महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-285, verse-10

जनक उवाच ।
ब्रह्मणैकेन जातानां नानात्वं गोत्रतः कथम् ।
बहूनीह हि लोके वै गोत्राणि मुनिसत्तम ॥१०॥

10. janaka uvāca ,
brahmaṇaikena jātānāṁ nānātvaṁ gotrataḥ katham ,
bahūnīha hi loke vai gotrāṇi munisattama.

10. janaka uvāca brahmaṇā ekena jātānām nānātvaṃ gotrataḥ
katham bahūni iha hi loke vai gotrāṇi munisattama

10. janaka uvāca he munisattama ekena brahmaṇā jātānām
gotrataḥ nānātvaṃ katham hi iha loke vai bahūni gotrāṇi

10. Janaka said: 'If all are born from one supreme reality (Brahman), then how can there be diversity in family lineages (gotras)? For, O best of sages, there are indeed many lineages (gotras) in this world.'

Words meanings summery:

• जनक (janaka) - King Janaka (Janaka)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā) - by Brahman, by the ultimate reality/creator

• एकेन (ekena) - by one, by a single

• जातानाम् (jātānām) - of those who are born, of the created beings

• नानात्वं (nānātvaṁ) - diversity, manifoldness

• गोत्रतः (gotrataḥ) - by lineage, according to family name

• कथम् (katham) - how? why?

• बहूनि (bahūni) - many

• इह (iha) - here, in this world

• हि (hi) - indeed, for, because

• लोके (loke) - in the world

• वै (vai) - indeed, certainly

• गोत्राणि (gotrāṇi) - lineages, family names (gotras)

• मुनिसत्तम (munisattama) - O best of sages

Words meanings and morphology

जनक (janaka) - King Janaka (Janaka)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of janaka

janaka - Janaka (proper name of a king of Videha); father; producer

Root: jan (class 4)

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past perfect (lit) of vac

Root: vac (class 2)

ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā) - by Brahman, by the ultimate reality/creator

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of brahman

brahman - the ultimate reality, the absolute; the creator god Brahma; a Brahmin; prayer

एकेन (ekena) - by one, by a single

(adjective)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of eka

eka - one, a single, unique

Note: Agrees with 'brahmaṇā' (neuter).

जातानाम् (jātānām) - of those who are born, of the created beings

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of jāta

jāta - born, produced, arisen; a being, a creature

Past Passive Participle

from root jan (4th class, middle voice) + kta suffix

Root: jan (class 4)

नानात्वं (nānātvaṁ) - diversity, manifoldness

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of nānātva

nānātva - diversity, manifoldness, variety

गोत्रतः (gotrataḥ) - by lineage, according to family name

(indeclinable)

Note: Formed with the 'tasi' suffix, indicating 'from' or 'by means of'.

कथम् (katham) - how? why?

(indeclinable)

बहूनि (bahūni) - many

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, plural of bahu

bahu - many, much, abundant

Note: Agrees with 'gotrāṇi'.

इह (iha) - here, in this world

(indeclinable)

हि (hi) - indeed, for, because

(indeclinable)

लोके (loke) - in the world

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of loka

loka - world, realm, people

वै (vai) - indeed, certainly

(indeclinable)

गोत्राणि (gotrāṇi) - lineages, family names (gotras)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of gotra

gotra - lineage, family, clan; cow-pen

मुनिसत्तम (munisattama) - O best of sages

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of munisattama

munisattama - best of sages

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (muni+sattama)

• muni – sage, ascetic
  noun (masculine)
• sattama – best, excellent, foremost (superlative of sat)
  adjective (masculine)