महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-255, verse-16

विगुणं च पुनः कर्म ज्याय इत्यनुशुश्रुम ।
सर्वभूतोपघातश्च फलभावे च संयमः ॥१६॥

16. viguṇaṁ ca punaḥ karma jyāya ityanuśuśruma ,
sarvabhūtopaghātaśca phalabhāve ca saṁyamaḥ.

16. viguṇam ca punaḥ karma jyāyaḥ iti anuśuśruma
sarvabhūtopaghātaḥ ca phalabhāve ca saṃyamaḥ

16. ca punaḥ viguṇam karma jyāyaḥ iti anuśuśruma
ca sarvabhūtopaghātaḥ ca phalabhāve saṃyamaḥ

16. And furthermore, we have heard that even an imperfect action (karma) is superior. (This is because all actions involve) causing harm to all beings, and (therefore) restraint regarding their outcomes is necessary.

Words meanings summery:

• विगुन्̣अम् (viguṇam) - imperfect, faulty, deficient, lacking qualities

• च (ca) - and, also, furthermore

• पुनः (punaḥ) - again, furthermore, moreover

• कर्म (karma) - action (karma) (action, deed, work, ritual, destiny)

• ज्यायः (jyāyaḥ) - superior, better, greater, more important

• इति (iti) - thus, so, in this manner, marking direct speech or a quotation

• अनुशुश्रुम (anuśuśruma) - we have heard, we heard

• सर्वभूतोपघातः (sarvabhūtopaghātaḥ) - injury to all beings, harm to all creatures

• च (ca) - and, also

• फलभावे (phalabhāve) - in the state of results, concerning the outcomes/fruits

• च (ca) - and, also

• संयमः (saṁyamaḥ) - restraint, control, self-control, discipline

Words meanings and morphology

विगुन्̣अम् (viguṇam) - imperfect, faulty, deficient, lacking qualities

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of viguṇa

viguṇa - imperfect, faulty, deficient, lacking qualities, destitute of good qualities

Note: Qualifies karma.

च (ca) - and, also, furthermore

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects the idea of 'imperfect' to 'action'.

पुनः (punaḥ) - again, furthermore, moreover

(indeclinable)

Note: Indicates addition or repetition of an idea, meaning 'furthermore'.

कर्म (karma) - action (karma) (action, deed, work, ritual, destiny)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of karman

karman - action, deed, work, ritual, destiny, effect of actions

From root kṛ (to do, make).

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Subject of the first clause.

ज्यायः (jyāyaḥ) - superior, better, greater, more important

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jyāyas

jyāyas - superior, better, greater, more important, preferable

comparative adjective

Comparative form of praśasya (excellent) or vṛddha (grown, old, great).

Note: Predicate adjective for karma.

इति (iti) - thus, so, in this manner, marking direct speech or a quotation

(indeclinable)

Note: Marks the preceding clause as the content of what was heard.

अनुशुश्रुम (anuśuśruma) - we have heard, we heard

(verb)

1st person , plural, active, perfect (lit) of śru

Perfect active indicative, 1st person plural

Root śru, reduplicated, perfect tense.

Prefix: anu

Root: śru (class 5)

सर्वभूतोपघातः (sarvabhūtopaghātaḥ) - injury to all beings, harm to all creatures

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sarvabhūtopaghāta

sarvabhūtopaghāta - injury to all beings, harm to all creatures

Compound type : tatpurusha (sarva+bhūta+upaghāta)

• sarva – all, every, whole
  adjective (masculine)
• bhūta – being, creature, element, ghost, past
  noun (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root bhū (to be, exist).
  Root: bhū (class 1)
• upaghāta – injury, harm, destruction, affliction
  noun (masculine)
  From upa + root han (to strike, kill).
  Prefix: upa
  Root: han (class 2)

Note: Subject of the implied second clause.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects sarvabhūtopaghātaḥ with the subsequent clause.

फलभावे (phalabhāve) - in the state of results, concerning the outcomes/fruits

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of phalabhāva

phalabhāva - the state of being a fruit/result, the presence of outcomes

Compound type : tatpurusha (phala+bhāva)

• phala – fruit, result, consequence, reward
  noun (neuter)
• bhāva – state, condition, existence, nature, feeling
  noun (masculine)
  From root bhū (to be, exist).
  Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Locative of time/circumstance.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects phalabhāve with saṃyamaḥ.

संयमः (saṁyamaḥ) - restraint, control, self-control, discipline

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of saṃyama

saṁyama - restraint, control, self-control, discipline, ascetic practice

From sam + root yam (to hold, restrain).

Prefix: sam

Root: yam (class 1)

Note: Predicate noun or implied subject.