महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-318, verse-48

ततो मुहूर्तं संचिन्त्य निश्चितां गतिमात्मनः ।
परावरज्ञो धर्मस्य परां नैःश्रेयसीं गतिम् ॥४८॥

48. tato muhūrtaṁ saṁcintya niścitāṁ gatimātmanaḥ ,
parāvarajño dharmasya parāṁ naiḥśreyasīṁ gatim.

48. tataḥ muhūrtam saṃcintya niścitām gatim ātmanaḥ
parāvarajñaḥ dharmasya parām naiḥśreyasīm gatim

48. tataḥ muhūrtam saṃcintya ātmanaḥ niścitām gatim
dharmasya parāvarajñaḥ parām naiḥśreyasīm gatim

48. Then, after contemplating for a moment, realizing the definite course for his self (ātman), and being one who discerns the higher and lower aspects of natural law (dharma), he considered the supreme path to ultimate welfare.

Words meanings summery:

• ततः (tataḥ) - then, therefore, from there

• मुहूर्तम् (muhūrtam) - for a moment, for an instant

• संचिन्त्य (saṁcintya) - having thought deeply, having reflected

• निश्चिताम् (niścitām) - definite, certain, resolved

• गतिम् (gatim) - course, path, destination, state

• आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the self, of his own self

• परावरज्ञः (parāvarajñaḥ) - knower of the higher and lower, discerning

• धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of natural law, of righteousness, of duty

• पराम् (parām) - supreme, highest, ultimate

• नैःश्रेयसीम् (naiḥśreyasīm) - leading to ultimate welfare/liberation, supremely beneficial

• गतिम् (gatim) - course, path, destination, state

Words meanings and morphology

ततः (tataḥ) - then, therefore, from there

(indeclinable)

Ablative suffix -tas added to tad (that)

मुहूर्तम् (muhūrtam) - for a moment, for an instant

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of muhūrta

muhūrta - moment, instant, a specific division of time (48 minutes)

संचिन्त्य (saṁcintya) - having thought deeply, having reflected

(indeclinable)

gerund/absolutive

Gerund from root cit (to perceive, observe) with prefix sam. The base cint is causative.

Prefix: sam

Root: cit (class 10)

निश्चिताम् (niścitām) - definite, certain, resolved

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of niścita

niścita - ascertained, determined, certain, definite, resolved

past passive participle

Past passive participle from niś-ci ('to ascertain, decide')

Prefix: niś

Root: ci (class 5)

गतिम् (gatim) - course, path, destination, state

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of gati

gati - going, motion, path, course, destination, state, liberation

From root gam ('to go')

Root: gam (class 1)

आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the self, of his own self

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - self, soul, spirit, essence, life-breath

Root: an (class 2)

Note: Qualifies gatim.

परावरज्ञः (parāvarajñaḥ) - knower of the higher and lower, discerning

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of parāvarajña

parāvarajña - knowing the higher and lower, discerning, wise

Compound type : tatpurusha (para+avara+jña)

• para – higher, supreme, other, remote
  adjective
• avara – lower, inferior, later
  adjective
• jña – knowing, discerning, a knower
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent noun from root jñā ('to know')
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Refers to the subject of the implied verb.

धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of natural law, of righteousness, of duty

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dharma

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

From root dhṛ ('to uphold, sustain')

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Qualifies parāvarajñaḥ.

पराम् (parām) - supreme, highest, ultimate

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of parā

parā - supreme, highest, ultimate, excellent, remote (feminine form of para)

Feminine form of para.

नैःश्रेयसीम् (naiḥśreyasīm) - leading to ultimate welfare/liberation, supremely beneficial

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of naiḥśreyasī

naiḥśreyasī - leading to ultimate welfare, conducive to supreme good, supremely beneficial, bringing liberation

Feminine form of naiḥśreyasa, derived from niḥśreyasa (supreme good)

गतिम् (gatim) - course, path, destination, state

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of gati

gati - going, motion, path, course, destination, state, liberation

From root gam ('to go')

Root: gam (class 1)