महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-264, verse-2

भीष्म उवाच ।
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि नारदेनानुकीर्तितम् ।
उञ्छवृत्तेः पुरावृत्तं यज्ञार्थे ब्राह्मणस्य ह ॥२॥

2. bhīṣma uvāca ,
atra te vartayiṣyāmi nāradenānukīrtitam ,
uñchavṛtteḥ purāvṛttaṁ yajñārthe brāhmaṇasya ha.

2. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca | atra te vartayisyāmi nāradena anukīrtitam
| uñcha-vṛtteḥ purā-vṛttam yajña-arthe brāhmaṇasya ha

2. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca atra te nāradena anukīrtitam uñcha-vṛtteḥ
brāhmaṇasya yajña-arthe purā-vṛttam ha vartayisyāmi

2. Bhishma said: In this regard, I will relate to you an ancient account (purāvṛtta) which was narrated by Narada, concerning a Brahmin who sustained himself by gleaning (uñchavṛtti), and this was done for the sake of performing a Vedic ritual (yajña).

Words meanings summery:

• भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - The character who answers Yudhishthira's question. (Bhishma)

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

• अत्र (atra) - Bhishma is responding to Yudhishthira's previous question. (here, in this matter, in this regard)

• ते (te) - Bhishma is speaking to Yudhishthira. (to you (singular, dative/genitive))

• वर्तयिस्यामि (vartayisyāmi) - Bhishma will narrate the story. (I will relate, I will cause to turn)

• नारदेन (nāradena) - Narada is the sage who originally recounted this ancient tale. (by Narada)

• अनुकीर्तितम् (anukīrtitam) - The ancient account was recounted by Narada. (recounted, narrated, proclaimed)

• उञ्छ-वृत्तेः (uñcha-vṛtteḥ) - Describes the Brahmin who sustained himself by collecting grains left in the fields. (of one whose livelihood is gleaning)

• पुरा-वृत्तम् (purā-vṛttam) - The specific narrative that Bhishma is about to recount. (ancient tale, past event, old story)

• यज्ञ-अर्थे (yajña-arthe) - The Brahmin's austere life and his story are framed by his intent to perform a Vedic ritual (yajña). (for the sake of a Vedic ritual, for the purpose of a Vedic ritual)

• ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - The story concerns a particular Brahmin. (of a Brahmin)

• ह (ha) - Adds emphasis to Bhishma's statement. (indeed, certainly (an emphatic particle))

Words meanings and morphology

भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - The character who answers Yudhishthira's question. (Bhishma)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - Bhishma (proper name, son of Shantanu and Ganga)

उवाच (uvāca) - Bhishma 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)

अत्र (atra) - Bhishma is responding to Yudhishthira's previous question. (here, in this matter, in this regard)

(indeclinable)

Adverbial particle indicating place or context, from pronominal root idam

ते (te) - Bhishma is speaking to Yudhishthira. (to you (singular, dative/genitive))

(pronoun)

Dative, singular of yuṣmad

yuṣmad - you

वर्तयिस्यामि (vartayisyāmi) - Bhishma will narrate the story. (I will relate, I will cause to turn)

(verb)

1st person , singular, active, future (lṛṭ) of vṛt

Future tense, 1st person singular, active voice (causative stem)

Causative form (vartay) of root vṛt (class 1), in future tense

Root: vṛt (class 1)

नारदेन (nāradena) - Narada is the sage who originally recounted this ancient tale. (by Narada)

(proper noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of nārada

nārada - Narada (a divine sage, son of Brahma, known as a messenger of the gods and a wandering musician)

अनुकीर्तितम् (anukīrtitam) - The ancient account was recounted by Narada. (recounted, narrated, proclaimed)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of anukīrtita

anukīrtita - recounted, proclaimed, celebrated

Past Passive Participle

From the root kīrt (to mention, praise) with upasarga anu- (after, along)

Prefix: anu

Root: kīrt (class 10)

उञ्छ-वृत्तेः (uñcha-vṛtteḥ) - Describes the Brahmin who sustained himself by collecting grains left in the fields. (of one whose livelihood is gleaning)

(noun)

Genitive, feminine, singular of uñcha-vṛtti

uñcha-vṛtti - livelihood by gleaning

Compound of uñcha (gleaning) and vṛtti (livelihood)

Compound type : tatpurusha (uñcha+vṛtti)

• uñcha – gleaning (the act of collecting scattered grain)
  noun (neuter)
• vṛtti – livelihood, mode of life, conduct
  noun (feminine)
  Derived from the root vṛt (to be, to exist)
  Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'brāhmaṇasya'.

पुरा-वृत्तम् (purā-vṛttam) - The specific narrative that Bhishma is about to recount. (ancient tale, past event, old story)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of purā-vṛtta

purā-vṛtta - ancient event, past occurrence

Compound of purā (formerly) and vṛtta (event)

Compound type : tatpurusha (purā+vṛtta)

• purā – formerly, anciently, in former times
  indeclinable
  Adverb of time
• vṛtta – happened, occurred, event, conduct
  noun (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From the root vṛt (to be, to exist, to happen)
  Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Object of 'vartayisyāmi'.

यज्ञ-अर्थे (yajña-arthe) - The Brahmin's austere life and his story are framed by his intent to perform a Vedic ritual (yajña). (for the sake of a Vedic ritual, for the purpose of a Vedic ritual)

(indeclinable)

Compound of yajña (Vedic ritual) and artha (purpose), with 'artha' in the locative singular, used adverbially

Compound type : tatpurusha (yajña+artha)

• yajña – Vedic ritual, sacrifice
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from the root yaj (to worship)
  Root: yaj (class 1)
• artha – purpose, sake, meaning
  noun (masculine)

ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - The story concerns a particular Brahmin. (of a Brahmin)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, a member of the priestly class

Derived from brahman (sacred knowledge, ultimate reality)

Note: Possessive genitive, indicating the tale 'of' the Brahmin.

ह (ha) - Adds emphasis to Bhishma's statement. (indeed, certainly (an emphatic particle))

(indeclinable)