महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-276, verse-1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
अतत्त्वज्ञस्य शास्त्राणां सततं संशयात्मनः ।
अकृतव्यवसायस्य श्रेयो ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१॥

1. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ,
atattvajñasya śāstrāṇāṁ satataṁ saṁśayātmanaḥ ,
akṛtavyavasāyasya śreyo brūhi pitāmaha.

1. yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca atattvajñasya śāstrāṇām satatam
saṃśayātmanaḥ akṛtavyavasāyasya śreyaḥ brūhi pitāmaha

1. pitāmaha brūhi śreyaḥ atattvajñasya śāstrāṇām
satatam saṃśayātmanaḥ akṛtavyavasāyasya

1. Yudhishthira said: O Grandfather, please tell me what is truly beneficial for someone who does not understand the principles of the scriptures, who is perpetually filled with doubt, and who lacks firm resolve.

Words meanings summery:

• युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - The eldest of the Pandavas, a righteous king (Yudhishthira)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• अतत्त्वज्ञस्य (atattvajñasya) - of one who lacks understanding of scriptural truths (of one who does not know the truth/principles, ignorant of reality)

• शास्त्राणाम् (śāstrāṇām) - of the scriptures, of sacred texts

• सततम् (satatam) - constantly, perpetually, always

• संशयात्मनः (saṁśayātmanaḥ) - of one who is perpetually filled with doubt (of one whose mind/self is full of doubt, of a doubting soul)

• अकृतव्यवसायस्य (akṛtavyavasāyasya) - of one who lacks firm resolve (of one who has not made a firm resolve/effort, irresolute)

• श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - what is truly beneficial or the ultimate good (the good, welfare, ultimate benefit, superior)

• ब्रूहि (brūhi) - please tell me (tell, say, speak)

• पितामह (pitāmaha) - O Bhishma, Yudhishthira's great-uncle/grandfather figure (O grandfather, great-grandfather)

Words meanings and morphology

युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - The eldest of the Pandavas, a righteous king (Yudhishthira)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yudhiṣṭhira

yudhiṣṭhira - steady in battle, Yudhishthira (proper noun)

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

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

Perfect Active Indicative

3rd person singular, active voice

Root: vac (class 2)

अतत्त्वज्ञस्य (atattvajñasya) - of one who lacks understanding of scriptural truths (of one who does not know the truth/principles, ignorant of reality)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of atattvajña

atattvajña - not knowing the truth or reality, ignorant

Compound formed from 'a' (negation), 'tattva' (truth/principle), and 'jña' (knower).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+tattva+jña)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
  negation prefix
• tattva – truth, reality, principle, essence
  noun (neuter)
• jña – knower, understanding
  adjective (masculine)
  Suffix -jña from root jñā
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Qualifies a person.

शास्त्राणाम् (śāstrāṇām) - of the scriptures, of sacred texts

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of śāstra

śāstra - scripture, treatise, sacred text, rule, instruction

From root śās (to instruct, command)

Root: śās (class 2)

सततम् (satatam) - constantly, perpetually, always

(indeclinable)

Note: Functions adverbially.

संशयात्मनः (saṁśayātmanaḥ) - of one who is perpetually filled with doubt (of one whose mind/self is full of doubt, of a doubting soul)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of saṃśayātman

saṁśayātman - one whose self/mind is full of doubt, a doubting soul

Bahuvrihi compound: saṃśaya (doubt) + ātman (self/mind). 'one whose ātman is doubt'.

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (saṃśaya+ātman)

• saṃśaya – doubt, uncertainty
  noun (masculine)
  From root śī (to lie) with prefix sam (together, completely)
  Prefix: sam
  Root: śī (class 2)
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, individual essence
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies a person.

अकृतव्यवसायस्य (akṛtavyavasāyasya) - of one who lacks firm resolve (of one who has not made a firm resolve/effort, irresolute)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of akṛtavyavasāya

akṛtavyavasāya - one who has not made a firm resolve, irresolute

Compound formed from 'a' (negation), 'kṛta' (made, done), and 'vyavasāya' (resolve, effort). Nañ-bahuvrihi compound.

Compound type : nañ-bahuvrīhi (a+kṛta+vyavasāya)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
  negation prefix
• kṛta – done, made, performed
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root kṛ (to do, make)
  Root: kṛ (class 8)
• vyavasāya – resolve, determination, effort, enterprise
  noun (masculine)
  From root so/sā (to tie, bind) with prefixes vi and ava
  Prefixes: vi+ava
  Root: so/sā (class 4)

Note: Qualifies a person.

श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - what is truly beneficial or the ultimate good (the good, welfare, ultimate benefit, superior)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of śreyas

śreyas - good, excellent, superior, welfare, ultimate good

Comparative form of 'śrī' or 'praśasta', functioning as a neuter noun.

Note: It is the object of 'brūhi'.

ब्रूहि (brūhi) - please tell me (tell, say, speak)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of brū

Imperative Active

2nd person singular, active voice

Root: brū (class 2)

पितामह (pitāmaha) - O Bhishma, Yudhishthira's great-uncle/grandfather figure (O grandfather, great-grandfather)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of pitāmaha

pitāmaha - grandfather, paternal grandfather, great-grandfather

Note: Refers to Bhishma.