महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-287, verse-11

मर्यादायां धर्मसेतुर्निबद्धो नैव सीदति ।
पुष्टस्रोत इवायत्तः स्फीतो भवति संचयः ॥११॥

11. maryādāyāṁ dharmaseturnibaddho naiva sīdati ,
puṣṭasrota ivāyattaḥ sphīto bhavati saṁcayaḥ.

11. maryādāyām dharmasetuḥ nibaddhaḥ na eva sīdati
puṣṭasrotaḥ iva āyattaḥ sphītaḥ bhavati sañcayaḥ

11. maryādāyām dharmasetuḥ nibaddhaḥ (san) na eva sīdati.
āyattaḥ puṣṭasrotaḥ iva sañcayaḥ sphītaḥ bhavati

11. A boundary, which is like a dam (setu) of natural law (dharma), when firmly established, never collapses. Just as a well-fed stream flows abundantly, so too does a collection (of merit or resources) become prosperous and plentiful.

Words meanings summery:

• मर्यादायाम् (maryādāyām) - within proper limits (in the limit, in the boundary, in due bounds)

• धर्मसेतुः (dharmasetuḥ) - a dam of natural law (bridge/dam of natural law (dharma))

• निबद्धः (nibaddhaḥ) - firmly established (bound, tied, established, fixed)

• न (na) - not

• एव (eva) - never (in combination with 'na') (indeed, just, only, certainly)

• सीदति (sīdati) - collapses (sinks, fails, collapses, desponds)

• पुष्टस्रोतः (puṣṭasrotaḥ) - well-fed stream (full stream, well-nourished current)

• इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as it were)

• आयत्तः (āyattaḥ) - well-directed, abundant (dependent, controlled, well-regulated, abundant)

• स्फीतः (sphītaḥ) - prosperous and plentiful (swollen, abundant, prosperous, increased)

• भवति (bhavati) - becomes, is, exists

• सञ्चयः (sañcayaḥ) - collection (of merit or resources) (accumulation, collection, heap, store)

Words meanings and morphology

मर्यादायाम् (maryādāyām) - within proper limits (in the limit, in the boundary, in due bounds)

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of maryādā

maryādā - boundary, limit, fixed rule, due bounds, proper behavior

Refers to established limits or bounds.

धर्मसेतुः (dharmasetuḥ) - a dam of natural law (bridge/dam of natural law (dharma))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharmasetu

dharmasetu - a dam or bridge of natural law (dharma)

Tatpurusha compound: 'dharma' (natural law) + 'setu' (bridge, dam).

Compound type : tatpurusha (dharma+setu)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, religion
  noun (masculine)
  From root 'dhṛ' (to hold, support, maintain).
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• setu – bridge, dam, bank, boundary, limit
  noun (masculine)
  From root 'si' or 'ṣi' (to bind).
  Root: si / ṣi (class 5)

Note: Subject of the first clause.

निबद्धः (nibaddhaḥ) - firmly established (bound, tied, established, fixed)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of nibaddha

nibaddha - bound, tied, fastened, fixed, composed, established

Past Passive Participle

From 'ni' (prefix) + root 'bandh' (to bind) + 'kta' suffix.

Prefix: ni

Root: bandh (class 9)

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - never (in combination with 'na') (indeed, just, only, certainly)

(indeclinable)

Emphatic particle.

सीदति (sīdati) - collapses (sinks, fails, collapses, desponds)

(verb)

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

present

From root 'sad' (to sit, sink).

Root: sad (class 1)

पुष्टस्रोतः (puṣṭasrotaḥ) - well-fed stream (full stream, well-nourished current)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of puṣṭasrotas

puṣṭasrotas - a full stream, a well-nourished current

Tatpurusha compound: 'puṣṭa' (nourished, full) + 'srotas' (stream, current).

Compound type : karmadhāraya (puṣṭa+srotas)

• puṣṭa – nourished, strong, full, developed
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root 'puṣ' (to nourish, thrive) + 'kta' suffix.
  Root: puṣ (class 4)
• srotas – stream, current, flow
  noun (neuter)
  From root 'sru' (to flow) + 'as' suffix.
  Root: sru (class 1)

Note: Used as an analogy.

इव (iva) - just as (like, as, as it were)

(indeclinable)

Particle of comparison.

आयत्तः (āyattaḥ) - well-directed, abundant (dependent, controlled, well-regulated, abundant)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of āyatta

āyatta - dependent on, subject to, at one's disposal, abundant, well-directed, striving

Past Passive Participle

From 'ā' (prefix) + root 'yat' (to strive, exert) + 'kta' suffix.

Prefix: ā

Root: yat (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'sañcayaḥ' and implies 'srotas' in the analogy.

स्फीतः (sphītaḥ) - prosperous and plentiful (swollen, abundant, prosperous, increased)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sphīta

sphīta - swollen, increased, prosperous, abundant, fat

Past Passive Participle

From root 'sphāy' (to swell, grow, increase) + 'kta' suffix.

Root: sphāy (class 1)

Note: Predicate adjective for 'sañcayaḥ'.

भवति (bhavati) - becomes, is, exists

(verb)

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

present

Root: bhū (class 1)

सञ्चयः (sañcayaḥ) - collection (of merit or resources) (accumulation, collection, heap, store)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sañcaya

sañcaya - accumulation, collection, heap, store, assemblage

From 'sam' (prefix) + root 'ci' (to collect, gather).

Prefix: sam

Root: ci (class 5)