महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-227, verse-10

एषा पूर्वतरा वृत्तिर्ब्राह्मणस्य विधीयते ।
ज्ञानागमेन कर्माणि कुर्वन्कर्मसु सिध्यति ॥१०॥

10. eṣā pūrvatarā vṛttirbrāhmaṇasya vidhīyate ,
jñānāgamena karmāṇi kurvankarmasu sidhyati.

10. eṣā pūrvatarā vṛttiḥ brāhmaṇasya vidhīyate |
jñāna-āgamena karmāṇi kurvan karmasu sidhyati

10. eṣā pūrvatarā vṛttiḥ brāhmaṇasya vidhīyate
jñāna-āgamena karmāṇi kurvan karmasu sidhyati

10. This is the foremost conduct prescribed for a Brahmin. By performing actions (karma) with the attainment of knowledge, one succeeds in those actions (karma).

Words meanings summery:

• एषा (eṣā) - this (this (feminine))

• पूर्वतरा (pūrvatarā) - foremost (more ancient, prior, foremost)

• वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - conduct (conduct, mode of life, livelihood, existence)

• ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - for a Brahmin (of a Brahmin)

• विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed (is prescribed, is ordained, is enacted)

• ज्ञान-आगमेन (jñāna-āgamena) - by the attainment of knowledge (by the acquisition of knowledge, through the coming of knowledge)

• कर्माणि (karmāṇi) - actions (karma) (actions, deeds, rituals, duties)

• कुर्वन् (kurvan) - performing (doing, performing, making)

• कर्मसु (karmasu) - in those actions (karma) (in actions, concerning actions)

• सिध्यति (sidhyati) - succeeds (succeeds, is accomplished, is perfected)

Words meanings and morphology

एषा (eṣā) - this (this (feminine))

(pronoun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of etad

etad - this

Note: Refers to `vṛttiḥ`.

पूर्वतरा (pūrvatarā) - foremost (more ancient, prior, foremost)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of pūrvatara

pūrvatara - more ancient, prior, foremost, superior

Comparative degree of `pūrva` (prior, former)

Note: Adjective modifying `vṛttiḥ`.

वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - conduct (conduct, mode of life, livelihood, existence)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of vṛtti

vṛtti - conduct, mode of life, livelihood, course, style

Root: vṛt (class 1)

ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - for a Brahmin (of a Brahmin)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - Brahmin, member of the priestly class, related to Brahman

विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed (is prescribed, is ordained, is enacted)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of dhā

Present Passive 3rd singular

Prefix: vi

Root: dhā (class 3)

ज्ञान-आगमेन (jñāna-āgamena) - by the attainment of knowledge (by the acquisition of knowledge, through the coming of knowledge)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of jñāna-āgama

jñāna-āgama - acquisition of knowledge, arrival of knowledge

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (jñāna+āgama)

• jñāna – knowledge, wisdom, cognition
  noun (neuter)
  Root: jñā (class 9)
• āgama – arrival, approach, acquisition, tradition
  noun (masculine)
  Prefix: ā
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: `jñānāgamena` is `jñāna + āgamena`.

कर्माणि (karmāṇi) - actions (karma) (actions, deeds, rituals, duties)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, plural of karma

karma - action, deed, work, ritual, consequence of actions

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Also nominative plural. Context indicates accusative (object of `kurvan`).

कुर्वन् (kurvan) - performing (doing, performing, making)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kurvat

kurvat - doing, performing, making

Present Active Participle

From root `kṛ` (to do)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Implies the agent (he who performs actions).

कर्मसु (karmasu) - in those actions (karma) (in actions, concerning actions)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, plural of karma

karma - action, deed, work, ritual, consequence of actions

Root: kṛ (class 8)

सिध्यति (sidhyati) - succeeds (succeeds, is accomplished, is perfected)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of sidh

Present 3rd singular

Root: sidh (class 4)