महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-230, verse-2

तत्र चेन्न भवेदेवं संशयः कर्मनिश्चये ।
किं नु कर्म स्वभावोऽयं ज्ञानं कर्मेति वा पुनः ॥२॥

2. tatra cenna bhavedevaṁ saṁśayaḥ karmaniścaye ,
kiṁ nu karma svabhāvo'yaṁ jñānaṁ karmeti vā punaḥ.

2. tatra cet na bhavet evam saṃśayaḥ karma-niścaye kim
nu karma svabhāvaḥ ayam jñānam karma iti vā punaḥ

2. tatra cet evam na bhavet karma-niścaye saṃśayaḥ nu
kim karma ayam svabhāvaḥ vā jñānam karma iti punaḥ

2. If, in such a case, there is doubt regarding the clear determination of action (karma), then what indeed is action (karma)? Is this its intrinsic nature (svabhāva), or is knowledge itself considered action (karma)?

Words meanings summery:

• तत्र (tatra) - there, in that case/situation

• चेत् (cet) - if, supposing that

• न (na) - not

• भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be (optative)

• एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner, so

• संशयः (saṁśayaḥ) - doubt, uncertainty

• कर्म-निश्चये (karma-niścaye) - in the determination of action (karma), in the ascertainment of duty

• किम् (kim) - what, why

• नु (nu) - indeed, now, then (interrogative or emphatic particle)

• कर्म (karma) - action (karma), deed

• स्वभावः (svabhāvaḥ) - intrinsic nature (svabhāva), inherent disposition

• अयम् (ayam) - this (masculine)

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge

• कर्म (karma) - action (karma), deed

• इति (iti) - thus, so, denoting quotation

• वा (vā) - or

• पुनः (punaḥ) - again, moreover, but

Words meanings and morphology

तत्र (tatra) - there, in that case/situation

(indeclinable)

चेत् (cet) - if, supposing that

(indeclinable)

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be (optative)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of bhū

Root: bhū (class 1)

एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner, so

(indeclinable)

संशयः (saṁśayaḥ) - doubt, uncertainty

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of saṃśaya

saṁśaya - doubt, uncertainty, suspicion

कर्म-निश्चये (karma-niścaye) - in the determination of action (karma), in the ascertainment of duty

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of karmaniścaya

karmaniścaya - determination of action (karma), ascertainment of duty

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (karman+niścaya)

• karman – action, deed, work, duty (karma)
  noun (neuter)
• niścaya – ascertainment, determination, certainty
  noun (masculine)

किम् (kim) - what, why

(indeclinable)

नु (nu) - indeed, now, then (interrogative or emphatic particle)

(indeclinable)

कर्म (karma) - action (karma), deed

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of karma

karma - action, deed, work, ritual, fate (karma)

स्वभावः (svabhāvaḥ) - intrinsic nature (svabhāva), inherent disposition

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of svabhāva

svabhāva - own state, innate disposition, intrinsic nature (svabhāva)

अयम् (ayam) - this (masculine)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom, understanding

कर्म (karma) - action (karma), deed

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of karma

karma - action, deed, work, ritual, fate (karma)

इति (iti) - thus, so, denoting quotation

(indeclinable)

वा (vā) - or

(indeclinable)

पुनः (punaḥ) - again, moreover, but

(indeclinable)