महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-229, verse-16

मध्यमानि द्वयान्याहुर्धर्मज्ञानीतराणि च ।
धर्मज्ञानि विशिष्टानि कार्याकार्योपधारणात् ॥१६॥

16. madhyamāni dvayānyāhurdharmajñānītarāṇi ca ,
dharmajñāni viśiṣṭāni kāryākāryopadhāraṇāt.

16. madhyamāni dvayāni āhuḥ dharmajñāni itarāṇi ca
| dharmajñāni viśiṣṭāni kāryākāryopadhāraṇāt

16. āhuḥ dvayāni dharmajñāni itarāṇi ca madhyamāni
dharmajñāni kāryākāryopadhāraṇāt viśiṣṭāni

16. They declare that there are two categories: those who understand natural law (dharma) and others who are of middling understanding. Those who understand natural law (dharma) are considered superior because of their ability to discern what is proper action and what is not proper action.

Words meanings summery:

• मध्यमानि (madhyamāni) - of middling understanding (middling, average, mediocre)

• द्वयानि (dvayāni) - two categories (two kinds, two sorts, a pair)

• आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they declare, they state

• धर्मज्ञानि (dharmajñāni) - those who understand natural law (dharma) (knowers of natural law (dharma), those who understand duty)

• इतराणि (itarāṇi) - others (referring to people) (other, another, the rest)

• च (ca) - and, also, moreover

• धर्मज्ञानि (dharmajñāni) - those who understand natural law (dharma) (knowers of natural law (dharma), those who understand duty)

• विशिष्टानि (viśiṣṭāni) - considered superior (distinguished, superior, excellent, special)

• कार्याकार्योपधारणात् (kāryākāryopadhāraṇāt) - because of their ability to discern what is proper action and what is not proper action (from the discernment of what is to be done and not to be done, due to distinguishing proper from improper action)

Words meanings and morphology

मध्यमानि (madhyamāni) - of middling understanding (middling, average, mediocre)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, plural of madhyama

madhyama - middle, intermediate, mediocre, average

From madhya (middle) + ma (suffix)

Note: Used here as a substantive referring to a category of people.

द्वयानि (dvayāni) - two categories (two kinds, two sorts, a pair)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of dvaya

dvaya - pair, couple, two kinds, duality

From dvi (two) + aya (suffix)

आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they declare, they state

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, perfect (Lit) of āha

Perfect Active 3rd Plural

Root vac with prefix ā, perfect tense

Prefix: ā

Root: vac (class 2)

धर्मज्ञानि (dharmajñāni) - those who understand natural law (dharma) (knowers of natural law (dharma), those who understand duty)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of dharmajña

dharmajña - knower of dharma, understanding duty or natural law

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+jña)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to hold, sustain) + man suffix
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• jña – knower, understanding, intelligent
  adjective (masculine)
  From root jñā (to know) + suffix -a
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Agrees with dvayāni and itarāṇi, hence neuter plural form.

इतराणि (itarāṇi) - others (referring to people) (other, another, the rest)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of itara

itara - other, another, the remaining

Note: Used here as a substantive.

च (ca) - and, also, moreover

(indeclinable)

धर्मज्ञानि (dharmajñāni) - those who understand natural law (dharma) (knowers of natural law (dharma), those who understand duty)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of dharmajña

dharmajña - knower of dharma, understanding duty or natural law

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+jña)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to hold, sustain) + man suffix
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• jña – knower, understanding, intelligent
  adjective (masculine)
  From root jñā (to know) + suffix -a
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Agrees with dvayāni and itarāṇi, hence neuter plural form.

विशिष्टानि (viśiṣṭāni) - considered superior (distinguished, superior, excellent, special)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, plural of viśiṣṭa

viśiṣṭa - distinguished, excellent, superior, special

Past Passive Participle

From root śiṣ (to distinguish, to remain) with prefix vi-

Prefix: vi

Root: śiṣ (class 7)

Note: Agrees with dharmajñāni.

कार्याकार्योपधारणात् (kāryākāryopadhāraṇāt) - because of their ability to discern what is proper action and what is not proper action (from the discernment of what is to be done and not to be done, due to distinguishing proper from improper action)

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of kāryākāryopadhāraṇa

kāryākāryopadhāraṇa - discernment of proper and improper action

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (kārya+akārya+upadhāraṇa)

• kārya – to be done, proper action, duty
  noun (neuter)
  Gerundive
  From root kṛ (to do) + suffix -ya
  Root: kṛ (class 8)
• akārya – not to be done, improper action
  noun (neuter)
  Gerundive (negated)
  Negation of kārya
  Root: kṛ (class 8)
• upadhāraṇa – discernment, determination, apprehension
  noun (neuter)
  From root dhṛ (to hold, support) + suffix -ana, with upasarga upa-
  Prefix: upa
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)