महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-182, verse-8

शूद्रे चैतद्भवेल्लक्ष्यं द्विजे चैतन्न विद्यते ।
न वै शूद्रो भवेच्छूद्रो ब्राह्मणो न च ब्राह्मणः ॥८॥

8. śūdre caitadbhavellakṣyaṁ dvije caitanna vidyate ,
na vai śūdro bhavecchūdro brāhmaṇo na ca brāhmaṇaḥ.

8. śūdre ca etat bhavet lakṣyam dvije ca etat na vidyate
na vai śūdraḥ bhavet śūdraḥ brāhmaṇaḥ na ca brāhmaṇaḥ

8. ca etat lakṣyam śūdre bhavet ca etat dvije na vidyate
na vai śūdraḥ śūdraḥ bhavet ca brāhmaṇaḥ na brāhmaṇaḥ

8. And these characteristics should be the distinguishing marks for a Shudra, but they are not found in a Dvija (twice-born). Indeed, a Shudra does not become a Shudra (by mere birth), nor does a Brahmin become a Brahmin (by mere birth).

Words meanings summery:

• शूद्रे (śūdre) - in a Shudra

• च (ca) - and

• एतत् (etat) - referring to the characteristics described in the previous verse (this, these)

• भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be

• लक्ष्यम् (lakṣyam) - a distinguishing mark or characteristic (a characteristic, a mark, a symptom, a target)

• द्विजे (dvije) - in a member of the Brahmin, Kshatriya, or Vaishya classes (in a Dvija (twice-born))

• च (ca) - and

• एतत् (etat) - referring to the characteristics described in the previous verse (this, these)

• न (na) - not, no

• विद्यते (vidyate) - is found, exists, is present

• न (na) - not, no

• वै (vai) - indeed, truly, certainly

• शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Shudra

• भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be, becomes

• शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Shudra

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

• न (na) - not, nor

• च (ca) - and

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

Words meanings and morphology

शूद्रे (śūdre) - in a Shudra

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of śūdra

śūdra - a member of the fourth varṇa, a laborer, a servant

Note: Locative case indicates 'in' or 'amongst' a Shudra.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects the phrase with what follows.

एतत् (etat) - referring to the characteristics described in the previous verse (this, these)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etad

etad - this, these

Note: Refers to the qualities/characteristics.

भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhi-liṅ) of bhū

Optative Active

3rd person singular optative active form of root bhū.

Root: bhū (class 1)

लक्ष्यम् (lakṣyam) - a distinguishing mark or characteristic (a characteristic, a mark, a symptom, a target)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of lakṣya

lakṣya - mark, sign, characteristic, object, aim, target

Gerundive

Derived from root 'lakṣ' (to perceive, observe) with suffix '-ya'.

Root: lakṣ (class 10)

Note: Predicative noun with 'bhavet'.

द्विजे (dvije) - in a member of the Brahmin, Kshatriya, or Vaishya classes (in a Dvija (twice-born))

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of dvija

dvija - twice-born (referring to Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas who undergo upanayana saṃskāra), bird, tooth

Compound of 'dvi' (two) and 'ja' (born).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa or bahuvrīhi (dvi+ja)

• dvi – two
  numeral
• ja – born, produced from
  adjective (masculine)
  Derived from root 'jan' (to be born).
  Root: jan (class 4)

Note: Locative case indicates 'in' or 'amongst' a Dvija.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

एतत् (etat) - referring to the characteristics described in the previous verse (this, these)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etad

etad - this, these

Note: Refers to the qualities/characteristics.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates 'vidyate'.

विद्यते (vidyate) - is found, exists, is present

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of vid

Present Middle

3rd person singular present middle (ātmanepada) indicative form of root vid (class 4).

Root: vid (class 4)

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates 'bhavet śūdraḥ'.

वै (vai) - indeed, truly, certainly

(indeclinable)

शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Shudra

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śūdra

śūdra - a member of the fourth varṇa, a laborer, a servant

Note: Subject of 'bhavet'.

भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be, becomes

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhi-liṅ) of bhū

Optative Active

3rd person singular optative active form of root bhū.

Root: bhū (class 1)

शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Shudra

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śūdra

śūdra - a member of the fourth varṇa, a laborer, a servant

Note: Predicative nominative of 'bhavet'.

ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin (member of the priestly class), one related to brahman, learned

Derived from 'brahman'.

Note: Subject of implied 'bhavet'.

न (na) - not, nor

(indeclinable)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin (member of the priestly class), one related to brahman, learned

Derived from 'brahman'.

Note: Predicative nominative of implied 'bhavet'.