महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-229, verse-18

वेदज्ञानि द्वयान्याहुः प्रवक्तॄणीतराणि च ।
प्रवक्तॄणि विशिष्टानि सर्वधर्मोपधारणात् ॥१८॥

18. vedajñāni dvayānyāhuḥ pravaktṝṇītarāṇi ca ,
pravaktṝṇi viśiṣṭāni sarvadharmopadhāraṇāt.

18. vedajñāni dvayāni āhuḥ pravaktṝṇi itarāṇi ca
| pravaktṝṇi viśiṣṭāni sarvadharmopadhāraṇāt

18. āhuḥ vedajñāni dvayāni pravaktṝṇi ca itarāṇi
pravaktṝṇi sarvadharmopadhāraṇāt viśiṣṭāni

18. They declare that among those who know the Vedas, there are two categories: those who are expounders (pravaktṛ) and others. The expounders (pravaktṛ) are considered superior because of their profound understanding of all aspects of natural law (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

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

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

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

• प्रवक्तॄणि (pravaktṝṇi) - those who are expounders (pravaktṛ) (expounders, speakers, teachers, proclaimers)

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

• च (ca) - and, also, moreover

• प्रवक्तॄणि (pravaktṝṇi) - the expounders (pravaktṛ) (expounders, speakers, teachers, proclaimers)

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

• सर्वधर्मोपधारणात् (sarvadharmopadhāraṇāt) - because of their profound understanding of all aspects of natural law (dharma) (from the discernment of all natural laws (dharma), due to the profound understanding of all duties)

Words meanings and morphology

वेदज्ञानि (vedajñāni) - among 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.

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)

प्रवक्तॄणि (pravaktṝṇi) - those who are expounders (pravaktṛ) (expounders, speakers, teachers, proclaimers)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of pravaktṛ

pravaktṛ - expounder, speaker, teacher, proclaimer

Agent Noun

From root vac (to speak) with prefix pra- and agent suffix -tṛ

Prefix: pra

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Although the agent noun pravaktṛ is masculine, its form here (pravaktṝṇi) is neuter plural to agree with 'dvayāni' and 'itarāṇi'.

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)

प्रवक्तॄणि (pravaktṝṇi) - the expounders (pravaktṛ) (expounders, speakers, teachers, proclaimers)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of pravaktṛ

pravaktṛ - expounder, speaker, teacher, proclaimer

Agent Noun

From root vac (to speak) with prefix pra- and agent suffix -tṛ

Prefix: pra

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Although the agent noun pravaktṛ is masculine, its form here (pravaktṝṇi) is neuter plural to agree with 'dvayāni' and 'itarāṇi'.

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 pravaktṝṇi.

सर्वधर्मोपधारणात् (sarvadharmopadhāraṇāt) - because of their profound understanding of all aspects of natural law (dharma) (from the discernment of all natural laws (dharma), due to the profound understanding of all duties)

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of sarvadharmopadhāraṇa

sarvadharmopadhāraṇa - discernment or understanding of all dharmas

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sarva+dharma+upadhāraṇa)

• sarva – all, every, whole
  pronoun (masculine)
• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to hold, sustain) + man suffix
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• upadhāraṇa – discernment, determination, apprehension
  noun (neuter)
  From root dhṛ (to hold, support) + suffix -ana, with upasarga upa-
  Prefix: upa
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)