महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-276, verse-36

चतुर्णां यत्र वर्णानां धर्मव्यतिकरो भवेत् ।
न तत्र वासं कुर्वीत श्रेयोर्थी वै कथंचन ॥३६॥

36. caturṇāṁ yatra varṇānāṁ dharmavyatikaro bhavet ,
na tatra vāsaṁ kurvīta śreyorthī vai kathaṁcana.

36. caturṇām yatra varṇānām dharmavyatikaraḥ bhavet
na tatra vāsam kurvīta śreyo'rthī vai kathaṃcana

36. yatra caturṇām varṇānām dharmavyatikaraḥ bhavet,
tatra śreyo'rthī vai kathaṃcana vāsam na kurvīta.

36. Wherever there is a transgression of the natural law (dharma) among the four social classes, one who seeks welfare should certainly never reside there by any means.

Words meanings summery:

• चतुर्णाम् (caturṇām) - of the four

• यत्र (yatra) - wherever (where, in which place, wherever)

• वर्णानाम् (varṇānām) - of the social classes (of the colors, of the social classes, of the letters)

• धर्मव्यतिकरः (dharmavyatikaraḥ) - transgression of the natural law (dharma) (transgression of dharma, confusion of duties, violation of rules)

• भवेत् (bhavet) - occurs (he/it should be, might be, occurs)

• न (na) - never (not, no)

• तत्र (tatra) - there (there, in that place)

• वासम् (vāsam) - reside (dwelling) (dwelling, residence, abode)

• कुर्वीत (kurvīta) - should reside (should make a dwelling) (he/one should do, should make)

• श्रेयो&#०३९;र्थी (śreyo'rthī) - one who seeks welfare (one who seeks good/welfare/excellence)

• वै (vai) - certainly (indeed, surely, certainly)

• कथंचन (kathaṁcana) - by any means (by any means, in any way, somehow, ever)

Words meanings and morphology

चतुर्णाम् (caturṇām) - of the four

(numeral)

यत्र (yatra) - wherever (where, in which place, wherever)

(indeclinable)

Adverb derived from ya (which).

Note: Relates to place.

वर्णानाम् (varṇānām) - of the social classes (of the colors, of the social classes, of the letters)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of varṇa

varṇa - color, caste, social class, letter, sound

From root vṛ (to cover, to choose, to describe).

Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: Possessive or defining genitive with dharmavyatikaraḥ.

धर्मव्यतिकरः (dharmavyatikaraḥ) - transgression of the natural law (dharma) (transgression of dharma, confusion of duties, violation of rules)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharmavyatikara

dharmavyatikara - transgression of dharma, confusion of duties, violation of rules, disruption of order

Tatpuruṣa compound of dharma and vyatikara. vyatikara is from vi- + ati- + root kṛ (to do, to make).

Compound type : tatpurusha (dharma+vyatikara)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to uphold, support).
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• vyatikara – intermingling, confusion, transgression, mixture
  noun (masculine)
  From vi- + ati- + root kṛ (to do, make).
  Prefixes: vi+ati
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

भवेत् (bhavet) - occurs (he/it should be, might be, occurs)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (liṅ) of bhū

Optative mood, Active voice

From root bhū (to be, to become).

Root: bhū (class 1)

न (na) - never (not, no)

(indeclinable)

Negation particle.

तत्र (tatra) - there (there, in that place)

(indeclinable)

Adverb derived from tad (that).

Note: Refers to the location where transgression occurs.

वासम् (vāsam) - reside (dwelling) (dwelling, residence, abode)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of vāsa

vāsa - dwelling, residence, abode, scent, garment

From root vas (to dwell, to live).

Root: vas (class 1)

कुर्वीत (kurvīta) - should reside (should make a dwelling) (he/one should do, should make)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, optative (liṅ) of kṛ

Optative mood, Middle voice

From root kṛ (to do, to make).

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Implied subject is śreyo'rthī.

श्रेयो&#०३९;र्थी (śreyo'rthī) - one who seeks welfare (one who seeks good/welfare/excellence)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreyo'rthin

śreyo'rthin - desirous of good/welfare/excellence, seeking prosperity

Compound of śreyas (welfare, good) and arthin (seeking).

Compound type : tatpurusha (śreyas+arthin)

• śreyas – welfare, good, excellence, bliss
  noun (neuter)
  Comparative form of śrī (beauty, wealth, prosperity).
• arthin – seeking, desiring, supplicant
  adjective (masculine)
  From artha (purpose, meaning, wealth) + suffix in. Used as agent noun.

Note: Subject of kurvīta.

वै (vai) - certainly (indeed, surely, certainly)

(indeclinable)

Emphatic particle.

कथंचन (kathaṁcana) - by any means (by any means, in any way, somehow, ever)

(indeclinable)

Formed from katham (how) + cana (indefinite particle).