महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-20, verse-4

चतुष्पदी हि निःश्रेणी कर्मण्येषा प्रतिष्ठिता ।
तां क्रमेण महाबाहो यथावज्जय पार्थिव ॥४॥

4. catuṣpadī hi niḥśreṇī karmaṇyeṣā pratiṣṭhitā ,
tāṁ krameṇa mahābāho yathāvajjaya pārthiva.

4. catuṣpadī hi niḥśreṇī karmaṇi eṣā pratiṣṭhitā
tām krameṇa mahābāho yathāvat jaya pārthiva

4. mahābāho pārthiva eṣā catuṣpadī niḥśreṇī
karmaṇi hi pratiṣṭhitā tām krameṇa yathāvat jaya

4. This four-staged ladder (niḥśreṇī) is indeed established in action (karma). O mighty-armed one, O king, ascend it properly, step by step.

Words meanings summery:

• चतुष्पदी (catuṣpadī) - refers to the ladder (niḥśreṇī) having four stages of action (karma) (four-footed, having four stages/steps)

• हि (hi) - Emphasizes the statement. (indeed, surely, for)

• निःश्रेणी (niḥśreṇī) - A ladder representing the path to spiritual progress or liberation. (ladder, staircase, means of ascent, path to liberation (mokṣa))

• कर्मणि (karmaṇi) - The ladder of spiritual progress is founded or rooted in action (karma). (in action, in work, in ritual (karma))

• एषा (eṣā) - Refers to the ladder (niḥśreṇī). (this (feminine))

• प्रतिष्ठिता (pratiṣṭhitā) - The ladder is firmly established or rooted in action. (established, founded, based, standing firm)

• ताम् (tām) - Refers to the ladder (niḥśreṇī). (her, that (feminine, accusative))

• क्रमेण (krameṇa) - Indicates the manner of ascending the ladder. (in order, gradually, successively)

• महाबाहो (mahābāho) - A respectful address, typically to a warrior or powerful person like Yudhishthira. (O mighty-armed one)

• यथावत् (yathāvat) - Emphasizes the correct execution of the ascent. (properly, duly, according to rule)

• जय (jaya) - Master or successfully traverse the ladder. (conquer, be victorious, achieve, master, ascend)

• पार्थिव (pārthiva) - Address to Yudhishthira. (O king, O ruler)

Words meanings and morphology

चतुष्पदी (catuṣpadī) - refers to the ladder (niḥśreṇī) having four stages of action (karma) (four-footed, having four stages/steps)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of catuṣpad

catuṣpad - four-footed, four-staged

Compound formed with 'catur' (four) and 'pad' (foot/step). 'ī' suffix indicates feminine.

Compound type : Bahuvrihi (catur+pad)

• catur – four
  numeral
• pad – foot, step, stage
  noun (masculine)

Note: Agrees with "niḥśreṇī".

हि (hi) - Emphasizes the statement. (indeed, surely, for)

(indeclinable)

निःश्रेणी (niḥśreṇī) - A ladder representing the path to spiritual progress or liberation. (ladder, staircase, means of ascent, path to liberation (mokṣa))

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of niḥśreṇī

niḥśreṇī - ladder, staircase, means of ascent, path to liberation (mokṣa)

From root 'śrī' (to go) with prefix 'nis'.

Prefix: nis

Root: śrī (class 1)

कर्मणि (karmaṇi) - The ladder of spiritual progress is founded or rooted in action (karma). (in action, in work, in ritual (karma))

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of karma

karma - action, deed, work, ritual, fate (karma)

From root 'kṛ' (to do) with suffix '-man'.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

एषा (eṣā) - Refers to the ladder (niḥśreṇī). (this (feminine))

(pronoun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of etad

etad - this, this one

Demonstrative pronoun.

प्रतिष्ठिता (pratiṣṭhitā) - The ladder is firmly established or rooted in action. (established, founded, based, standing firm)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of pratiṣṭhita

pratiṣṭhita - established, founded, based, consecrated, firm

Past Passive Participle

From root 'sthā' (to stand) with prefix 'prati'.

Prefix: prati

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Agrees with "niḥśreṇī".

ताम् (tām) - Refers to the ladder (niḥśreṇī). (her, that (feminine, accusative))

(pronoun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of tad

tad - that, her, him, it

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Object of "jaya".

क्रमेण (krameṇa) - Indicates the manner of ascending the ladder. (in order, gradually, successively)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of krama

krama - step, order, succession, method

From root 'kram' (to step).

Root: kram (class 1)

महाबाहो (mahābāho) - A respectful address, typically to a warrior or powerful person like Yudhishthira. (O mighty-armed one)

(adjective)

Vocative, masculine, singular of mahābāhu

mahābāhu - mighty-armed, strong-armed

Bahuvrihi compound.

Compound type : Bahuvrihi (mahā+bāhu)

• mahā – great, mighty
  adjective
• bāhu – arm
  noun (masculine)

यथावत् (yathāvat) - Emphasizes the correct execution of the ascent. (properly, duly, according to rule)

(indeclinable)

From 'yathā' (as) and suffix '-vat'.

जय (jaya) - Master or successfully traverse the ladder. (conquer, be victorious, achieve, master, ascend)

(verb)

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

Imperative mood

Root 'ji', Parasmaipada, 2nd person singular, imperative.

Root: ji (class 1)

पार्थिव (pārthiva) - Address to Yudhishthira. (O king, O ruler)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of pārthiva

pārthiva - earthly, royal, king, ruler

From 'pṛthivī' (earth) + 'aṇ' suffix.