महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-242, verse-20

आत्मनोऽव्ययिनो ज्ञात्वा इदं पुत्रानुशासनम् ।
प्रयताय प्रवक्तव्यं हितायानुगताय च ॥२०॥

20. ātmano'vyayino jñātvā idaṁ putrānuśāsanam ,
prayatāya pravaktavyaṁ hitāyānugatāya ca.

20. ātmanaḥ avyayinaḥ jñātvā idam putrānusāśanam
prayatāya pravaktavyam hitāya anugatāya ca

20. idam putrānusāśanam avyayinaḥ ātmanaḥ jñātvā
prayatāya anugatāya ca hitāya pravaktavyam

20. Knowing this instruction to be about the imperishable self (ātman), it should be imparted to a diligent and devoted person for their benefit.

Words meanings summery:

• आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - concerning the self (ātman) (of the self, concerning the self)

• अव्ययिनः (avyayinaḥ) - of the imperishable (of the imperishable, of the unchanging)

• ज्ञात्वा (jñātvā) - knowing (having known, knowing)

• इदम् (idam) - this

• पुत्रानुसाशनम् (putrānusāśanam) - instruction (instruction to a son, advice for a son)

• प्रयताय (prayatāya) - to one who is diligent (to the diligent, to the restrained, to the pure)

• प्रवक्तव्यम् (pravaktavyam) - should be imparted (to be taught, ought to be spoken)

• हिताय (hitāya) - for their benefit (for the welfare, for the benefit)

• अनुगताय (anugatāya) - to a devoted person (to the devoted, to the follower)

• च (ca) - and

Words meanings and morphology

आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - concerning the self (ātman) (of the self, concerning the self)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - self, soul, spirit, essence

Note: Genitive modifying 'putrānusāśanam'.

अव्ययिनः (avyayinaḥ) - of the imperishable (of the imperishable, of the unchanging)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of avyayin

avyayin - imperishable, immutable, unchanging

Derived from a-vyaya (non-expendable)

Note: Adjective modifying 'ātmanaḥ'.

ज्ञात्वा (jñātvā) - knowing (having known, knowing)

(indeclinable)

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Absolutive (gerund).

इदम् (idam) - this

(pronoun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of idam

idam - this, this here

Note: Modifies 'putrānusāśanam'.

पुत्रानुसाशनम् (putrānusāśanam) - instruction (instruction to a son, advice for a son)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of putrānusāśana

putrānusāśana - instruction to a son, son's advice

Compound of putra (son) and anusāśana (instruction)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (putra+anusāśana)

• putra – son, child
  noun (masculine)
• anusāśana – instruction, teaching, command
  noun (neuter)
  From √śās (to instruct) with prefix anu-
  Prefix: anu
  Root: śās (class 2)

Note: Object of 'jñātvā'.

प्रयताय (prayatāya) - to one who is diligent (to the diligent, to the restrained, to the pure)

(adjective)

Dative, masculine, singular of prayatat

prayatat - diligent, restrained, pure, attentive

Past Passive Participle

Derived from √yam (to restrain) with prefix pra-

Prefix: pra

Root: yam (class 1)

Note: Dative object for whom the teaching is intended.

प्रवक्तव्यम् (pravaktavyam) - should be imparted (to be taught, ought to be spoken)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pravaktavya

pravaktavya - to be spoken, to be taught, proper to speak

Gerundive/Future Passive Participle

Derived from √vac (to speak) with prefix pra-

Prefix: pra

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Acts as the main predicate (it is to be spoken).

हिताय (hitāya) - for their benefit (for the welfare, for the benefit)

(noun)

Dative, neuter, singular of hita

hita - beneficial, salutary, welfare, good

Past Passive Participle

Derived from √dhā (to place, do) or √hi (to send, move), often connected to √dhā via 'dhita' becoming 'hita'

Root: dhā (class 3)

Note: Dative of purpose.

अनुगताय (anugatāya) - to a devoted person (to the devoted, to the follower)

(adjective)

Dative, masculine, singular of anugata

anugata - followed, accompanied, devoted, obedient

Past Passive Participle

Derived from √gam (to go) with prefix anu-

Prefix: anu

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Adjective modifying the implicit person receiving the instruction, parallel to 'prayatāya'.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects 'prayatāya' and 'anugatāya'.