महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-229, verse-2

शुक उवाच ।
किं तज्ज्ञानमथो विद्या यया निस्तरति द्वयम् ।
प्रवृत्तिलक्षणो धर्मो निवृत्तिरिति चैव हि ॥२॥

2. śuka uvāca ,
kiṁ tajjñānamatho vidyā yayā nistarati dvayam ,
pravṛttilakṣaṇo dharmo nivṛttiriti caiva hi.

2. śuka uvāca kim tat jñānam atho vidyā yayā nistarati
dvayam pravṛttilakṣaṇaḥ dharmaḥ nivṛttiḥ iti ca eva hi

2. śukaḥ uvāca kim tat jñānam atho vidyā yayā dvayam
nistarati pravṛttilakṣaṇaḥ dharmaḥ nivṛttiḥ iti ca eva hi

2. Shuka said: What is that knowledge (jñāna), or rather, wisdom (vidyā), by which one transcends duality? (Specifically), the intrinsic nature (dharma) which is characterized by engagement (pravṛtti) and disengagement (nivṛtti).

Words meanings summery:

• शुक (śuka) - Shuka (proper noun)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• किम् (kim) - what? which?

• तत् (tat) - that (neuter nominative/accusative singular)

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge, spiritual wisdom

• अथो (atho) - Used here as an alternative to 'atha', often implying a choice or continuation. (or, now, then, moreover)

• विद्या (vidyā) - knowledge, wisdom, science

• यया (yayā) - Refers to `vidyā`. (by which (feminine singular instrumental))

• निस्तरति (nistarati) - crosses over, overcomes, transcends, escapes

• द्वयम् (dvayam) - duality, pair, couple, two

• प्रवृत्तिलक्षणः (pravṛttilakṣaṇaḥ) - characterized by activity/engagement

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - Refers to the principle or category of existence. (natural law (dharma), intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness)

• निवृत्तिः (nivṛttiḥ) - Contrasted with `pravṛtti`. (cessation, disengagement, turning away, abstention)

• इति (iti) - Used to mark the end of a quote or to specify what `dvayam` consists of. (thus, so, denoting completion or specification)

• च (ca) - and, also

• एव (eva) - only, indeed, just

• हि (hi) - Emphatic. (indeed, certainly, for)

Words meanings and morphology

शुक (śuka) - Shuka (proper noun)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śuka

śuka - Shuka (name of a sage, son of Vyasa)

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past perfect (liṭ) of vac

Perfect Active Indicative (Lit)

3rd person singular, perfect tense (liṭ), active voice

Root: vac (class 2)

किम् (kim) - what? which?

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kim

kim - what?, which?, why?

तत् (tat) - that (neuter nominative/accusative singular)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge, spiritual wisdom

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, spiritual wisdom, understanding

from root jñā (to know)

Root: jñā (class 9)

अथो (atho) - Used here as an alternative to 'atha', often implying a choice or continuation. (or, now, then, moreover)

(indeclinable)

Variant of 'atha' used in sandhi or for emphasis/alternative.

विद्या (vidyā) - knowledge, wisdom, science

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of vidyā

vidyā - knowledge, wisdom, science, learning

from root vid (to know)

Root: vid (class 2)

यया (yayā) - Refers to `vidyā`. (by which (feminine singular instrumental))

(pronoun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of yad

yad - which, what, who

निस्तरति (nistarati) - crosses over, overcomes, transcends, escapes

(verb)

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

Present Active Indicative

3rd person singular, present tense, active voice, from root tṛ (to cross) with prefix nis-

Prefix: nis

Root: tṛ (class 1)

द्वयम् (dvayam) - duality, pair, couple, two

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of dvaya

dvaya - duality, pair, couple, two

प्रवृत्तिलक्षणः (pravṛttilakṣaṇaḥ) - characterized by activity/engagement

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pravṛttilakṣaṇa

pravṛttilakṣaṇa - having activity as a distinguishing mark, characterized by engagement

Compound: pravṛtti + lakṣaṇa

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (pravṛtti+lakṣaṇa)

• pravṛtti – activity, engagement, evolution, manifestation
  noun (feminine)
  from root vṛt (to be, exist) with prefix pra-
  Prefix: pra
  Root: vṛt (class 1)
• lakṣaṇa – mark, sign, characteristic, definition
  noun (neuter)
  from root lakṣ (to mark, observe)
  Root: lakṣ (class 1)

Note: Agrees with `dharmaḥ`.

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - Refers to the principle or category of existence. (natural law (dharma), intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, intrinsic nature, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, religious merit

from root dhṛ (to uphold, support)

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

निवृत्तिः (nivṛttiḥ) - Contrasted with `pravṛtti`. (cessation, disengagement, turning away, abstention)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of nivṛtti

nivṛtti - cessation, disengagement, turning away, abstention, inactivity

from root vṛt (to turn) with prefix ni-

Prefix: ni

Root: vṛt (class 1)

इति (iti) - Used to mark the end of a quote or to specify what `dvayam` consists of. (thus, so, denoting completion or specification)

(indeclinable)

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - only, indeed, just

(indeclinable)

हि (hi) - Emphatic. (indeed, certainly, for)

(indeclinable)