महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-280, verse-16

भवत्यल्पफलं कर्म सेवितं नित्यमुल्बणम् ।
अबुद्धिपूर्वं धर्मज्ञ कृतमुग्रेण कर्मणा ॥१६॥

16. bhavatyalpaphalaṁ karma sevitaṁ nityamulbaṇam ,
abuddhipūrvaṁ dharmajña kṛtamugreṇa karmaṇā.

16. bhavati alpaphalam karma sevitam nityam ulbaṇam
abuddhipūrvam dharmajña kṛtam ugreṇa karmaṇā

16. dharmajña karma yat nityam ulbaṇam sevitam
abuddhipūrvam ugreṇa karmaṇā kṛtam bhavati alpaphalam

16. O knower of natural law (dharma), an action (karma) that is habitually performed with excess and vehemence, lacking prior deliberation, and carried out through a harsh deed (ugreṇa karmaṇā), yields only meager results.

Words meanings summery:

• भवति (bhavati) - yields (becomes) (becomes, is, happens)

• अल्पफलम् (alpaphalam) - yields only meager results (yielding little fruit, having meager results, trifling result)

• कर्म (karma) - an action (karma) (action, deed, work)

• सेवितम् (sevitam) - performed (habitually practiced) (served, honored, practiced, performed, resorted to)

• नित्यम् (nityam) - habitually (constantly) (always, constantly, habitually)

• उल्बणम् (ulbaṇam) - with excess and vehemence (excessive, prominent, violent, fierce)

• अबुद्धिपूर्वम् (abuddhipūrvam) - lacking prior deliberation (unintentional, without prior thought, unknowingly)

• धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - O knower of natural law (dharma)! (O knower of dharma!)

• कृतम् (kṛtam) - carried out (done, made, performed)

• उग्रेण (ugreṇa) - through a harsh (by a fierce, by a severe, by a violent)

• कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - through a deed (karmaṇā) (by action, by deed, by work)

Words meanings and morphology

भवति (bhavati) - yields (becomes) (becomes, is, happens)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of bhū

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Links karma to alpaphalam.

अल्पफलम् (alpaphalam) - yields only meager results (yielding little fruit, having meager results, trifling result)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of alpaphala

alpaphala - having little fruit, meager results, unimportant outcome

Compound of alpa and phala

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (alpa+phala)

• alpa – little, small, few
  adjective (neuter)
• phala – fruit, result, consequence, reward
  noun (neuter)
  Root: phal (class 1)

Note: Predicative adjective for karma.

कर्म (karma) - an action (karma) (action, deed, work)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of karmaṇ

karmaṇ - action, deed, work, destiny, ritual

from root kṛ- (to do, make)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Subject of bhavati.

सेवितम् (sevitam) - performed (habitually practiced) (served, honored, practiced, performed, resorted to)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of sevita

sevita - served, honored, practiced, followed, resorted to

Past Passive Participle

from root sev- (to serve, practice)

Root: sev (class 1)

Note: Modifies karma.

नित्यम् (nityam) - habitually (constantly) (always, constantly, habitually)

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb modifying sevitam.

उल्बणम् (ulbaṇam) - with excess and vehemence (excessive, prominent, violent, fierce)

(adjective)

neuter, singular of ulbaṇa

ulbaṇa - excessive, abundant, fierce, violent, prominent

Note: Modifies karma (as an attribute of the action).

अबुद्धिपूर्वम् (abuddhipūrvam) - lacking prior deliberation (unintentional, without prior thought, unknowingly)

(adjective)

neuter, singular of abuddhipūrva

abuddhipūrva - unintentional, without forethought, unknowingly, without consciousness

Negative compound (na) of buddhipūrva

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+buddhipūrva)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix
• buddhipūrva – preceded by thought/intelligence, intentional
  adjective (neuter)
  Compound of buddhi and pūrva

Note: Modifies karma.

धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - O knower of natural law (dharma)! (O knower of dharma!)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of dharmajña

dharmajña - knower of natural law, expert in dharma

Compound of dharma and jña

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+jña)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness
  noun (masculine)
  from root dhṛ- (to uphold, support)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• jña – knower, expert, acquainted with
  noun (masculine)
  from root jñā- (to know)
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Addressed to the listener.

कृतम् (kṛtam) - carried out (done, made, performed)

(adjective)

neuter, singular of kṛta

kṛta - done, made, performed, accomplished

Past Passive Participle

from root kṛ- (to do, make)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Modifies karma.

उग्रेण (ugreṇa) - through a harsh (by a fierce, by a severe, by a violent)

(adjective)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of ugra

ugra - fierce, violent, severe, terrible, harsh

Note: Modifies karmaṇā.

कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - through a deed (karmaṇā) (by action, by deed, by work)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of karmaṇ

karmaṇ - action, deed, work, destiny, ritual

from root kṛ- (to do, make)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Instrumental agent of kṛtam.