महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-257, verse-1

भीष्म उवाच ।
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
प्रजानामनुकम्पार्थं गीतं राज्ञा विचख्नुना ॥१॥

1. bhīṣma uvāca ,
atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam ,
prajānāmanukampārthaṁ gītaṁ rājñā vicakhnunā.

1. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca | atra api udāharanti imam itihāsam
purātanam | prajānām anukampārtham gītam rājñā vicakhnunā

1. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca atra api imam purātanam itihāsam prajānām
anukampārtham rājñā vicakhnunā gītam (iti) udāharanti

1. Bhishma said: In this context, they also relate this ancient narrative (itihāsa), which King Vichakhnu sang out of compassion for his subjects.

Words meanings summery:

• भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma

• उवाच (uvāca) - spoke, said

• अत्र (atra) - here, in this regard

• अपि (api) - also, even

• उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite, they relate

• इमम् (imam) - this

• इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - narrative, history, ancient tradition (itihāsa)

• पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient, old

• प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the people, of the subjects

• अनुकम्पार्थम् (anukampārtham) - for the sake of compassion

• गीतम् (gītam) - sung

• राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king

• विचख्नुना (vicakhnunā) - by Vichakhnu

Words meanings and morphology

भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - Bhishma (name of a Kuru patriarch)

उवाच (uvāca) - spoke, said

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (liṭ) of vac

perfect active

Root 'vac' (2nd class) - perfect 3rd person singular, irregular formation

Root: vac (class 2)

अत्र (atra) - here, in this regard

(indeclinable)

अपि (api) - also, even

(indeclinable)

उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite, they relate

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of udāhṛ

present active

Root 'hṛ' (1st class) with upasargas 'ud' + 'ā' - present 3rd person plural

Prefixes: ud+ā

Root: hṛ (class 1)

Note: Formed with two prefixes 'ud' and 'ā'.

इमम् (imam) - this

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

Note: Refers to 'itihāsam'.

इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - narrative, history, ancient tradition (itihāsa)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of itihāsa

itihāsa - history, legend, ancient tradition, epic (itihāsa)

पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient, old

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of purātana

purātana - ancient, old, primeval

From 'purā' (formerly) + suffix '-tana'

Note: Agrees with 'itihāsam'.

प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the people, of the subjects

(noun)

Genitive, feminine, plural of prajā

prajā - progeny, creatures, subjects, people

Root 'jan' with 'pra', feminine noun

Prefix: pra

Root: jan (class 4)

अनुकम्पार्थम् (anukampārtham) - for the sake of compassion

(indeclinable)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (anukampā+artha)

• anukampā – compassion, pity
  noun (feminine)
  Root 'kamp' (to tremble) with 'anu', feminine noun
  Prefix: anu
  Root: kamp (class 1)
• artha – purpose, aim, sake, meaning
  noun (masculine)

Note: Acts adverbially here.

गीतम् (gītam) - sung

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of gīta

gīta - sung, chanted

Past Passive Participle

From root 'gai' (to sing) + 'kta' (past passive participle suffix)

Root: gai (class 1)

Note: Grammatically neuter accusative singular participle, refers to 'itihāsam' (masculine accusative singular).

राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler

n-stem masculine noun

Note: Agent in passive construction (gītam rājñā).

विचख्नुना (vicakhnunā) - by Vichakhnu

(proper noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of vicakhnu

vicakhnu - Vichakhnu (name of a king)

u-stem masculine noun

Note: Agrees with 'rājñā'.