महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-283, verse-2

नित्यं त्रयाणां वर्णानां शूद्रः शुश्रूषुरुच्यते ।
क्षत्रधर्मा वैश्यधर्मा नावृत्तिः पतति द्विजः ।
शूद्रकर्मा यदा तु स्यात्तदा पतति वै द्विजः ॥२॥

2. nityaṁ trayāṇāṁ varṇānāṁ śūdraḥ śuśrūṣurucyate ,
kṣatradharmā vaiśyadharmā nāvṛttiḥ patati dvijaḥ ,
śūdrakarmā yadā tu syāttadā patati vai dvijaḥ.

2. nityam trayāṇām varṇānām śūdraḥ śuśrūṣuḥ
ucyate kṣatradharmā vaiśyadharmā
na āvṛttiḥ patati dvijaḥ śūdrakarmā
yadā tu syāt tadā patati vai dvijaḥ

2. śūdraḥ nityam trayāṇām varṇānām śuśrūṣuḥ
ucyate kṣatradharmā vaiśyadharmā
dvijaḥ na āvṛttiḥ patati yadā tu
śūdrakarmā syāt tadā vai dvijaḥ patati

2. A śūdra is always declared to be a servant of the three higher classes (varṇas). For a twice-born (dvija) person adopting kṣatriya or vaiśya duties (dharma), no degradation (āvṛttiḥ) occurs. However, when a twice-born (dvija) engages in the work (karma) of a śūdra, then he certainly degrades.

Words meanings summery:

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

• त्रयाणाम् (trayāṇām) - of the three (higher) (of the three)

• वर्णानाम् (varṇānām) - of the classes (varṇas) (of the classes, of the colors)

• शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a śūdra (a śūdra, one of the fourth class)

• शुश्रूषुः (śuśrūṣuḥ) - a servant (desirous of serving, servant, attendant)

• उच्यते (ucyate) - is declared (is said, is called, is declared)

• क्षत्रधर्मा (kṣatradharmā) - one who adopts the duties (dharma) of a kṣatriya (one whose duty is that of a kṣatriya, one who follows kṣatriya dharma)

• वैश्यधर्मा (vaiśyadharmā) - one who adopts the duties (dharma) of a vaiśya (one whose duty is that of a vaiśya, one who follows vaiśya dharma)

• न (na) - no (not, no)

• आवृत्तिः (āvṛttiḥ) - degradation, a lapse from one's proper state (return, repetition, practice, degradation, fall, lapse)

• पतति (patati) - occurs (with the negative 'na āvṛttiḥ' meaning 'no degradation occurs') (falls, descends, degrades, occurs, happens)

• द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - a twice-born person (from one of the three higher classes) (a twice-born, a Brahmin, a bird, a tooth)

• शूद्रकर्मा (śūdrakarmā) - one who engages in the work (karma) of a śūdra (one whose work is that of a śūdra, one who performs śūdra's work)

• यदा (yadā) - when (when, whenever)

• तु (tu) - but, however (but, on the other hand, indeed)

• स्यात् (syāt) - would be, exists (as such) (may be, should be, would be, exists)

• तदा (tadā) - then (then, at that time)

• पतति (patati) - degrades (falls, degrades)

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

• द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - a twice-born person (a twice-born)

Words meanings and morphology

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

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverbial use of neuter singular accusative.

त्रयाणाम् (trayāṇām) - of the three (higher) (of the three)

(numeral)

Note: Agreeing with varṇānām.

वर्णानाम् (varṇānām) - of the classes (varṇas) (of the classes, of the colors)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of varṇa

varṇa - color, class, social order, letter

शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a śūdra (a śūdra, one of the fourth class)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śūdra

śūdra - a member of the fourth social class

शुश्रूषुः (śuśrūṣuḥ) - a servant (desirous of serving, servant, attendant)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śuśrūṣu

śuśrūṣu - desirous of serving, a servant, obedient

desiderative agent noun

Derived from desiderative stem of root śru (to hear) with suffix -u. Here used as a noun.

