रर्षे तद्ब्रूहि वदतां वर ॥१॥

1. bharadvāja uvāca ,
brāhmaṇaḥ kena bhavati kṣatriyo vā dvijottama ,
vaiśyaḥ śūdraśca viprarṣe tadbrūhi vadatāṁ vara.

1. bharadvāja uvāca brāhmaṇaḥ kena bhavati kṣatriyaḥ vā
dvijottama vaiśyaḥ śūdraḥ ca viprarṣe tat brūhi vadatām vara

1. bharadvāja uvāca dvijottama viprarṣe vadatām vara kena
brāhmaṇaḥ vā kṣatriyaḥ vaiśyaḥ ca śūdraḥ bhavati tat brūhi

1. Bharadvaja said: 'O foremost among the twice-born, by what means does one become a Brahmin, a Kshatriya, a Vaishya, or a Shudra? Please explain that, O sage among Brahmins, O best of speakers.'

Words meanings summery:

• भरद्वाज (bharadvāja) - Bharadvaja (a sage's name)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

• केन (kena) - by what means (by what, by whom, by which)

• भवति (bhavati) - becomes, is

• क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - a Kshatriya (warrior/ruler class)

• वा (vā) - or

• द्विजोत्तम (dvijottama) - O best among the twice-born

• वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - a Vaishya (merchant/farmer class)

• शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Shudra (laborer class)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• विप्रर्षे (viprarṣe) - O sage among Brahmins

• तत् (tat) - that (matter, question) (that)

• ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell me (tell, speak)

• वदताम् (vadatām) - among speakers

• वर (vara) - O best (best, excellent, boon, choice)

Words meanings and morphology

भरद्वाज (bharadvāja) - Bharadvaja (a sage's name)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bharadvāja

bharadvāja - name of a celebrated Vedic sage, one of the seven Rṣis

Note: Subject of uvāca.

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

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

Perfect tense, 3rd singular.

From root vac.

Root: vac (class 2)

ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, related to Brahmins, spiritual

Derived from brahman (sacred word/knowledge/absolute) or brahman (priest).

Note: Subject of bhavati.

केन (kena) - by what means (by what, by whom, by which)

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine/neuter, singular of kim

kim - who, what, which; why

Masculine/Neuter instrumental singular of kim.

Note: Denotes the means.

भवति (bhavati) - becomes, is

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of bhū

Present tense, 3rd singular.

From root bhū.

Root: bhū (class 1)

क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - a Kshatriya (warrior/ruler class)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kṣatriya

kṣatriya - a member of the warrior/ruling class; a ruler, warrior

From kṣatra (rule, dominion).

Note: Functions as a predicate nominative with bhavati.

वा (vā) - or

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunction.

द्विजोत्तम (dvijottama) - O best among the twice-born

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of dvijottama

dvijottama - best among the twice-born (dvija), most excellent Brahmin

Compound of dvija (twice-born) and uttama (best). Tatpurusha (dvijānām uttamaḥ).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dvija+uttama)

• dvija – twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya); bird; tooth
  noun (masculine)
  From dvi (two) + jan (to be born).
  Root: jan (class 4)
• uttama – best, excellent, highest
  adjective
  Prefix: ud
  Root: tam

Note: Addressing the interlocutor.

वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - a Vaishya (merchant/farmer class)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vaiśya

vaiśya - a member of the merchant/farmer class

From viś (people, community).

Note: Functions as a predicate nominative with bhavati.

शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Shudra (laborer class)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śūdra

śūdra - a member of the laborer class, the lowest of the four varnas

Note: Functions as a predicate nominative with bhavati.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunction.

विप्रर्षे (viprarṣe) - O sage among Brahmins

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of viprarṣi

viprarṣi - a sage among Brahmins, a Brahmin sage

Compound of vipra (Brahmin) and ṛṣi (sage). Tatpurusha.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (vipra+ṛṣi)

• vipra – a Brahmin, inspired, wise
  noun (masculine)
  From vip (to tremble, inspire).
  Root: vip (class 1)
• ṛṣi – a seer, sage
  noun (masculine)
  Root: ṛṣ

Note: Addressing the interlocutor.

तत् (tat) - that (matter, question) (that)

(pronoun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, it

Neuter accusative singular of tad.

Note: Object of brūhi.

ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell me (tell, speak)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of brū

Imperative mood, 2nd singular.

Irregular imperative form of brū.

Root: brū (class 2)

वदताम् (vadatām) - among speakers

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of vadat

vadat - speaking, speaker

Present Active Participle

From root vad (to speak), genitive plural.

Root: vad (class 1)

Note: Denotes the group from which 'vara' is the best.

वर (vara) - O best (best, excellent, boon, choice)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - best, excellent, superior; a boon, choice

From root vṛ (to choose).

Root: vṛ (class 5)