महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-286, verse-6

तुल्यादिह वधः श्रेयान्विशिष्टाच्चेति निश्चयः ।
निहीनात्कातराच्चैव नृपाणां गर्हितो वधः ॥६॥

6. tulyādiha vadhaḥ śreyānviśiṣṭācceti niścayaḥ ,
nihīnātkātarāccaiva nṛpāṇāṁ garhito vadhaḥ.

6. tulyāt iha vadhaḥ śreyān viśiṣṭāt ca iti niścayaḥ
nihīnāt kātarāt ca eva nṛpāṇām garhitaḥ vadhaḥ

6. iha tulyāt viśiṣṭāt ca vadhaḥ śreyān iti niścayaḥ
nihīnāt kātarāt ca eva nṛpāṇām vadhaḥ garhitaḥ

6. Killing an opponent who is equal or superior (to oneself) is considered superior in this context—this is the firm conclusion. However, killing an inferior or cowardly opponent is indeed reprehensible for kings.

Words meanings summery:

• तुल्यात् (tulyāt) - from an equal, from a similar one

• इह (iha) - in this matter (of killing opponents) (here, in this world, in this matter)

• वधः (vadhaḥ) - killing, slaying, slaughter

• श्रेयान् (śreyān) - better, superior, more excellent

• विशिष्टात् (viśiṣṭāt) - from a distinguished one, from a superior one, from an excellent one

• च (ca) - and, also

• इति (iti) - marks the end of a statement or conclusion (thus, so, in this way)

• निश्चयः (niścayaḥ) - certainty, firm conclusion, decision

• निहीनात् (nihīnāt) - from an inferior one, from a low one, from a weak one

• कातरात् (kātarāt) - from a timid one, from a cowardly one

• च (ca) - and, also

• एव (eva) - indeed, certainly, only, even

• नृपाणाम् (nṛpāṇām) - of kings, for kings

• गर्हितः (garhitaḥ) - reprehensible, condemned, censured

• वधः (vadhaḥ) - killing, slaying, slaughter

Words meanings and morphology

तुल्यात् (tulyāt) - from an equal, from a similar one

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of tulya

tulya - equal, similar, comparable, like

इह (iha) - in this matter (of killing opponents) (here, in this world, in this matter)

(indeclinable)

वधः (vadhaḥ) - killing, slaying, slaughter

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vadha

vadha - killing, slaughter, destruction, stroke

Root: vadh

श्रेयान् (śreyān) - better, superior, more excellent

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreyas

śreyas - better, superior, more excellent; welfare, merit, good fortune

Comparative form of śrī (good fortune, excellence)

विशिष्टात् (viśiṣṭāt) - from a distinguished one, from a superior one, from an excellent one

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of viśiṣṭa

viśiṣṭa - distinguished, excellent, superior, eminent, specific

Past Passive Participle

Prefix: vi

Root: śiṣ

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

इति (iti) - marks the end of a statement or conclusion (thus, so, in this way)

(indeclinable)

निश्चयः (niścayaḥ) - certainty, firm conclusion, decision

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of niścaya

niścaya - certainty, determination, firm conclusion, decision

Prefix: nis

Root: ci

निहीनात् (nihīnāt) - from an inferior one, from a low one, from a weak one

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of nihīna

nihīna - inferior, low, weak, deprived, neglected, left behind

Past Passive Participle

Prefix: ni

Root: hā

कातरात् (kātarāt) - from a timid one, from a cowardly one

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of kātara

kātara - timid, cowardly, fearful, distressed, agitated

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - indeed, certainly, only, even

(indeclinable)

नृपाणाम् (nṛpāṇām) - of kings, for kings

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of nṛpa

nṛpa - king, ruler, protector of men

Compound of nṛ (man) + pa (protector)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (nṛ+pa)

• nṛ – man, person
  noun (masculine)
• pa – protector, guardian
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from root pā (to protect)
  Root: pā

गर्हितः (garhitaḥ) - reprehensible, condemned, censured

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of garhita

garhita - reprehensible, blamed, censured, condemned, despised

Past Passive Participle

Root: garh

वधः (vadhaḥ) - killing, slaying, slaughter

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vadha

vadha - killing, slaughter, destruction, stroke

Root: vadh