महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-283, verse-7

श्रूयन्ते हि पुराणे वै प्रजा धिग्दण्डशासनाः ।
दान्ता धर्मप्रधानाश्च न्यायधर्मानुवर्तकाः ॥७॥

7. śrūyante hi purāṇe vai prajā dhigdaṇḍaśāsanāḥ ,
dāntā dharmapradhānāśca nyāyadharmānuvartakāḥ.

7. śrūyante hi purāṇe vai prajāḥ dhik-daṇḍa-śāsanāḥ
dāntāḥ dharma-pradhānāḥ ca nyāya-dharma-anuvartakāḥ

7. hi purāṇe vai śrūyante prajāḥ dhik-daṇḍa-śāsanāḥ
dāntāḥ ca dharma-pradhānāḥ nyāya-dharma-anuvartakāḥ

7. Indeed, it is heard in ancient texts (purāṇa) that in the past, people (prajāḥ) were ruled by strict punishment, yet they were disciplined, devoted primarily to natural law (dharma), and followers of righteous conduct (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

• श्रूयन्ते (śrūyante) - it is heard (they are heard)

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

• पुराणे (purāṇe) - in ancient texts (purāṇa) (in ancient texts, in the Purana)

• वै (vai) - indeed, in truth (indeed, truly, certainly)

• प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - people (people, subjects, offspring)

• धिक्-दण्ड-शासनाः (dhik-daṇḍa-śāsanāḥ) - ruled by strict punishment (whose rule is by severe punishment)

• दान्ताः (dāntāḥ) - disciplined (disciplined, self-controlled, tamed)

• धर्म-प्रधानाः (dharma-pradhānāḥ) - devoted primarily to natural law (dharma) (whose chief concern is dharma, having dharma as primary)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• न्याय-धर्म-अनुवर्तकाः (nyāya-dharma-anuvartakāḥ) - followers of righteous conduct (dharma) (followers of justice and righteousness, adherents of just law)

Words meanings and morphology

श्रूयन्ते (śrūyante) - it is heard (they are heard)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, passive, present (laṭ) of śru

Root √śru, passive form.

Root: śru (class 5)

Note: Plural to agree with 'prajāḥ' which is the subject being heard about.

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

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizing particle.

पुराणे (purāṇe) - in ancient texts (purāṇa) (in ancient texts, in the Purana)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of purāṇa

purāṇa - ancient, old; an ancient tale, epic, Purana (sacred text)

Note: Refers to the genre of religious texts.

वै (vai) - indeed, in truth (indeed, truly, certainly)

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizing particle, often combined with 'hi'.

प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - people (people, subjects, offspring)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, plural of prajā

prajā - progeny, offspring, people, subjects, creation

Note: Subject of 'śrūyante' (what is heard about).

धिक्-दण्ड-शासनाः (dhik-daṇḍa-śāsanāḥ) - ruled by strict punishment (whose rule is by severe punishment)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of dhik-daṇḍa-śāsana

dhik-daṇḍa-śāsana - whose rule is by strict/severe punishment; governed by severe penalties

Bahuvrīhi compound: dhik-daṇḍa (severe punishment) + śāsana (rule/governance). dhik here implies severity.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (dhik+daṇḍa+śāsana)

• dhik – fie, alas, shame on, scorn, (prefix implying contempt/severity)
  indeclinable
• daṇḍa – staff, rod, punishment, penalty, government, rule
  noun (masculine)
• śāsana – rule, governing, command, instruction, punishment
  noun (neuter)
  From root √śās (to rule, command, punish).
  Root: śās (class 2)

Note: Qualifies 'prajāḥ'.

दान्ताः (dāntāḥ) - disciplined (disciplined, self-controlled, tamed)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of dānta

dānta - tamed, subdued, controlled, disciplined, self-controlled

Past Passive Participle

From root √dam (to tame, control) with kta suffix.

Root: dam (class 4)

Note: Qualifies 'prajāḥ'.

धर्म-प्रधानाः (dharma-pradhānāḥ) - devoted primarily to natural law (dharma) (whose chief concern is dharma, having dharma as primary)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of dharma-pradhāna

dharma-pradhāna - having natural law (dharma) as primary, chiefly concerned with natural law (dharma)

Bahuvrīhi compound: dharma (natural law) + pradhāna (chief, principal).

Compound type : bahuvrihi (dharma+pradhāna)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, intrinsic nature (dharma)
  noun (masculine)
  From root √dhṛ (to hold, support).
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• pradhāna – chief, principal, main, prominent; the primary matter
  adjective (masculine)
  From pra-√dhā (to place, put forth).
  Prefix: pra
  Root: dhā (class 3)

Note: Qualifies 'prajāḥ'.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects 'dāntāḥ' and 'dharma-pradhānāḥ'.

न्याय-धर्म-अनुवर्तकाः (nyāya-dharma-anuvartakāḥ) - followers of righteous conduct (dharma) (followers of justice and righteousness, adherents of just law)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of nyāya-dharma-anuvartaka

nyāya-dharma-anuvartaka - follower of justice and righteousness, adhering to just law

Tatpuruṣa compound: nyāya-dharma (righteous conduct) + anuvartaka (follower).

Compound type : tatpurusha (nyāya-dharma+anuvartaka)

• nyāya-dharma – righteous conduct, just law, principle of justice
  noun (masculine)
  Dvanda or Tatpuruṣa compound: nyāya (justice, rule) + dharma (natural law).
• anuvartaka – follower, imitator, adherent
  noun (masculine)
  Agent noun
  Derived from anu-√vṛt (to follow, conform) with suffix -aka.
  Prefix: anu
  Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'prajāḥ'.