महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-253, verse-23

अतीतास्वथ वर्षासु शरत्काल उपस्थिते ।
प्राजापत्येन विधिना विश्वासात्काममोहितौ ॥२३॥

23. atītāsvatha varṣāsu śaratkāla upasthite ,
prājāpatyena vidhinā viśvāsātkāmamohitau.

23. atītāsu atha varṣāsu śaratkālaḥ upasthite
prājāpatyena vidhinā viśvāsāt kāmamohitau

23. atha varṣāsu atītāsu śaratkālaḥ upasthite
kāmamohitau viśvāsāt prājāpatyena vidhinā

23. Then, after the rainy seasons had passed and autumn had arrived, the two (sky-dwellers), deluded by desire (kāma) and acting out of trust, proceeded according to the divine ordinance (vidhi) of Prajāpati.

Words meanings summery:

• अतीतासु (atītāsu) - after the elapsed (rainy seasons) (in the past; elapsed; gone by)

• अथ (atha) - then, thereupon, now, next

• वर्षासु (varṣāsu) - in the rainy seasons

• शरत्कालः (śaratkālaḥ) - autumn season

• उपस्थिते (upasthite) - (when autumn) had arrived (having arrived, being present, impending)

• प्राजापत्येन (prājāpatyena) - according to the divine ordinance of Prajāpati (by Prajāpati's; related to Prajāpati; by divine ordinance)

• विधिना (vidhinā) - by the method; by the rule; by the ritual; by the ordinance

• विश्वासात् (viśvāsāt) - from trust; out of confidence; due to faith

• काममोहितौ (kāmamohitau) - deluded by desire; bewildered by lust

Words meanings and morphology

अतीतासु (atītāsu) - after the elapsed (rainy seasons) (in the past; elapsed; gone by)

(adjective)

Locative, feminine, plural of atīta

atīta - past, gone by, elapsed, dead

Past Passive Participle

Derived from the root 'i' (to go) with prefix 'ati' and suffix '-ta'.

Prefix: ati

Root: i (class 2)

अथ (atha) - then, thereupon, now, next

(indeclinable)

वर्षासु (varṣāsu) - in the rainy seasons

(noun)

Locative, feminine, plural of varṣā

varṣā - rain, rainy season, year

Root: vṛṣ (class 1)

शरत्कालः (śaratkālaḥ) - autumn season

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śaratkāla

śaratkāla - autumn season

Compound of 'śarat' (autumn) and 'kāla' (time).

Compound type : tatpurusha (śarat+kāla)

• śarat – autumn
  noun (feminine)
• kāla – time, season
  noun (masculine)

उपस्थिते (upasthite) - (when autumn) had arrived (having arrived, being present, impending)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, singular of upasthita

upasthita - present, arrived, standing near, ready

Past Passive Participle

Derived from the root 'sthā' (to stand) with prefix 'upa' and suffix '-ta'.

Prefix: upa

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Modifies 'śaratkālaḥ' implying 'when autumn had arrived'.

प्राजापत्येन (prājāpatyena) - according to the divine ordinance of Prajāpati (by Prajāpati's; related to Prajāpati; by divine ordinance)

(adjective)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of prājāpatya

prājāpatya - relating to Prajāpati; descending from Prajāpati; an offering to Prajāpati

Derived from 'Prajāpati' with suffix '-ya'.

Note: Agrees with 'vidhinā'.

विधिना (vidhinā) - by the method; by the rule; by the ritual; by the ordinance

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of vidhi

vidhi - rule, method, ordinance, injunction, ritual

Derived from the root 'dhā' (to place, make) with prefix 'vi'.

Prefix: vi

Root: dhā (class 3)

विश्वासात् (viśvāsāt) - from trust; out of confidence; due to faith

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of viśvāsa

viśvāsa - trust, confidence, faith, reliance

Derived from the root 'śvas' (to breathe) with prefix 'vi'.

Prefix: vi

Root: śvas (class 2)

काममोहितौ (kāmamohitau) - deluded by desire; bewildered by lust

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of kāmamohita

kāmamohita - deluded by desire

Compound of 'kāma' (desire) and 'mohita' (deluded, past passive participle of 'muh').

Compound type : tatpurusha (kāma+mohita)

• kāma – desire, wish, love, sensual pleasure
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from the root 'kam' (to desire).
  Root: kam (class 1)
• mohita – deluded, bewildered, confused
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from the root 'muh' (to be bewildered, confused) with suffix '-ta'.
  Root: muh (class 4)

Note: Refers to the two sky-dwellers (khecarau) mentioned in the next verse.