महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-306, verse-105

एतन्मयाप्तं जनकात्पुरस्तात्तेनापि चाप्तं नृप याज्ञवल्क्यात् ।
ज्ञानं विशिष्टं न तथा हि यज्ञा ज्ञानेन दुर्गं तरते न यज्ञैः ॥१०५॥

105. etanmayāptaṁ janakātpurastā;ttenāpi cāptaṁ nṛpa yājñavalkyāt ,
jñānaṁ viśiṣṭaṁ na tathā hi yajñā; jñānena durgaṁ tarate na yajñaiḥ.

105. etat mayā āptam janakāt purastāt
tena api ca āptam nṛpa yājñavalkyāt
jñānam viśiṣṭam na tathā hi yajñāḥ
jñānena durgam tarate na yajñaiḥ

105. nṛpa,
etat mayā janakāt purastāt āptam.
tena api ca yājñavalkyāt āptam.
jñānam viśiṣṭam (asti),
hi yajñāḥ tathā na (santī).
jñānena durgam tarate,
na yajñaiḥ.

105. This knowledge (jñāna) was previously obtained by me from Janaka; and, O King, it was also obtained by him from Yājñavalkya. Knowledge (jñāna) is truly superior; Vedic rituals (yajña) are not so. One crosses over hardship by means of knowledge (jñāna), not by Vedic rituals (yajña).

Words meanings summery:

• एतत् (etat) - this

• मया (mayā) - by me

• आप्तम् (āptam) - obtained, gained, acquired

• जनकात् (janakāt) - from Janaka

• पुरस्तात् (purastāt) - formerly, previously, in front of

• तेन (tena) - by him

• अपि (api) - also, even, too

• च (ca) - and

• आप्तम् (āptam) - obtained, gained, acquired

• नृप (nṛpa) - O King

• याज्ञवल्क्यात् (yājñavalkyāt) - from Yājñavalkya

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge

• विशिष्टम् (viśiṣṭam) - superior, distinguished, excellent

• न (na) - not

• तथा (tathā) - so, thus, in that manner

• हि (hi) - indeed, for, because

• यज्ञाः (yajñāḥ) - Vedic rituals (yajña), sacrifices

• ज्ञानेन (jñānena) - by knowledge

• दुर्गम् (durgam) - difficulty, hardship, fortress

• तरते (tarate) - one crosses over, overcomes

• न (na) - not

• यज्ञैः (yajñaiḥ) - by Vedic rituals (yajña)

Words meanings and morphology

एतत् (etat) - this

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etad

etad - this, that

Note: Refers to the knowledge mentioned.

मया (mayā) - by me

(pronoun)

Instrumental, singular of aham

aham - I

Note: Agent of the passive participle 'āptam'.

आप्तम् (āptam) - obtained, gained, acquired

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of āpta

āpta - obtained, gained, acquired, trustworthy

Past Passive Participle

From āp 'to obtain, reach'

Root: āp (class 5)

Note: Agrees with 'etat' (this knowledge).

जनकात् (janakāt) - from Janaka

(proper noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of janaka

janaka - Janaka (proper noun, name of a king), father, progenitor

Note: Source from which the knowledge was obtained.

पुरस्तात् (purastāt) - formerly, previously, in front of

(indeclinable)

Derived from pura (before, in front) with suffix -stāt

तेन (tena) - by him

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Refers to Janaka as the agent of obtaining knowledge.

अपि (api) - also, even, too

(indeclinable)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

आप्तम् (āptam) - obtained, gained, acquired

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of āpta

āpta - obtained, gained, acquired, trustworthy

Past Passive Participle

From āp 'to obtain, reach'

Root: āp (class 5)

Note: Agrees with 'etat' (this knowledge).

नृप (nṛpa) - O King

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of nṛpa

nṛpa - king, monarch

nṛ (man) + pa (protector) from pā 'to protect'

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (nṛ+pa)

• nṛ – man, human
  noun (masculine)
• pa – protector, guardian
  noun (masculine)
  Agent noun from root pā 'to protect'
  Root: pā (class 2)

Note: Addressed to the listener.

याज्ञवल्क्यात् (yājñavalkyāt) - from Yājñavalkya

(proper noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of yājñavalkya

yājñavalkya - Yājñavalkya (proper noun, name of a celebrated sage)

Note: Source from whom Janaka obtained the knowledge.

ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom

From root jñā 'to know'

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Subject of the sentence.

विशिष्टम् (viśiṣṭam) - superior, distinguished, excellent

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of viśiṣṭa

viśiṣṭa - superior, distinguished, excellent, specific

Past Passive Participle

From vi-śiṣ 'to distinguish, to excel'

Prefix: vi

Root: śiṣ (class 7)

Note: Agreement with 'jñānam'.

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

तथा (tathā) - so, thus, in that manner

(indeclinable)

हि (hi) - indeed, for, because

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunction, provides reason.

यज्ञाः (yajñāḥ) - Vedic rituals (yajña), sacrifices

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of yajña

yajña - Vedic ritual, sacrifice, worship

From root yaj 'to worship, sacrifice'

Root: yaj (class 1)

Note: Subject of the negative comparison.

ज्ञानेन (jñānena) - by knowledge

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom

From root jñā 'to know'

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Means or instrument for crossing difficulty.

दुर्गम् (durgam) - difficulty, hardship, fortress

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of durga

durga - difficulty, hardship, obstacle, inaccessible place, fortress

Note: Object of 'tarate'.

तरते (tarate) - one crosses over, overcomes

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present indicative (lat) of tṛ

Present Indicative

3rd person singular, middle voice, present tense, Class 1 verb

Root: tṛ (class 1)

Note: Implies an understood agent.

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

यज्ञैः (yajñaiḥ) - by Vedic rituals (yajña)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of yajña

yajña - Vedic ritual, sacrifice, worship

From root yaj 'to worship, sacrifice'

Root: yaj (class 1)

Note: Means or instrument for crossing difficulty (negated).