महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-23, verse-15

भूमिरेतौ निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव ।
राजानं चाविरोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम् ॥१५॥

15. bhūmiretau nigirati sarpo bilaśayāniva ,
rājānaṁ cāviroddhāraṁ brāhmaṇaṁ cāpravāsinam.

15. bhūmiḥ etau nigirati sarpaḥ bilaśayān iva
rājānam ca aviroddhāram brāhmaṇam ca apravāsinam

15. bhūmiḥ etau nigirati sarpaḥ bilaśayān iva ca
rājānam aviroddhāram ca brāhmaṇam apravāsinam

15. The earth swallows these two, just as a snake swallows those sleeping in holes: a king who does not resist (or defend his kingdom), and a brahmin who does not leave his abode (or travel abroad for knowledge).

Words meanings summery:

• भूमिः (bhūmiḥ) - earth, land, ground

• एतौ (etau) - these two

• निगिरति (nigirati) - swallows, devours

• सर्पः (sarpaḥ) - snake, serpent

• बिलशयान् (bilaśayān) - creatures hiding or sleeping in holes (swallowed by a snake) (those sleeping in holes, cave-dwellers)

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• राजानम् (rājānam) - a king

• च (ca) - and

• अविरोद्धारम् (aviroddhāram) - a king who does not defend his kingdom or resist enemies (one who does not resist, one who is not hostile, one who does not oppose)

• ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - a brahmin

• च (ca) - and

• अप्रवासिनम् (apravāsinam) - one who does not travel abroad, one who does not wander

Words meanings and morphology

भूमिः (bhūmiḥ) - earth, land, ground

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of bhūmi

bhūmi - earth, land, ground, soil

Root: bhū (class 1)

एतौ (etau) - these two

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, dual of etad

etad - this, these

Note: Object of `nigirati`.

निगिरति (nigirati) - swallows, devours

(verb)

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

Formed from prefix ni + root gṛ (to swallow)

Prefix: ni

Root: gṛ (class 6)

Note: The meaning is figurative, implying loss or destruction.

सर्पः (sarpaḥ) - snake, serpent

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sarpa

sarpa - snake, serpent

Root: sṛp (class 1)

बिलशयान् (bilaśayān) - creatures hiding or sleeping in holes (swallowed by a snake) (those sleeping in holes, cave-dwellers)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, plural of bilaśaya

bilaśaya - sleeping in holes, dwelling in holes (e.g., mice, insects)

Compound of bila (hole, cave) + śaya (lying, sleeping)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (bila+śaya)

• bila – hole, cavity, cave
  noun (neuter)
• śaya – lying, sleeping, residing; bed
  adjective (masculine)
  From root śī (to lie, sleep) + a
  Root: śī (class 2)

Note: Object of the implied verb 'swallows' (`nigirati`).

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

राजानम् (rājānam) - a king

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

अविरोद्धारम् (aviroddhāram) - a king who does not defend his kingdom or resist enemies (one who does not resist, one who is not hostile, one who does not oppose)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of aviroddhṛ

aviroddhṛ - not opposing, not resisting, non-hostile

agent noun

Negative prefix a + vi + root rudh (to obstruct, resist) + tṛ (agent suffix)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+viroddhṛ)

• a – not, non-, un-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix
• viroddhṛ – opponent, resistor, hostile
  agent noun (masculine)
  Agent noun
  From vi + rudh + tṛ
  Prefix: vi
  Root: rudh (class 7)

Note: Describes `rājānam`.

ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - a brahmin

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a member of the priestly class, a brahmin

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

अप्रवासिनम् (apravāsinam) - one who does not travel abroad, one who does not wander

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of apravāsin

apravāsin - not traveling abroad, not wandering; one who does not go away

Negative prefix a + pravāsin (traveler, emigrant)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+pravāsin)

• a – not, non-, un-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix
• pravāsin – traveling abroad, emigrant, wanderer
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent noun
  From pra + vas (to dwell, live) + in
  Prefix: pra
  Root: vas (class 1)

Note: Describes `brāhmaṇam`. The implied fault is failure to perform their duty/seek knowledge.