महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-287, verse-1

भीष्म उवाच ।
पुनरेव तु पप्रच्छ जनको मिथिलाधिपः ।
पराशरं महात्मानं धर्मे परमनिश्चयम् ॥१॥

1. bhīṣma uvāca ,
punareva tu papraccha janako mithilādhipaḥ ,
parāśaraṁ mahātmānaṁ dharme paramaniścayam.

1. bhīṣma uvāca punar eva tu papraccha janakaḥ
mithilādhipaḥ parāśaram mahātmānam dharme paramaniścayam

1. bhīṣma uvāca janakaḥ mithilādhipaḥ punar eva tu
mahātmānam parāśaram dharme paramaniścayam papraccha

1. Bhishma said: Again, Janaka, the king of Mithila, questioned the great-souled Parashara, who possessed supreme certainty regarding the natural law (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

• भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhishma (a proper name)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• पुनर् (punar) - again, anew

• एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

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

• पप्रच्छ (papraccha) - asked, questioned

• जनकः (janakaḥ) - King Janaka of Mithila (Janaka (a proper name), father)

• मिथिलाधिपः (mithilādhipaḥ) - King Janaka, who rules Mithila (king of Mithila)

• पराशरम् (parāśaram) - to Parashara (a proper name)

• महात्मानम् (mahātmānam) - Referring to Sage Parashara's noble character. (great-souled, noble-minded)

• धर्मे (dharme) - concerning the principles of natural law (dharma) or righteous conduct. (in natural law, in righteousness, concerning duty)

• परमनिश्चयम् (paramaniścayam) - referring to Parashara's supreme certainty or resolve in matters of dharma. (supremely resolute, having supreme certainty)

Words meanings and morphology

भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhishma (a proper name)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - Bhishma (name of a Kuru warrior)

Note: Visarga dropped before uvāca due to sandhi.

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

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

perfect active

Perfect tense, 3rd person singular, active voice of root vac. Irregular perfect form.

Root: vac (class 2)

पुनर् (punar) - again, anew

(indeclinable)

Note: Visarga-r sandhi for punar eva.

एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

(indeclinable)

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

(indeclinable)

पप्रच्छ (papraccha) - asked, questioned

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of pracch

perfect active

Perfect tense, 3rd person singular, active voice of root pracch.

Root: pracch (class 6)

जनकः (janakaḥ) - King Janaka of Mithila (Janaka (a proper name), father)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of janaka

janaka - father, progenitor; Janaka (a proper name)

Root: jan (class 4)

मिथिलाधिपः (mithilādhipaḥ) - King Janaka, who rules Mithila (king of Mithila)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mithilādhipa

mithilādhipa - lord of Mithila, king of Mithila

Compound noun, Tatpurusha.

Compound type : tatpurusha (mithila+adhipa)

• mithila – Mithila (a city/kingdom)
  proper noun (feminine)
• adhipa – ruler, lord, king
  noun (masculine)
  Prefix: adhi
  Root: pā (class 2)

Note: Appositive to Janakaḥ.

पराशरम् (parāśaram) - to Parashara (a proper name)

(proper noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of parāśara

parāśara - Parashara (a sage's name)

Note: Object of papraccha.

महात्मानम् (mahātmānam) - Referring to Sage Parashara's noble character. (great-souled, noble-minded)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of mahātman

mahātman - great-souled, noble-minded, exalted spirit

Compound adjective, Bahuvrihi.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (mahā+ātman)

• mahā – great, large, mighty
  adjective (feminine)
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, individual self (ātman), essential nature
  noun (masculine)

Note: Modifies Parāśaram.

धर्मे (dharme) - concerning the principles of natural law (dharma) or righteous conduct. (in natural law, in righteousness, concerning duty)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty, virtue

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Indicates the subject matter of the certainty.

परमनिश्चयम् (paramaniścayam) - referring to Parashara's supreme certainty or resolve in matters of dharma. (supremely resolute, having supreme certainty)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of paramaniścaya

paramaniścaya - supreme certainty, supreme resolve

Compound noun, Tatpurusha, used here as an adjective in accusative singular.

Compound type : tatpurusha (parama+niścaya)

• parama – supreme, highest, ultimate
  adjective (masculine)
• niścaya – certainty, ascertainment, resolve
  noun (masculine)
  Prefix: niḥ
  Root: ci (class 5)

Note: Modifies Parāśaram, agreeing in accusative case.