Root: śru (class 5)

Note: Functions as an adjective describing śūdraḥ.

उच्यते (ucyate) - is declared (is said, is called, is declared)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of vac

Passive form of root vac, which undergoes vocalization to uc in passive stems.

Root: vac (class 2)

क्षत्रधर्मा (kṣatradharmā) - one who adopts the duties (dharma) of a kṣatriya (one whose duty is that of a kṣatriya, one who follows kṣatriya dharma)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kṣatradharman

kṣatradharman - one whose duty/nature (dharma) is that of a kṣatriya; having kṣatriya qualities/duties

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (kṣatra+dharman)

• kṣatra – rule, dominion, nobility, warrior class
  noun (neuter)
• dharman – duty, righteousness, law, constitution, intrinsic nature
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Refers to a person, here used as a noun.

वैश्यधर्मा (vaiśyadharmā) - one who adopts the duties (dharma) of a vaiśya (one whose duty is that of a vaiśya, one who follows vaiśya dharma)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vaiśyadharman

vaiśyadharman - one whose duty/nature (dharma) is that of a vaiśya; having vaiśya qualities/duties

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (vaiśya+dharman)

• vaiśya – member of the third social class (traders, farmers)
  noun (masculine)
• dharman – duty, righteousness, law, constitution, intrinsic nature
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Refers to a person, here used as a noun.

न (na) - no (not, no)

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates the occurrence of degradation.

आवृत्तिः (āvṛttiḥ) - degradation, a lapse from one's proper state (return, repetition, practice, degradation, fall, lapse)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of āvṛtti

āvṛtti - turning back, return, repetition, practice; also degradation, fall (figurative), lapse

From ā- + root vṛt- (to turn, exist) + suffix -ti.

Prefix: ā

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Subject of `patati`.

पतति (patati) - occurs (with the negative 'na āvṛttiḥ' meaning 'no degradation occurs') (falls, descends, degrades, occurs, happens)

(verb)

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

Root: pat (class 1)

द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - a twice-born person (from one of the three higher classes) (a twice-born, a Brahmin, a bird, a tooth)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dvija

dvija - twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya); bird; tooth

From dvi (two) + jan (to be born) + -a suffix.

Compound type : tatpurusha (dvi+jan)

• dvi – two
  numeral
• jan – to be born, produced
  verb
  root
  Root: jan (class 4)

Note: The person for whom no degradation occurs.

शूद्रकर्मा (śūdrakarmā) - one who engages in the work (karma) of a śūdra (one whose work is that of a śūdra, one who performs śūdra's work)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śūdrakarman

śūdrakarman - one whose action/work (karma) is that of a śūdra; having śūdra's work

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (śūdra+karman)

• śūdra – a member of the fourth social class
  noun (masculine)
• karman – action, deed, work, ritual
  noun (neuter)
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Refers to a person, here used as a noun.

यदा (yadā) - when (when, whenever)

(indeclinable)

Note: Correlates with `tadā`.

तु (tu) - but, however (but, on the other hand, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Note: Used as a particle to show contrast.

स्यात् (syāt) - would be, exists (as such) (may be, should be, would be, exists)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of as

Root: as (class 2)

तदा (tadā) - then (then, at that time)

(indeclinable)

Note: Correlates with `yadā`.

पतति (patati) - degrades (falls, degrades)

(verb)

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

Root: pat (class 1)

Note: Subject is `dvijaḥ`.

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

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - a twice-born person (a twice-born)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dvija

dvija - twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya); bird; tooth

From dvi (two) + jan (to be born) + -a suffix.

Compound type : tatpurusha (dvi+jan)

• dvi – two
  numeral
• jan – to be born, produced
  verb
  root
  Root: jan (class 4)

Note: Subject of `patati`.