महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-229, verse-17

धर्मज्ञानि द्वयान्याहुर्वेदज्ञानीतराणि च ।
वेदज्ञानि विशिष्टानि वेदो ह्येषु प्रतिष्ठितः ॥१७॥

17. dharmajñāni dvayānyāhurvedajñānītarāṇi ca ,
vedajñāni viśiṣṭāni vedo hyeṣu pratiṣṭhitaḥ.

17. dharmajñāni dvayāni āhuḥ vedajñāni itarāṇi ca
| vedajñāni viśiṣṭāni vedaḥ hi eṣu pratiṣṭhitaḥ

17. āhuḥ dharmajñāni dvayāni vedajñāni ca itarāṇi
vedajñāni viśiṣṭāni hi vedaḥ eṣu pratiṣṭhitaḥ

17. They declare that among those who understand natural law (dharma), there are two categories: those who know the Vedas and others. Those who know the Vedas are considered superior because the Veda is indeed firmly established in them.

Words meanings summery:

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

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

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

• वेदज्ञानि (vedajñāni) - those who know the Vedas (knowers of the Vedas, those who understand the Vedas)

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

• च (ca) - and, also, moreover

• वेदज्ञानि (vedajñāni) - those who know the Vedas (knowers of the Vedas, those who understand the Vedas)

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

• वेदः (vedaḥ) - the Veda (the Veda, sacred knowledge)

• हि (hi) - indeed (indeed, certainly, because, for)

• एषु (eṣu) - in them (referring to the expounders/knowers of Vedas) (in these, among these)

• प्रतिष्ठितः (pratiṣṭhitaḥ) - firmly established (established, founded, rooted, dwelling)

Words meanings and morphology

धर्मज्ञानि (dharmajñāni) - among 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.

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)

वेदज्ञानि (vedajñāni) - those who know the Vedas (knowers of the Vedas, those who understand the Vedas)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of vedajña

vedajña - knower of the Vedas, understanding the Vedas

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (veda+jña)

• veda – sacred knowledge, Veda
  noun (masculine)
  From root vid (to know) + a suffix
  Root: vid (class 2)
• 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)

वेदज्ञानि (vedajñāni) - those who know the Vedas (knowers of the Vedas, those who understand the Vedas)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of vedajña

vedajña - knower of the Vedas, understanding the Vedas

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (veda+jña)

• veda – sacred knowledge, Veda
  noun (masculine)
  From root vid (to know) + a suffix
  Root: vid (class 2)
• 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 vedajñāni.

वेदः (vedaḥ) - the Veda (the Veda, sacred knowledge)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of veda

veda - sacred knowledge, Veda

From root vid (to know) + a suffix

Root: vid (class 2)

हि (hi) - indeed (indeed, certainly, because, for)

(indeclinable)

एषु (eṣu) - in them (referring to the expounders/knowers of Vedas) (in these, among these)

(pronoun)

Locative, masculine, plural of idam

idam - this, these

Note: Refers to the 'vedajñāni' (knowers of the Vedas) who are people.

प्रतिष्ठितः (pratiṣṭhitaḥ) - firmly established (established, founded, rooted, dwelling)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pratiṣṭhita

pratiṣṭhita - established, founded, fixed, consecrated

Past Passive Participle

From root sthā (to stand) with prefix prati-

Prefix: prati

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Agrees with vedaḥ.