महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-247, verse-12

भीष्म उवाच ।
आहुः षष्टिं भूतगुणान्वै भूतविशिष्टा नित्यविषक्ताः ।
भूतविषक्ताश्चाक्षरसृष्टाः पुत्र न नित्यं तदिह वदन्ति ॥१२॥

12. bhīṣma uvāca ,
āhuḥ ṣaṣṭiṁ bhūtaguṇānvai; bhūtaviśiṣṭā nityaviṣaktāḥ ,
bhūtaviṣaktāścākṣarasṛṣṭāḥ; putra na nityaṁ tadiha vadanti.

12. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca āhuḥ ṣaṣṭim bhūtaguṇān
vai bhūtaviśiṣṭāḥ nityaviṣaktāḥ
bhūtaviṣaktāḥ ca akṣarasṛṣṭāḥ
putra na nityam tat iha vadanti

12. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca putra vai ṣaṣṭim
bhūtaguṇān āhuḥ bhūtaviśiṣṭāḥ
nityaviṣaktāḥ ca bhūtaviṣaktāḥ
akṣarasṛṣṭāḥ iha tat na nityam vadanti

12. Bhishma said: Indeed, they speak of sixty qualities belonging to beings or elements, which are distinct from the elements themselves, yet perpetually connected to them. Furthermore, O son, they declare that these qualities, though connected to beings and created by the imperishable (akṣara), are not eternal.

Words meanings summery:

• भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - The speaker, grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas. (Bhishma)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• आहुः (āhuḥ) - Refers to ancient teachers or authorities. (they say, it is said)

• षष्टिम् (ṣaṣṭim) - sixty

• भूतगुणान् (bhūtaguṇān) - Referring to the properties or attributes of the fundamental constituents of existence. (qualities of elements/beings)

• वै (vai) - Emphatic particle. (indeed, surely, verily)

• भूतविशिष्टाः (bhūtaviśiṣṭāḥ) - These qualities are not identical to the elements but are their distinguishing features. (distinct from elements, specific to elements, distinguished by elements)

• नित्यविषक्ताः (nityaviṣaktāḥ) - They are always found in conjunction with the elements/beings. (constantly connected, perpetually attached)

• भूतविषक्ताः (bhūtaviṣaktāḥ) - The qualities are inherently linked to material existence. (attached to beings/elements)

• च (ca) - and, also

• अक्षरसृष्टाः (akṣarasṛṣṭāḥ) - The ultimate source of creation is the imperishable (brahman or puruṣa). (created by the imperishable)

• पुत्र (putra) - Bhishma addressing Yudhishthira. (O son)

• न (na) - Negates the eternality. (not)

• नित्यम् (nityam) - Not permanent, i.e., temporary. (eternal, permanent)

• तत् (tat) - Refers to the previously mentioned qualities. (that)

• इह (iha) - In this teaching or discussion. (here, in this context)

• वदन्ति (vadanti) - they say, they speak

Words meanings and morphology

भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - The speaker, grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas. (Bhishma)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - terrible, awful; a proper name, Bhishma

From √bhī (to fear) + ṣma suffix.

Root: bhī (class 3)

Note: Speaker of the verse.

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of √vac

Perfect active

From √vac (to speak), perfect tense form.

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Denotes the action of speaking.

आहुः (āhuḥ) - Refers to ancient teachers or authorities. (they say, it is said)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, perfect (lit) of √ah

Perfect active

From √ah (to say), perfect tense form, third person plural. Often used as a present tense.

Root: ah (class 2)

षष्टिम् (ṣaṣṭim) - sixty

(numeral)

Note: Object of āhuḥ, referring to the quantity of bhūtaguṇān.

भूतगुणान् (bhūtaguṇān) - Referring to the properties or attributes of the fundamental constituents of existence. (qualities of elements/beings)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of bhūtaguṇa

bhūtaguṇa - qualities of the elements; properties of existing things

From bhūta (element, being) + guṇa (quality).

Compound type : Tatpurusha (ṣaṣṭhī) (bhūta+guṇa)

• bhūta – being, creature, element (earth, water, fire, air, ether), what has been, past
  noun (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From √bhū (to be, become).
  Root: bhū (class 1)
• guṇa – quality, attribute, characteristic
  noun (masculine)

Note: Object of āhuḥ.

