महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-264, verse-1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
बहूनां यज्ञतपसामेकार्थानां पितामह ।
धर्मार्थं न सुखार्थार्थं कथं यज्ञः समाहितः ॥१॥

1. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ,
bahūnāṁ yajñatapasāmekārthānāṁ pitāmaha ,
dharmārthaṁ na sukhārthārthaṁ kathaṁ yajñaḥ samāhitaḥ.

1. yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca | bahūnām
yajña-tapasām ekārthānām pitāmaha
| dharmārtham na sukha-artha-artham
katham yajñaḥ samāhitaḥ

1. pitāmaha yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca bahūnām yajña-tapasām ekārthānām (yat) dharmārtham na sukha-artha-artham (asti),
katham (tādṛśaḥ) yajñaḥ samāhitaḥ (bhavati iti mama praśnaḥ)

1. Yudhishthira said: O Grandfather, considering that many Vedic rituals (yajña) and austerities (tapas) share a single purpose—which is for the sake of natural law (dharma), not for the sake of pleasure—how is a Vedic ritual (yajña) properly performed?

Words meanings summery:

• युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - The eldest of the Pandavas, who is asking the question. (Yudhishthira)

• उवाच (uvāca) - Yudhishthira began to speak. (said, spoke)

• बहूनाम् (bahūnām) - Referring to many Vedic rituals (yajña) and austerities (tapas). (of many, of numerous)

• यज्ञ-तपसाम् (yajña-tapasām) - Refers to the category of spiritual practices that include both Vedic rituals (yajña) and self-discipline (tapas). (of Vedic rituals and austerities)

• एकार्थानाम् (ekārthānām) - Qualifies the 'many Vedic rituals and austerities' as all having the same objective. (of those having a single purpose, of those with one aim)

• पितामह (pitāmaha) - Yudhishthira addresses Bhishma respectfully. (O Grandfather)

• धर्मार्थम् (dharmārtham) - The ultimate purpose of the Vedic ritual (yajña) and austerities (tapas) is natural law (dharma). (for the sake of natural law, for righteousness)

• न (na) - Expresses negation; the Vedic ritual is not for pleasure. (not, no)

• सुख-अर्थ-अर्थम् (sukha-artha-artham) - The Vedic ritual is not performed for personal gratification or worldly pleasure. (for the sake of pleasure)

• कथम् (katham) - Interrogative adverb asking about the method or nature of the Vedic ritual's (yajña) performance. (how, in what manner)

• यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - The specific Vedic ritual whose proper performance is being inquired about. (Vedic ritual, sacrifice)

• समाहितः (samāhitaḥ) - Refers to how a Vedic ritual (yajña) is correctly or properly carried out. (performed, established, composed, concentrated)

Words meanings and morphology

युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - The eldest of the Pandavas, who is asking the question. (Yudhishthira)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yudhiṣṭhira

yudhiṣṭhira - firm in battle; Yudhishthira

Compound type : aluk tatpuruṣa (yudhi+sthira)

• yudhi – in battle
  noun (feminine)
  Locative singular of the feminine noun 'yudh' (battle)
  Root: yudh (class 4)
• sthira – firm, steady, constant
  adjective (masculine/feminine/neuter)
  Derived from the root sthā (to stand)
  Root: sthā (class 1)

उवाच (uvāca) - Yudhishthira began to speak. (said, spoke)

(verb)

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

Perfect tense, 3rd person singular, active voice

From root vac (class 2) in perfect tense

Root: vac (class 2)

बहूनाम् (bahūnām) - Referring to many Vedic rituals (yajña) and austerities (tapas). (of many, of numerous)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of bahu

bahu - many, much, numerous

Note: Agrees with 'yajña-tapasām'.

यज्ञ-तपसाम् (yajña-tapasām) - Refers to the category of spiritual practices that include both Vedic rituals (yajña) and self-discipline (tapas). (of Vedic rituals and austerities)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of yajña-tapas

yajña-tapas - Vedic ritual and austerity

Dvandva compound of yajña and tapas

Compound type : dvandva (yajña+tapas)

• yajña – Vedic ritual, sacrifice
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from the root yaj (to worship)
  Root: yaj (class 1)
• tapas – austerity, penance, self-discipline
  noun (neuter)
  Derived from the root tap (to heat, to suffer)
  Root: tap (class 1)

एकार्थानाम् (ekārthānām) - Qualifies the 'many Vedic rituals and austerities' as all having the same objective. (of those having a single purpose, of those with one aim)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of ekārtha

ekārtha - having one purpose, having a single meaning

Bahuvrihi compound of eka (one) and artha (purpose)

Compound type : bahuvrihi (eka+artha)

• eka – one, single
  numeral (masculine/feminine/neuter)
• artha – purpose, meaning, object
  noun (masculine)

Note: Agrees with 'yajña-tapasām'.

पितामह (pitāmaha) - Yudhishthira addresses Bhishma respectfully. (O Grandfather)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of pitāmaha

pitāmaha - paternal grandfather

धर्मार्थम् (dharmārtham) - The ultimate purpose of the Vedic ritual (yajña) and austerities (tapas) is natural law (dharma). (for the sake of natural law, for righteousness)

(indeclinable)

Compound of dharma (natural law) and artham (for the sake of), used adverbially

Compound type : tatpurusha (dharma+artham)

• dharma – natural law, righteousness, duty
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from the root dhṛ (to uphold, sustain)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• artham – for the sake of, for the purpose of
  indeclinable
  Accusative singular of artha (purpose) used adverbially

न (na) - Expresses negation; the Vedic ritual is not for pleasure. (not, no)

(indeclinable)

Negative particle

सुख-अर्थ-अर्थम् (sukha-artha-artham) - The Vedic ritual is not performed for personal gratification or worldly pleasure. (for the sake of pleasure)

(indeclinable)

Compound of sukha (pleasure), artha (purpose), and artham (for the sake of). This is an unusual formation, often simplified to 'sukhārtham' meaning 'for pleasure'.

Compound type : tatpurusha (sukha+artha+artham)

• sukha – pleasure, happiness, joy
  noun (neuter)
• artha – purpose, meaning, object
  noun (masculine)
• artham – for the sake of, for the purpose of
  indeclinable
  Accusative singular of artha (purpose) used adverbially

कथम् (katham) - Interrogative adverb asking about the method or nature of the Vedic ritual's (yajña) performance. (how, in what manner)

(indeclinable)

Adverbial interrogative particle

यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - The specific Vedic ritual whose proper performance is being inquired about. (Vedic ritual, sacrifice)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yajña

yajña - Vedic ritual, sacrifice, worship

Derived from the root yaj (to worship)

Root: yaj (class 1)

Note: Subject of the verb 'samāhitaḥ'.

समाहितः (samāhitaḥ) - Refers to how a Vedic ritual (yajña) is correctly or properly carried out. (performed, established, composed, concentrated)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of samāhita

samāhita - performed, established, prepared, composed

Past Passive Participle

From the root dhā (to place, put) with upasargas sam- and ā-

Prefixes: sam+ā

Root: dhā (class 3)

Note: Agrees with 'yajñaḥ'.