महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-238, verse-15

नवनीतं यथा दध्नः काष्ठादग्निर्यथैव च ।
तथैव विदुषां ज्ञानं पुत्रहेतोः समुद्धृतम् ।
स्नातकानामिदं शास्त्रं वाच्यं पुत्रानुशासनम् ॥१५॥

15. navanītaṁ yathā dadhnaḥ kāṣṭhādagniryathaiva ca ,
tathaiva viduṣāṁ jñānaṁ putrahetoḥ samuddhṛtam ,
snātakānāmidaṁ śāstraṁ vācyaṁ putrānuśāsanam.

15. navanītam yathā dadhnaḥ kāṣṭhāt agniḥ
yathā eva ca tathā eva viduṣām jñānam
putrahetoḥ samuddhṛtam snātakānām
idam śāstram vācyam putrānusāśanam

15. yathā navanītam dadhnaḥ (samuddhṛtam),
yathā eva ca agniḥ kāṣṭhāt (samuddhṛtaḥ),
tathā eva viduṣām jñānam putrahetoḥ samuddhṛtam.
idam putrānusāśanam śāstram snātakānām vācyam.

15. Just as butter is extracted from curds, and fire from wood, so too, the knowledge of the wise has been extracted for the sake of sons. This scripture, an instruction for sons, should be taught to graduates (from Vedic study).

Words meanings summery:

• नवनीतम् (navanītam) - butter, fresh butter

• यथा (yathā) - just as, as, in which way

• दध्नः (dadhnaḥ) - from curds, of curds

• काष्ठात् (kāṣṭhāt) - from wood, from a piece of wood

• अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire

• यथा (yathā) - just as, as, in which way

• एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

• च (ca) - and

• तथा (tathā) - so, similarly, in that manner

• एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

• विदुषाम् (viduṣām) - of the wise, of the learned

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge, wisdom

• पुत्रहेतोः (putrahetoḥ) - for the sake of sons, on account of sons

• समुद्धृतम् (samuddhṛtam) - extracted, drawn out, collected

• स्नातकानाम् (snātakānām) - of those who have completed Vedic study (of graduates, for graduates)

• इदम् (idam) - this

• शास्त्रम् (śāstram) - scripture, teaching, treatise, discipline

• वाच्यम् (vācyam) - to be spoken, to be taught, ought to be said

• पुत्रानुसाशनम् (putrānusāśanam) - instruction for sons

Words meanings and morphology

नवनीतम् (navanītam) - butter, fresh butter

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of navanīta

navanīta - fresh butter, butter

Note: Subject of the simile.

यथा (yathā) - just as, as, in which way

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces a comparison.

दध्नः (dadhnaḥ) - from curds, of curds

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of dadhi

dadhi - curd, coagulated milk, yogurt

Note: Source of butter.

काष्ठात् (kāṣṭhāt) - from wood, from a piece of wood

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of kāṣṭha

kāṣṭha - wood, piece of wood, log

Note: Source of fire.

अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of agni

agni - fire, god of fire

Note: Subject of the simile.

यथा (yathā) - just as, as, in which way

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces a comparison.

एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects the two similes.

तथा (tathā) - so, similarly, in that manner

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces the main statement, mirroring 'yathā'.

एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

विदुषाम् (viduṣām) - of the wise, of the learned

(participle)

Genitive, masculine, plural of vidvat

vidvat - wise, learned, knowing

present active participle

From root 'vid' (class 2, Parasmaipada)

Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Possessive, referring to 'jñānam'.

ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge, wisdom

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom, understanding

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Subject of the extraction.

पुत्रहेतोः (putrahetoḥ) - for the sake of sons, on account of sons

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of putrahetu

putrahetu - cause of sons, for the sake of sons

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (putra+hetu)

• putra – son, child
  noun (masculine)
• hetu – cause, reason, motive, sake
  noun (masculine)

समुद्धृतम् (samuddhṛtam) - extracted, drawn out, collected

(participle)

Nominative, neuter, singular of samuddhṛta

samuddhṛta - extracted, drawn out, collected, gathered

past passive participle

From root 'hṛ' with prefixes 'sam' and 'ud'

Prefixes: sam+ud

Root: hṛ (class 1)

Note: Main verb (implied 'has been extracted').

स्नातकानाम् (snātakānām) - of those who have completed Vedic study (of graduates, for graduates)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of snātaka

snātaka - a Vedic student who has completed his studies and bathed (snāna) on returning home

Root: snā (class 2)

Note: Indicates the recipients/audience.

इदम् (idam) - this

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of idam

idam - this, this here

Note: Refers to 'śāstram' / 'putrānusāśanam'.

शास्त्रम् (śāstram) - scripture, teaching, treatise, discipline

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śāstra

śāstra - scripture, teaching, sacred text, treatise, discipline

Root: śās (class 2)

Note: Subject of 'vācyam'.

वाच्यम् (vācyam) - to be spoken, to be taught, ought to be said

(gerundive)

Note: Indicates obligation or suitability.

पुत्रानुसाशनम् (putrānusāśanam) - instruction for sons

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of putrānusāśana

putrānusāśana - instruction for sons, discipline for children

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (putra+anuśāsana)

• putra – son, child
  noun (masculine)
• anuśāsana – instruction, teaching, discipline
  noun (neuter)
  From root 'śās' with prefix 'anu'
  Prefix: anu
  Root: śās (class 2)

Note: Apposition to 'śāstram'.