वै (vai) - Emphatic particle. (indeed, surely, verily)

(indeclinable)

Note: Adds emphasis.

भूतविशिष्टाः (bhūtaviśiṣṭāḥ) - These qualities are not identical to the elements but are their distinguishing features. (distinct from elements, specific to elements, distinguished by elements)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of bhūtaviśiṣṭa

bhūtaviśiṣṭa - characterized by elements, distinct from elements, superior to elements

Past Passive Participle

From bhūta (elements) + viśiṣṭa (distinguished, special).

Compound type : Tatpurusha (Panchami or Tritiya) (bhūta+viśiṣṭa)

• bhūta – element, being
  noun (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From √bhū (to be).
  Root: bhū (class 1)
• viśiṣṭa – distinguished, specific, excellent, superior, distinct
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  From vi-√śiṣ (to distinguish).
  Prefix: vi
  Root: śiṣ (class 7)

Note: Predicate adjective for bhūtaguṇān.

नित्यविषक्ताः (nityaviṣaktāḥ) - They are always found in conjunction with the elements/beings. (constantly connected, perpetually attached)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of nityaviṣakta

nityaviṣakta - constantly attached, always connected

Past Passive Participle

From nitya (constant) + viṣakta (attached, connected).

Compound type : Karmadharaya (nitya+viṣakta)

• nitya – constant, eternal, perpetual, regular
  adjective
• viṣakta – attached, connected, clinging to
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  From vi-√sañj (to attach, cling).
  Prefix: vi
  Root: sañj (class 1)

Note: Another predicate adjective for bhūtaguṇān.

भूतविषक्ताः (bhūtaviṣaktāḥ) - The qualities are inherently linked to material existence. (attached to beings/elements)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of bhūtaviṣakta

bhūtaviṣakta - attached to elements or beings

Past Passive Participle

From bhūta (element, being) + viṣakta (attached).

Compound type : Tatpurusha (Saptami) (bhūta+viṣakta)

• bhūta – element, being
  noun (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From √bhū.
  Root: bhū (class 1)
• viṣakta – attached, connected
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  From vi-√sañj.
  Prefix: vi
  Root: sañj (class 1)

Note: Another predicate adjective for the qualities.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects bhūtaviṣaktāḥ with akṣarasṛṣṭāḥ.

अक्षरसृष्टाः (akṣarasṛṣṭāḥ) - The ultimate source of creation is the imperishable (brahman or puruṣa). (created by the imperishable)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of akṣarasṛṣṭa

akṣarasṛṣṭa - created by the imperishable

Past Passive Participle

From akṣara (imperishable) + sṛṣṭa (created).

Compound type : Tatpurusha (Tritiya) (akṣara+sṛṣṭa)

• akṣara – imperishable, indestructible, undecaying; syllable, sound; Supreme Being (brahman, puruṣa)
  noun (neuter)
  a (not) + kṣara (perishing).
  Root: kṣar (class 1)
• sṛṣṭa – created, emitted, produced
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  From √sṛj (to emit, create).
  Root: sṛj (class 6)

Note: Another predicate adjective for the qualities.

पुत्र (putra) - Bhishma addressing Yudhishthira. (O son)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of putra

putra - son, child

Note: Term of address.

न (na) - Negates the eternality. (not)

(indeclinable)

Negative particle.

Note: Negates the predicate nityam.

नित्यम् (nityam) - Not permanent, i.e., temporary. (eternal, permanent)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of nitya

nitya - eternal, permanent, constant, regular

Note: Predicate for 'tat' (referring to the qualities).

तत् (tat) - Refers to the previously mentioned qualities. (that)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, it, he, she

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Subject for the statement of non-eternality.

इह (iha) - In this teaching or discussion. (here, in this context)

(indeclinable)

Adverb.

Note: Emphasizes the context of the statement.

वदन्ति (vadanti) - they say, they speak

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (lat) of √vad

Present active

From √vad (to speak), present tense, third person plural.

Root: vad (class 1)

Note: Implies 'the wise' or 'the authorities'.