महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-320, verse-18

तं प्रक्रमन्तमाज्ञाय पिता स्नेहसमन्वितः ।
उत्तमां गतिमास्थाय पृष्ठतोऽनुससार ह ॥१८॥

18. taṁ prakramantamājñāya pitā snehasamanvitaḥ ,
uttamāṁ gatimāsthāya pṛṣṭhato'nusasāra ha.

18. tam prakramantam ājñāya pitā snehasamanvitaḥ
uttamām gatim āsthāya pṛṣṭhataḥ anusasāra ha

18. Having perceived him (Śuka) proceeding forth, the father (Vyāsa), filled with affection, then followed him from behind, adopting the highest spiritual state (gati).

Words meanings summery:

• तम् (tam) - him (Śuka) (him, that, it)

• प्रक्रमन्तम् (prakramantam) - proceeding forth (proceeding, going forth, advancing)

• आज्ञाय (ājñāya) - having perceived (having known, understood, perceived, recognized)

• पिता (pitā) - the father (Vyāsa) (father)

• स्नेहसमन्वितः (snehasamanvitaḥ) - filled with affection (endowed with affection; full of love; accompanied by tenderness)

• उत्तमाम् (uttamām) - highest (highest, excellent, best, supreme)

• गतिम् (gatim) - spiritual state (gati) (movement, course, path, state, destination, spiritual progress)

• आस्थाय (āsthāya) - adopting (having resorted to, having adopted, having taken up)

• पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ) - from behind (from behind, behind, after)

• अनुससार (anusasāra) - followed (followed, pursued, went after)

• ह (ha) - indeed (for emphasis) (indeed, certainly (particle of emphasis or narration))

Words meanings and morphology

तम् (tam) - him (Śuka) (him, that, it)

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, it, him

Note: Object of ājñāya.

प्रक्रमन्तम् (prakramantam) - proceeding forth (proceeding, going forth, advancing)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of prakramat

prakramat - proceeding, advancing, going forth

Present Active Participle

From pra-kram (to step forth, advance) + śatṛ suffix

Prefix: pra

Root: kram (class 1)

Note: Agrees with tam (Śuka).

आज्ञाय (ājñāya) - having perceived (having known, understood, perceived, recognized)

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (Gerund)

From ā-jñā (to know) + lyap suffix

Prefix: ā

Root: jñā (class 9)

पिता (pitā) - the father (Vyāsa) (father)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pitṛ

pitṛ - father, ancestor

Note: Subject of the verb anusasāra.

स्नेहसमन्वितः (snehasamanvitaḥ) - filled with affection (endowed with affection; full of love; accompanied by tenderness)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of snehasamanvita

snehasamanvita - endowed with affection, accompanied by love, full of tenderness

Compound type : bahuvrihi or tatpuruṣa (sneha+samanvita)

• sneha – affection, love, tenderness, kindness; oil
  noun (masculine)
  From root snih (to be sticky, to be affectionate)
  Root: snih (class 4)
• samanvita – accompanied by, connected with, endowed with
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  From sam-anu-i (to go along with) + kta suffix
  Prefixes: sam+anu
  Root: i (class 2)

Note: Agrees with pitā.

उत्तमाम् (uttamām) - highest (highest, excellent, best, supreme)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of uttama

uttama - highest, best, excellent, supreme, principal

Superlative of ud (upwards, excellent)

Note: Agrees with gatim.

गतिम् (gatim) - spiritual state (gati) (movement, course, path, state, destination, spiritual progress)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of gati

gati - going, moving, course, path, destination, state of being, spiritual progress, liberation

From root gam (to go) + ktin suffix

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Object of āsthāya.

आस्थाय (āsthāya) - adopting (having resorted to, having adopted, having taken up)

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (Gerund)

From ā-sthā (to stand, establish) + lyap suffix

Prefix: ā

Root: sthā (class 1)

पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ) - from behind (from behind, behind, after)

(indeclinable)

From pṛṣṭha (back) + suffix -tas

अनुससार (anusasāra) - followed (followed, pursued, went after)

(verb)

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

Perfect tense (lit)

Reduplicated root of anu-sṛ

Prefix: anu

Root: sṛ (class 1)

ह (ha) - indeed (for emphasis) (indeed, certainly (particle of emphasis or narration))

(indeclinable)