महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-259, verse-26

श्रेयसः श्रेयसीमेवं वृत्तिं लोकोऽनुवर्तते ।
सदैव हि गुरोर्वृत्तमनुवर्तन्ति मानवाः ॥२६॥

26. śreyasaḥ śreyasīmevaṁ vṛttiṁ loko'nuvartate ,
sadaiva hi gurorvṛttamanuvartanti mānavāḥ.

26. śreyasaḥ śreyasīm evam vṛttim lokaḥ anuvartate
sadā eva hi guroḥ vṛttam anuvartanti mānavāḥ

26. evam lokaḥ śreyasaḥ śreyasīm vṛttim anuvartate
hi mānavāḥ sadā eva guroḥ vṛttam anuvartanti

26. Thus, the world follows the most excellent path among all excellent ones. For humans always follow the conduct (vṛtta) of their teacher (guru).

Words meanings summery:

• श्रेयसः (śreyasaḥ) - among various good paths or choices (of the better, of excellence, of welfare)

• श्रेयसीम् (śreyasīm) - the most virtuous or superior (path) (the more excellent, the better)

• एवम् (evam) - in this way (thus, in this manner)

• वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - the mode of living or behavior (conduct, course, path, livelihood)

• लोकः (lokaḥ) - human society (the world, people, mankind)

• अनुवर्तते (anuvartate) - adopts and adheres to (follows, imitates, conforms to)

• सदा (sadā) - at all times (always, ever)

• एव (eva) - exclusively, solely (only, certainly, indeed)

• हि (hi) - as an explanation (for, because, indeed)

• गुरोः (guroḥ) - (following) the example set by a mentor (of the teacher, of the spiritual preceptor (guru))

• वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - the specific actions or moral standards (conduct, behavior, action)

• अनुवर्तन्ति (anuvartanti) - they adhere to and emulate (they follow, they imitate)

• मानवाः (mānavāḥ) - people in general (humans, mankind, sons of Manu)

Words meanings and morphology

श्रेयसः (śreyasaḥ) - among various good paths or choices (of the better, of excellence, of welfare)

(adjective)

Genitive, neuter, singular of śreyas

śreyas - better, more excellent, welfare, good

Comparative form of 'praśasya' (praiseworthy).

Note: Functions as a partitive genitive here.

श्रेयसीम् (śreyasīm) - the most virtuous or superior (path) (the more excellent, the better)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of śreyasī

śreyasī - more excellent, better, superior

Feminine form of 'śreyas', comparative degree of 'praśasya'.

Note: Agrees with 'vṛttim'.

एवम् (evam) - in this way (thus, in this manner)

(indeclinable)

वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - the mode of living or behavior (conduct, course, path, livelihood)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of vṛtti

vṛtti - mode of life, conduct, course, path, livelihood

From root 'vṛt' (to be, to exist).

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Object of 'anuvartate'.

लोकः (lokaḥ) - human society (the world, people, mankind)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of loka

loka - world, people, mankind, realm

Note: Subject of 'anuvartate'.

अनुवर्तते (anuvartate) - adopts and adheres to (follows, imitates, conforms to)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of vṛt

Present

Root 'vṛt' (1st class, 'bhū' group), Present tense, 3rd person singular, ātmanepada. Prefixed with 'anu'.

Prefix: anu

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: The prefix 'anu' means 'after, along, according to'.

सदा (sadā) - at all times (always, ever)

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - exclusively, solely (only, certainly, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizes the preceding word.

हि (hi) - as an explanation (for, because, indeed)

(indeclinable)

गुरोः (guroḥ) - (following) the example set by a mentor (of the teacher, of the spiritual preceptor (guru))

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of guru

guru - teacher, preceptor, spiritual guide (guru), heavy, important

Note: Possessive genitive.

वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - the specific actions or moral standards (conduct, behavior, action)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of vṛtta

vṛtta - conduct, behavior, course, that which has occurred

Past Passive Participle

Substantivized past passive participle of 'vṛt' (to be, to exist, to turn).

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Object of 'anuvartanti'.

अनुवर्तन्ति (anuvartanti) - they adhere to and emulate (they follow, they imitate)

(verb)

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

Present

Root 'vṛt' (1st class, 'bhū' group), Present tense, 3rd person plural, parasmaipada. Prefixed with 'anu'.

Prefix: anu

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Note the use of parasmaipada (active voice) here, while 'anuvartate' (singular) is atmanepada (middle voice). Both forms are possible for 'vṛt' with 'anu'.

मानवाः (mānavāḥ) - people in general (humans, mankind, sons of Manu)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of mānava

mānava - human, belonging to Manu, descendant of Manu

Derived from 'manu' (man, ancestor of mankind) with a secondary suffix.

Note: Subject of 'anuvartanti'.