महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-318, verse-38

उपर्युपरि लोकस्य सर्वो भवितुमिच्छति ।
यतते च यथाशक्ति न च तद्वर्तते तथा ॥३८॥

38. uparyupari lokasya sarvo bhavitumicchati ,
yatate ca yathāśakti na ca tadvartate tathā.

38. uparyupari lokasya sarvaḥ bhavitum icchati
ca yathāśakti na ca tat vartate tathā

38. sarvaḥ lokasya uparyupari bhavitum icchati
ca yathāśakti yatate ca tat tathā na vartate

38. Everyone desires to be superior among people, and he strives according to his capacity, but it does not turn out thus.

Words meanings summery:

• उपर्युपरि (uparyupari) - in a position of increasing superiority or prominence (higher and higher, above everyone)

• लोकस्य (lokasya) - among the members of society or humanity (of the world, of the people)

• सर्वः (sarvaḥ) - every single individual (everyone, all)

• भवितुम् (bhavitum) - to attain a state or position (to be, to become)

• इच्छति (icchati) - expresses a strong personal wish or ambition (he wishes, he desires)

• च (ca) - connects the two clauses, often implying 'and yet' or 'however' in such a context (and)

• यथाशक्ति (yathāśakti) - using all available strength and resources (according to one's power, to the best of one's ability)

• यतते (yatate) - applies effort and exerts oneself (he strives, he endeavors)

• न (na) - negation (not, nor)

• च (ca) - connects the two clauses, often implying 'and yet' or 'however' in such a context (and)

• तत् (tat) - referring to the desired outcome or ambition (that, that thing, that matter)

• वर्तते (vartate) - the result or reality of the striving (it exists, it happens, it turns out)

• तथा (tathā) - in the desired way or as expected (thus, so, in that manner)

Words meanings and morphology

उपर्युपरि (uparyupari) - in a position of increasing superiority or prominence (higher and higher, above everyone)

(indeclinable)

Repetition of the indeclinable 'upari' (above, over).

लोकस्य (lokasya) - among the members of society or humanity (of the world, of the people)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of loka

loka - world, people, realm, space

From root 'lok' (to see).

Root: lok (class 1)

Note: Indicates comparison or relation ('among the people').

सर्वः (sarvaḥ) - every single individual (everyone, all)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sarva

sarva - all, every, whole

भवितुम् (bhavitum) - to attain a state or position (to be, to become)

(verb)

active, infinitive (tumun) of bhū

Infinitive

From root 'bhū' (class 1).

Root: bhū (class 1)

इच्छति (icchati) - expresses a strong personal wish or ambition (he wishes, he desires)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (lat) of iṣ

Present Indicative, 3rd Person Singular

Root 'iṣ' (class 6). Reduplicated form (icchati).

Root: iṣ (class 6)

Note: Parasmaipada form.

च (ca) - connects the two clauses, often implying 'and yet' or 'however' in such a context (and)

(indeclinable)

यथाशक्ति (yathāśakti) - using all available strength and resources (according to one's power, to the best of one's ability)

(indeclinable)

Avyayībhāva compound of 'yathā' (as, according to) and 'śakti' (power, ability).

Compound type : avyayībhāva (yathā+śakti)

• yathā – as, like, according to, in which way
  indeclinable
• śakti – power, ability, energy, strength (śakti)
  noun (feminine)
  From root 'śak' (to be able).
  Root: śak (class 5)

यतते (yatate) - applies effort and exerts oneself (he strives, he endeavors)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (lat) of yat

Present Indicative, 3rd Person Singular, Middle Voice

Root 'yat' (class 1).

Root: yat (class 1)

Note: Ātmanepada form.

न (na) - negation (not, nor)

(indeclinable)

च (ca) - connects the two clauses, often implying 'and yet' or 'however' in such a context (and)

(indeclinable)

तत् (tat) - referring to the desired outcome or ambition (that, that thing, that matter)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, it

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Refers to the desired outcome mentioned in the first half.

वर्तते (vartate) - the result or reality of the striving (it exists, it happens, it turns out)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (lat) of vṛt

Present Indicative, 3rd Person Singular, Middle Voice

Root 'vṛt' (class 1).

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Ātmanepada form.

तथा (tathā) - in the desired way or as expected (thus, so, in that manner)

(indeclinable)