महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-280, verse-6

अज्ञानाद्धि कृतं पापं तपसैवाभिनिर्णुदेत् ।
पापं हि कर्म फलति पापमेव स्वयं कृतम् ।
तस्मात्पापं न सेवेत कर्म दुःखफलोदयम् ॥६॥

6. ajñānāddhi kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tapasaivābhinirṇudet ,
pāpaṁ hi karma phalati pāpameva svayaṁ kṛtam ,
tasmātpāpaṁ na seveta karma duḥkhaphalodayam.

6. ajñānāt hi kṛtam pāpam tapasā eva
abhiniṛṇudet | pāpam hi karma phalati
pāpam eva svayam kṛtam | tasmāt
pāpam na seveta karma duḥkhaphalodayam

6. hi ajñānāt kṛtam pāpam tapasā eva
abhiniṛṇudet hi svayam kṛtam pāpam
karma pāpam eva phalati tasmāt
duḥkhaphalodayam karma na seveta

6. Indeed, a sin committed out of ignorance should be expiated only by austerity (tapas). For a sinful action (karma), when performed by oneself, invariably yields only sinful results. Therefore, one should not engage in actions (karma) that bring forth sorrowful outcomes.

Words meanings summery:

• अज्ञानात् (ajñānāt) - from ignorance, due to ignorance

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for, because

• कृतम् (kṛtam) - committed (a sin) (done, made, performed, created)

• पापम् (pāpam) - sin, evil, wickedness

• तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity, by penance

• एव (eva) - only, indeed, just

• अभिनिऋणुदेत् (abhiniṛṇudet) - should expiate, should remove completely

• पापम् (pāpam) - sinful

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for, because

• कर्म (karma) - action, deed

• फलति (phalati) - yields results/fruit (bears fruit, results, ripens)

• पापम् (pāpam) - sinful (fruit), evil (result)

• एव (eva) - only, indeed, just

• स्वयम् (svayam) - oneself, by oneself, personally

• कृतम् (kṛtam) - done, performed

• तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore, from that, for that reason

• पापम् (pāpam) - sinful (action)

• न (na) - not, no

• सेवेत (seveta) - one should engage in (actions) (one should engage in, one should resort to, one should serve)

• कर्म (karma) - action, deed

• दुःखफलोदयम् (duḥkhaphalodayam) - whose outcome is sorrowful fruit, yielding sorrowful results

Words meanings and morphology

अज्ञानात् (ajñānāt) - from ignorance, due to ignorance

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of ajñāna

ajñāna - ignorance, lack of knowledge

Compound of 'a' (negation) and 'jñāna' (knowledge).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+jñāna)

• a – not, non, un-
  indeclinable
  Negating prefix
• jñāna – knowledge, wisdom, understanding
  noun (neuter)
  From root jñā (to know)
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Indicates cause or origin.

हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for, because

(indeclinable)

Note: Used as an intensifier and to provide explanation.

कृतम् (kṛtam) - committed (a sin) (done, made, performed, created)

(adjective)

neuter, singular of kṛta

kṛta - done, made, performed; deed, act

Past Passive Participle

From root kṛ (to do, make).

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Functions as an adjective describing pāpam.

पापम् (pāpam) - sin, evil, wickedness

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pāpa

pāpa - sin, evil, wickedness; sinful, evil

Note: Subject of the first clause ("sin committed").

तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity, by penance

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of tapas

tapas - austerity, penance, spiritual fervor, heat

From root tap (to heat, to suffer penance).

Root: tap (class 1)

एव (eva) - only, indeed, just

(indeclinable)

Note: Reinforces tapasā, meaning "only by austerity".

अभिनिऋणुदेत् (abhiniṛṇudet) - should expiate, should remove completely

(verb)

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

optative mood

From root nud (to push, remove) with prefixes abhi and nir.

Prefixes: abhi+nir

Root: nud (class 6)

Note: Implies prescription or duty.

पापम् (pāpam) - sinful

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pāpa

pāpa - sin, evil, wickedness; sinful, evil

Note: Agrees with karma.

हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for, because

(indeclinable)

Note: Used as an intensifier and to provide explanation.

कर्म (karma) - action, deed

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of karma

karma - action, deed, work, fate, ritual

From root kṛ (to do, make)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Subject of the verb phalati.

फलति (phalati) - yields results/fruit (bears fruit, results, ripens)

(verb)

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

present indicative

From root phal.

Root: phal (class 1)

पापम् (pāpam) - sinful (fruit), evil (result)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pāpa

pāpa - sin, evil, wickedness; sinful, evil

Note: Predicate nominative, referring to the nature of the fruit.

एव (eva) - only, indeed, just

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

स्वयम् (svayam) - oneself, by oneself, personally

(indeclinable)

Accusative singular of 'sva' (self) functioning as an adverb.

Note: Emphasizes that the action is done by the agent himself.

कृतम् (kṛtam) - done, performed

(adjective)

neuter, singular of kṛta

kṛta - done, made, performed; deed, act

Past Passive Participle

From root kṛ (to do, make).

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Modifies karma (a sinful action performed by oneself).

तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore, from that, for that reason

(indeclinable)

Ablative singular of the demonstrative pronoun 'tad'.

Note: Introduces a conclusion.

पापम् (pāpam) - sinful (action)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of pāpa

pāpa - sin, evil, wickedness; sinful, evil

Note: Agrees with karma (implied, or in context of duḥkhaphalodayam karma).

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Negation particle.

Note: Negates the verb seveta.

सेवेत (seveta) - one should engage in (actions) (one should engage in, one should resort to, one should serve)

(verb)

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

optative mood

From root sev.

Root: sev (class 1)

Note: Expresses recommendation or prohibition (with na).

कर्म (karma) - action, deed

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of karma

karma - action, deed, work, fate, ritual

From root kṛ (to do, make)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Object of na seveta.

दुःखफलोदयम् (duḥkhaphalodayam) - whose outcome is sorrowful fruit, yielding sorrowful results

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of duḥkhaphalodaya

duḥkhaphalodaya - rise/outcome of sorrowful fruit

Bahuvrihi compound describing an action (karma).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (duḥkha+phala+udaya)

• duḥkha – suffering, sorrow, pain, misery
  noun (neuter)
• phala – fruit, result, consequence, reward
  noun (neuter)
  Root: phal (class 1)
• udaya – rise, coming forth, origin, prosperity, outcome
  noun (masculine)
  From ud-i (to rise)
  Prefix: ud
  Root: i (class 2)

Note: Agrees with karma.