महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-21, verse-14

असाधुनिग्रहरतः साधूनां प्रग्रहे रतः ।
धर्मे वर्त्मनि संस्थाप्य प्रजा वर्तेत धर्मवित् ॥१४॥

14. asādhunigraharataḥ sādhūnāṁ pragrahe rataḥ ,
dharme vartmani saṁsthāpya prajā varteta dharmavit.

14. asādhunigraharataḥ sādhūnām pragṛhe rataḥ dharme
vartmani saṃsthāpya prajā varteta dharmavit

14. dharmavit asādhunigraharataḥ sādhūnām pragṛhe
rataḥ prajā dharme vartmani saṃsthāpya varteta

14. A king, knowledgeable in natural law (dharma), should conduct himself by being devoted to suppressing the wicked and protecting the virtuous, establishing his subjects on the path of natural law (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

• असाधुनिग्रहरतः (asādhunigraharataḥ) - dedicated to suppressing those who are not virtuous (devoted to suppressing the wicked, intent on punishing evil-doers)

• साधूनाम् (sādhūnām) - of the virtuous individuals (of the virtuous, of the good, of the upright)

• प्रगृहे (pragṛhe) - in the protection (of them) (in protection, in seizing, in receiving)

• रतः (rataḥ) - dedicated to (the protection of the virtuous) (devoted to, attached to, engrossed in, delighted in)

• धर्मे (dharme) - on the path of natural law (dharma) (in natural law (dharma), in righteousness, in duty)

• वर्त्मनि (vartmani) - on the path (of natural law) (on the path, in the road, in the way)

• संस्थाप्य (saṁsthāpya) - having established (the subjects) (having established, having placed firmly, having settled)

• प्रजा (prajā) - the subjects (of the kingdom) (subjects, progeny, people, creatures)

• वर्तेत (varteta) - should conduct himself (should act, should proceed, should behave, should exist)

• धर्मवित् (dharmavit) - a king knowledgeable in natural law (dharma) (knower of natural law (dharma), one who understands righteousness)

Words meanings and morphology

असाधुनिग्रहरतः (asādhunigraharataḥ) - dedicated to suppressing those who are not virtuous (devoted to suppressing the wicked, intent on punishing evil-doers)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of asādhunigraharata

asādhunigraharata - devoted to suppressing the wicked, intent on punishing evil-doers

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (asādhu+nigraha+rata)

• asādhu – wicked, bad, evil, non-virtuous
  adjective (masculine)
  `na` + `sādhu` (negative compound)
  Prefix: a
• nigraha – suppression, restraint, punishment, subduing
  noun (masculine)
  From `ni`-√`grah`
  Prefix: ni
  Root: grah (class 9)
• rata – devoted to, attached to, engrossed in, delighted in
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From √`ram` (to delight, sport)
  Root: ram (class 1)

साधूनाम् (sādhūnām) - of the virtuous individuals (of the virtuous, of the good, of the upright)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sādhu

sādhu - good, virtuous, upright, saintly

Note: Used substantively as 'of the virtuous (people)'.

प्रगृहे (pragṛhe) - in the protection (of them) (in protection, in seizing, in receiving)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of pragṛha

pragṛha - protection, control, holding, seizing, favor

From `pra`-√`grah`

Prefix: pra

Root: grah (class 9)

Note: Refers to the act of holding up, supporting, protecting.

रतः (rataḥ) - dedicated to (the protection of the virtuous) (devoted to, attached to, engrossed in, delighted in)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rata

rata - devoted to, attached to, engrossed in, delighted in

Past Passive Participle

From √`ram` (to delight, sport)

Root: ram (class 1)

Note: Agrees with the implicit subject (king).

धर्मे (dharme) - on the path of natural law (dharma) (in natural law (dharma), in righteousness, in duty)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, righteousness, duty, virtue, intrinsic nature, constitution

From √`dhṛ` (to uphold, support)

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Often translated as 'righteousness' or 'duty' in moral contexts. Here, 'natural law' or 'righteous conduct'.

वर्त्मनि (vartmani) - on the path (of natural law) (on the path, in the road, in the way)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of vartman

vartman - path, road, way, track

From √`vṛt` (to turn, exist)

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Forms a compound-like phrase `dharme vartmani` meaning 'on the path of dharma'.

संस्थाप्य (saṁsthāpya) - having established (the subjects) (having established, having placed firmly, having settled)

(indeclinable)

Gerund (absolutive)

From causative of `sam`-√`sthā` (to stand, establish), with suffix `-ya`

Prefix: sam

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Connects the action of establishing with the main verb `varteta`.

प्रजा (prajā) - the subjects (of the kingdom) (subjects, progeny, people, creatures)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, plural of prajā

prajā - subjects, progeny, people, creatures, offspring

From `pra`-√`jan` (to generate)

Prefix: pra

Root: jan (class 4)

Note: `prajāḥ` (nom/acc pl) would be more common, but `prajā` can also be acc. pl. for feminine ā-stem.

वर्तेत (varteta) - should conduct himself (should act, should proceed, should behave, should exist)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, optative (vidhi-liṅ) of vṛt

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Implies a prescribed course of action for the agent.

धर्मवित् (dharmavit) - a king knowledgeable in natural law (dharma) (knower of natural law (dharma), one who understands righteousness)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharmavit

dharmavit - knower of natural law (dharma), one who understands righteousness

Compound with suffix `-vit` (from √`vid` 'to know')

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+vid)

• dharma – natural law, righteousness, duty, virtue, intrinsic nature, constitution
  noun (masculine)
  From √`dhṛ`
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• vid – knowing, perceiving, understanding
  adjective (masculine)
  suffix `-vit` from √`vid`
  Agent noun from √`vid`
  Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Serves as the agent of the sentence.