महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-194, verse-4

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यत्कारणं मन्त्रविधिः प्रवृत्तो ज्ञाने फलं यत्प्रवदन्ति विप्राः ।
यन्मन्त्रशब्दैरकृतप्रकाशं तदुच्यतां मे भगवन्यथावत् ॥४॥

4. yatkāraṇaṁ mantravidhiḥ pravṛtto; jñāne phalaṁ yatpravadanti viprāḥ ,
yanmantraśabdairakṛtaprakāśaṁ; taducyatāṁ me bhagavanyathāvat.

4. yat kāraṇam mantravidhiḥ pravṛttaḥ
jñāne phalam yat pravadanti viprāḥ
yat mantraśabdaiḥ akṛtaprakāśam
tat ucyatām me bhagavan yathāvat

4. bhagavan me yathāvat tat ucyatām,
yat kāraṇam mantravidhiḥ pravṛttaḥ,
yat viprāḥ jñāne phalam pravadanti,
yat mantraśabdaiḥ akṛtaprakāśam

4. O Venerable One (Bhagavan), please explain to me accurately: What is the purpose for which the prescribed ritual of sacred formulas (mantra) is performed? What result (phalam) do the wise (viprāḥ) declare to be achieved through knowledge? And what is that which remains unrevealed by the words of sacred formulas (mantra)?

Words meanings summery:

(Scroll down for elaborated words morphology)

यत् (yat) - what is (the reason) (which, what)

कारणम् (kāraṇam) - the reason for (mantravidhi) (reason, cause, motive)

मन्त्रविधिः (mantravidhiḥ) - the method for employing sacred formulas (mantra) (rule of sacred formulas (mantra), prescribed ritual of mantra)

प्रवृत्तः (pravṛttaḥ) - is instituted or becomes active (commenced, instituted, engaged in, effective)

ज्ञाने (jñāne) - in the realm or sphere of knowledge (in knowledge, by means of knowledge)

फलम् (phalam) - the outcome or benefit (fruit, result, consequence)

यत् (yat) - that (fruit) which (which, what)

प्रवदन्ति (pravadanti) - the wise ones declare (they declare, they proclaim, they speak)

विप्राः (viprāḥ) - the learned or wise scholars (wise ones, Brahmins, inspired ones)

यत् (yat) - that which (is not revealed) (which, what)

मन्त्रशब्दैः (mantraśabdaiḥ) - by means of the specific terms and sounds of sacred formulas (mantra) (by the words of sacred formulas (mantra))

अकृतप्रकाशम् (akṛtaprakāśam) - that which remains unmanifested or hidden (not revealed, not illuminated, not manifested)

तत् (tat) - that (referring to the answers to the previous questions) (that, therefore)

उच्यताम् (ucyatām) - please explain it (to me) (let it be told, let it be said)

मे (me) - to me (Brihaspati) (to me, my)

भगवन् (bhagavan) - O Prajāpati (vocative) (O Venerable one, O Lord)

यथावत् (yathāvat) - in the correct and precise manner (properly, accurately, truly, as it should be)

Words meanings and morphology

यत् (yat) - what is (the reason) (which, what)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of yad

yad - which, what, whatever, that

Relative pronoun, neuter nominative singular.

कारणम् (kāraṇam) - the reason for (mantravidhi) (reason, cause, motive)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kāraṇa

kāraṇa - cause, reason, instrument, motive

From √kṛ (to do) + -ana suffix.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

मन्त्रविधिः (mantravidhiḥ) - the method for employing sacred formulas (mantra) (rule of sacred formulas (mantra), prescribed ritual of mantra)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mantravidhi

mantravidhi - rule for (reciting) mantras, prescribed ritual, sacred rite

Compound: mantra (sacred formula) + vidhi (rule, method). Masculine i-stem.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (mantra+vidhi)

mantra – sacred utterance, hymn, prayer, counsel, sacred formula (mantra)
noun (masculine)
From √man (to think) + -tra suffix.
Root: man (class 4)
vidhi – rule, method, injunction, destiny
noun (masculine)
From √dhā (to place, arrange) with prefix vi-.
Prefix: vi
Root: dhā (class 3)

प्रवृत्तः (pravṛttaḥ) - is instituted or becomes active (commenced, instituted, engaged in, effective)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pravṛtta

pravṛtta - set in motion, active, commenced, current, effective

Past Passive Participle

From root √vṛt (to turn, to exist) with prefix pra-.

Prefix: pra

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Functions as a predicate adjective here.

ज्ञाने (jñāne) - in the realm or sphere of knowledge (in knowledge, by means of knowledge)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom, understanding, sacred knowledge

From √jñā (to know) + -ana suffix.

Root: jñā (class 9)

फलम् (phalam) - the outcome or benefit (fruit, result, consequence)

(noun)

neuter, singular of phala

phala - fruit, result, advantage, reward, consequence

Note: Functions as the subject or object of inquiry.

यत् (yat) - that (fruit) which (which, what)

(pronoun)

neuter, singular of yad

yad - which, what, whatever, that

Relative pronoun, neuter nominative/accusative singular.

प्रवदन्ति (pravadanti) - the wise ones declare (they declare, they proclaim, they speak)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of pravad

Present Tense (Laṭ)

From root √vad (1st class, Parasmaipada) with prefix pra-. Present active 3rd plural.

Prefix: pra

Root: vad (class 1)

विप्राः (viprāḥ) - the learned or wise scholars (wise ones, Brahmins, inspired ones)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vipra

vipra - inspired, wise, a Brahmin (especially one who recites Vedic hymns)

From √vip (to tremble, to vibrate, to be inspired).

Root: vip (class 1)

Note: Subject of 'pravadanti'.

यत् (yat) - that which (is not revealed) (which, what)

(pronoun)

neuter, singular of yad

yad - which, what, whatever, that

Relative pronoun, neuter nominative/accusative singular.

मन्त्रशब्दैः (mantraśabdaiḥ) - by means of the specific terms and sounds of sacred formulas (mantra) (by the words of sacred formulas (mantra))

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of mantraśabda

mantraśabda - word of a mantra, sound of a mantra

Compound: mantra (sacred formula) + śabda (word, sound). Masculine a-stem.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (mantra+śabda)

mantra – sacred utterance, hymn, prayer, counsel, sacred formula (mantra)
noun (masculine)
From √man (to think) + -tra suffix.
Root: man (class 4)
śabda – sound, word, term, voice
noun (masculine)

Note: Means by which something is revealed or not.

अकृतप्रकाशम् (akṛtaprakāśam) - that which remains unmanifested or hidden (not revealed, not illuminated, not manifested)

(adjective)

neuter, singular of akṛtaprakāśa

akṛtaprakāśa - not manifested, not revealed, not illuminated

Compound: a- (not) + kṛta (made, done) + prakāśa (light, manifestation).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+kṛtaprakāśa)

a – not, non-, un-
indeclinable
Negative particle.
kṛtaprakāśa – made manifest, revealed, illuminated
adjective
Compound: kṛta (made, done, PPP of √kṛ) + prakāśa (light, manifestation).

Note: Qualifies 'yat' (that which).

तत् (tat) - that (referring to the answers to the previous questions) (that, therefore)

(pronoun)

neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, this, he, she, it

Demonstrative pronoun, neuter nominative/accusative singular.

उच्यताम् (ucyatām) - please explain it (to me) (let it be told, let it be said)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, imperative (loṭ) of vac

Imperative (Loṭ), Passive voice

From root √vac (2nd class, Parasmaipada). Passive imperative 3rd singular. Irregular passive stem `ucya-`.

Root: vac (class 2)