महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-235, verse-3

अश्वस्तनोऽथ कापोतीमाश्रितो वृत्तिमाहरेत् ।
तेषां परः परो ज्यायान्धर्मतो लोकजित्तमः ॥३॥

3. aśvastano'tha kāpotīmāśrito vṛttimāharet ,
teṣāṁ paraḥ paro jyāyāndharmato lokajittamaḥ.

3. aśvastanaḥ atha kāpotīm āśritaḥ vṛttim āharet |
teṣām paraḥ paraḥ jyāyān dharmataḥ lokajittamaḥ

3. atha aśvastanaḥ kāpotīm vṛttim āśritaḥ āharet teṣām paraḥ paraḥ dharmataḥ jyāyān lokajittamaḥ ।

3. Then, the `aśvastana` (one who has no provision for tomorrow) and one who adopts the pigeon-like (kāpotī) mode of livelihood should gather their sustenance. Among these, each succeeding type is superior in terms of righteousness (dharma) and is the best conqueror of worlds.

Words meanings summery:

• अश्वस्तनः (aśvastanaḥ) - A householder type who lives hand-to-mouth, without storing provisions for the next day. (one who has nothing for tomorrow, not for tomorrow)

• अथ (atha) - then, now, thereupon

• कापोतीम् (kāpotīm) - Referring to the "pigeon-like mode of life," where one gathers food daily, like a pigeon. (pigeon-like, relating to a pigeon)

• आश्रितः (āśritaḥ) - one who has adopted or resorted to (a mode of life) (resorted to, adopted, dependent on)

• वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - mode of life, livelihood

• आहरेत् (āharet) - should obtain or adopt (a livelihood) (should gather, should adopt, should take)

• तेषाम् (teṣām) - among these types of householders (among them, of them)

• परः (paraḥ) - each succeeding (type) (succeeding, subsequent, other)

• परः (paraḥ) - each succeeding (type) (succeeding, subsequent, other)

• ज्यायान् (jyāyān) - superior, better, greater

• धर्मतः (dharmataḥ) - in terms of righteousness or religious merit (by natural law (dharma), in accordance with duty, righteously)

• लोकजित्तमः (lokajittamaḥ) - The most accomplished in gaining spiritual merit (worlds/realms). (the best conqueror of worlds)

Words meanings and morphology

अश्वस्तनः (aśvastanaḥ) - A householder type who lives hand-to-mouth, without storing provisions for the next day. (one who has nothing for tomorrow, not for tomorrow)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of aśvastana

aśvastana - not for tomorrow, one who has nothing for tomorrow

Negative compound (na + śvastana). 'Śvastana' means 'belonging to tomorrow'.

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+śvastana)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
• śvastana – belonging to tomorrow, future
  adjective (masculine)
  From 'śvas' (tomorrow)

Note: Implied subject, referring to a type of householder.

अथ (atha) - then, now, thereupon

(indeclinable)

Note: Particle indicating sequence or transition.

कापोतीम् (kāpotīm) - Referring to the "pigeon-like mode of life," where one gathers food daily, like a pigeon. (pigeon-like, relating to a pigeon)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of kāpotī

kāpotī - pigeon-like, relating to a pigeon

Derived from 'kapota' (pigeon). Implies collecting food daily, just enough for the day.

आश्रितः (āśritaḥ) - one who has adopted or resorted to (a mode of life) (resorted to, adopted, dependent on)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of āśrita

āśrita - resorted to, taken refuge in, dependent on, adopted

Past Passive Participle

From root 'śri' (to resort to, serve) with prefix 'ā'.

Prefix: ā

Root: śri (class 1)

Note: Refers to the householder.

वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - mode of life, livelihood

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of vṛtti

vṛtti - mode of life, livelihood, course of conduct

From root 'vṛt' (to be, to exist, to turn).

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Object of 'āśritaḥ' and 'āharet'.

आहरेत् (āharet) - should obtain or adopt (a livelihood) (should gather, should adopt, should take)

(verb)

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

optative active

Root 'hṛ' (to carry, take) with prefix 'ā' (towards), in optative active 3rd person singular.

Prefix: ā

Root: hṛ (class 1)

तेषाम् (teṣām) - among these types of householders (among them, of them)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Genitive plural of the pronoun 'tad'.

परः (paraḥ) - each succeeding (type) (succeeding, subsequent, other)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of para

para - other, another, subsequent, superior, supreme

Note: Used in repetition for emphasis.

परः (paraḥ) - each succeeding (type) (succeeding, subsequent, other)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of para

para - other, another, subsequent, superior, supreme

Note: Used in repetition for emphasis.

ज्यायान् (jyāyān) - superior, better, greater

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of jyāyas

jyāyas - superior, better, greater (comparative of 'vṛddha' or 'mahat')

Comparative form, from root 'jya' (to overcome) or 'jīv' (to live) with comparative suffix.

Note: Implies a comparison; here, increasing superiority in the order mentioned.

धर्मतः (dharmataḥ) - in terms of righteousness or religious merit (by natural law (dharma), in accordance with duty, righteously)

(indeclinable)

Formed with the suffix '-tas', indicating 'by means of' or 'in respect of'.

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Adverbial, modifying 'jyāyān' and 'lokajittamaḥ'.

लोकजित्तमः (lokajittamaḥ) - The most accomplished in gaining spiritual merit (worlds/realms). (the best conqueror of worlds)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of lokajittama

lokajittama - best conqueror of worlds, most victorious over realms

Superlative compound of 'lokajit' (conqueror of worlds) with the superlative suffix '-tama'.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa / nitya (loka+jit+tama)

• loka – world, realm, people
  noun (masculine)
  Root: lok (class 1)
• jit – conquering, victorious, one who conquers
  adjective (masculine)
  From root 'ji' (to conquer).
  Root: ji (class 1)
• tama – most, best (superlative suffix)
  suffix
  Superlative suffix.

Note: Predicative adjective for the implied subject.