महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-224, verse-27

तपः परं कृतयुगे त्रेतायां ज्ञानमुत्तमम् ।
द्वापरे यज्ञमेवाहुर्दानमेव कलौ युगे ॥२७॥

27. tapaḥ paraṁ kṛtayuge tretāyāṁ jñānamuttamam ,
dvāpare yajñamevāhurdānameva kalau yuge.

27. tapaḥ param kṛtayuge tretāyām jñānam uttamam
| dvāpare yajñam eva āhuḥ dānam eva kalau yuge

27. kṛtayuge tapaḥ param; tretāyām jñānam uttamam;
dvāpare yajñam eva āhuḥ; kalau yuge dānam eva āhuḥ

27. Austerity (tapas) is considered supreme in the Krita Yuga, and excellent knowledge in the Treta Yuga. In the Dvapara Yuga, they proclaim that Vedic ritual (yajña) alone is paramount, and in the Kali Yuga, charity (dāna) alone.

Words meanings summery:

• तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity, penance, spiritual fervor

• परम् (param) - supreme, highest, excellent

• कृतयुगे (kṛtayuge) - in the Krita Yuga, in the Satya Yuga

• त्रेतायाम् (tretāyām) - in the Treta Yuga

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge, wisdom

• उत्तमम् (uttamam) - excellent, best, highest

• द्वापरे (dvāpare) - in the Dvapara Yuga

• यज्ञम् (yajñam) - sacrifice, ritual, offering

• एव (eva) - only, just, indeed

• आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they declare, it is said

• दानम् (dānam) - charity, gift, giving

• एव (eva) - only, just, indeed

• कलौ (kalau) - in the Kali Yuga (in Kali (Yuga))

• युगे (yuge) - in the Kali Yuga (in the age, in the epoch)

Words meanings and morphology

तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity, penance, spiritual fervor

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tapas

tapas - austerity, penance, spiritual fervor, heat (tapas)

Root: tap (class 1)

परम् (param) - supreme, highest, excellent

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of para

para - supreme, highest, utmost, excellent, other, beyond

Note: Agrees with 'tapaḥ'.

कृतयुगे (kṛtayuge) - in the Krita Yuga, in the Satya Yuga

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of kṛtayuga

kṛtayuga - the Krita Yuga (the first and golden age of the world), Satya Yuga

Compound type : tatpurusha (kṛta+yuga)

• kṛta – done, made, performed
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root kṛ- (to do, make)
  Root: kṛ (class 8)
• yuga – age, era, epoch
  noun (masculine)

त्रेतायाम् (tretāyām) - in the Treta Yuga

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of tretā

tretā - the Treta Yuga (the second age of the world)

ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge, wisdom

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom, intelligence

Root: jñā (class 9)

उत्तमम् (uttamam) - excellent, best, highest

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of uttama

uttama - highest, best, chief, excellent, principal

Superlative of 'ud' (up).

Note: Agrees with 'jñānam'.

द्वापरे (dvāpare) - in the Dvapara Yuga

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of dvāpara

dvāpara - the Dvapara Yuga (the third age of the world)

यज्ञम् (yajñam) - sacrifice, ritual, offering

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of yajña

yajña - sacrifice, offering, worship (yajña)

Root: yaj (class 1)

Note: Object of 'āhuḥ'.

एव (eva) - only, just, indeed

(indeclinable)

आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they declare, it is said

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (lit) of ah

Perfect Active

Root 'ah' in perfect tense (irregular), often used with a present meaning.

Root: ah (class 2)

दानम् (dānam) - charity, gift, giving

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of dāna

dāna - gift, donation, charity, giving (dāna)

Derived from root 'dā' (to give)

Root: dā (class 3)

Note: Stands as the primary subject of discussion for the Kali Yuga.

एव (eva) - only, just, indeed

(indeclinable)

कलौ (kalau) - in the Kali Yuga (in Kali (Yuga))

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of kali

kali - strife, quarrel, discord; the demon Kali (personification of the Kali Yuga)

युगे (yuge) - in the Kali Yuga (in the age, in the epoch)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of yuga

yuga - age, era, epoch, yoke