महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-278, verse-2

कथं देवर्षिरुशना सदा काव्यो महामतिः ।
असुराणां प्रियकरः सुराणामप्रिये रतः ॥२॥

2. kathaṁ devarṣiruśanā sadā kāvyo mahāmatiḥ ,
asurāṇāṁ priyakaraḥ surāṇāmapriye rataḥ.

2. katham devarṣiḥ uśanā sadā kāvyaḥ mahāmatiḥ
asurāṇām priyakaraḥ surāṇām apriye rataḥ

2. katham devarṣiḥ uśanā sadā mahāmatiḥ kāvyaḥ
asurāṇām priyakaraḥ surāṇām apriye rataḥ (asti)?

2. How is it that the divine sage Uśanas, also known as Kāvya, the great-minded one, always acts favorably towards the Asuras, yet is devoted to doing what is disagreeable to the Suras (gods)?

Words meanings summery:

• कथम् (katham) - how, why, in what manner

• देवर्षिः (devarṣiḥ) - the divine sage Uśanas (divine sage)

• उशना (uśanā) - Uśanas (name of Śukra, preceptor of Asuras)

• सदा (sadā) - always, ever

• काव्यः (kāvyaḥ) - Kāvya (another name for Uśanas), son of Kavi

• महामतिः (mahāmatiḥ) - great-minded, highly intelligent

• असुराणाम् (asurāṇām) - of the Asuras, for the Asuras

• प्रियकरः (priyakaraḥ) - well-wisher, benevolent, doing what is agreeable

• सुराणाम् (surāṇām) - of the Suras, of the gods

• अप्रिये (apriye) - in what is disagreeable to the gods (in the disagreeable, in what is disliked, in enmity)

• रतः (rataḥ) - engaged, devoted, intent on

Words meanings and morphology

कथम् (katham) - how, why, in what manner

(indeclinable)

Note: Interrogative adverb, initiating Yudhiṣṭhira's question.

देवर्षिः (devarṣiḥ) - the divine sage Uśanas (divine sage)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of devarṣi

devarṣi - divine sage

Compound type : tatpurusha (deva+ṛṣi)

• deva – god, divine
  noun (masculine)
• ṛṣi – sage, seer
  noun (masculine)

Note: An epithet for Uśanas (Śukra), the preceptor of the Asuras.

उशना (uśanā) - Uśanas (name of Śukra, preceptor of Asuras)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of uśanas

uśanas - Uśanas, name of the preceptor of the Asuras, also called Śukra or Kāvya

Note: The main subject of the question.

सदा (sadā) - always, ever

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb of time.

काव्यः (kāvyaḥ) - Kāvya (another name for Uśanas), son of Kavi

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kāvya

kāvya - relating to Kavi, a descendant of Kavi; another name for Uśanas/Śukra

Note: Another name or epithet for Uśanas.

महामतिः (mahāmatiḥ) - great-minded, highly intelligent

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mahāmati

mahāmati - great-minded, highly intelligent, wise

Compound type : bahuvrihi (mahā+mati)

• mahā – great, large
  adjective (feminine)
• mati – mind, intellect, thought
  noun (feminine)

Note: Qualifies Uśanas.

असुराणाम् (asurāṇām) - of the Asuras, for the Asuras

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of asura

asura - demon, titan (opposed to the gods)

Note: Indicates the beneficiaries of the favorable action ('priyakaraḥ').

प्रियकरः (priyakaraḥ) - well-wisher, benevolent, doing what is agreeable

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of priyakara

priyakara - doing good, benevolent, well-wisher

Compound type : tatpurusha (priya+kara)

• priya – dear, beloved, agreeable
  adjective (masculine)
• kara – doer, maker
  noun/suffix (masculine)
  root kṛ + aC
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Predicate adjective for Uśanas, describing his action towards the Asuras.

सुराणाम् (surāṇām) - of the Suras, of the gods

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sura

sura - god, deity

Note: Indicates relation to 'apriye' (that which is disagreeable to the gods).

अप्रिये (apriye) - in what is disagreeable to the gods (in the disagreeable, in what is disliked, in enmity)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of apriya

apriya - disagreeable, unpleasant, enemy

a (negation) + priya

Compound type : nañ-tatpurusha (a+priya)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
• priya – dear, beloved, agreeable
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Indicates the object or sphere of 'rataḥ' (devotion).

रतः (rataḥ) - engaged, devoted, intent on

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rata

rata - engaged, devoted, intent on, pleased

Past Passive Participle

root ram + kta

Root: ram (class 1)

Note: Predicate adjective for Uśanas, describing his engagement towards the disagreeable.