महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-331, verse-23

ततः स ददृशे देवौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ ।
तपश्चरन्तौ सुमहदात्मनिष्ठौ महाव्रतौ ॥२३॥

23. tataḥ sa dadṛśe devau purāṇāvṛṣisattamau ,
tapaścarantau sumahadātmaniṣṭhau mahāvratau.

23. tataḥ saḥ dadṛśe devau purāṇau ṛṣisattamau
tapaḥ carantau sumahat ātmaniṣṭhau mahāvratāu

23. tataḥ saḥ devau purāṇau ṛṣisattamau tapaḥ
carantau sumahat ātmaniṣṭhau mahāvratāu dadṛśe

23. Then he saw two ancient, supreme sages (munis), who were performing very great asceticism (tapas), greatly devoted to the self (ātman), and observing great vows.

Words meanings summery:

• ततः (tataḥ) - from there, then, after that

• सः (saḥ) - he, that one

• ददृशे (dadṛśe) - he saw, he beheld

• देवौ (devau) - two exalted sages (two divine beings, two exalted ones)

• पुराणौ (purāṇau) - ancient, old, primordial (dual)

• ऋषिसत्तमौ (ṛṣisattamau) - two best of sages, two supreme sages (munis)

• तपः (tapaḥ) - asceticism, penance, austerity

• चरन्तौ (carantau) - two performing, two practicing, two moving

• सुमहत् (sumahat) - very much, greatly, very great (adverbial usage)

• आत्मनिष्ठौ (ātmaniṣṭhau) - two devoted to the self (ātman), two absorbed in the self (ātman)

• महाव्रताउ (mahāvratāu) - two observing great vows, two of great vows

Words meanings and morphology

ततः (tataḥ) - from there, then, after that

(indeclinable)

adverb formed from pronominal base tad with suffix -tas

सः (saḥ) - he, that one

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

ददृशे (dadṛśe) - he saw, he beheld

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, perfect (liṭ) of dadṛśe

Perfect tense (Liṭ), 3rd person singular, middle voice

Root: dṛś (class 1)

देवौ (devau) - two exalted sages (two divine beings, two exalted ones)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, dual of deva

deva - god, deity, divine, celestial; an exalted person

पुराणौ (purāṇau) - ancient, old, primordial (dual)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, dual of purāṇa

purāṇa - ancient, old, former, primordial

Note: Agrees with 'devau' and 'ṛṣisattamau'

ऋषिसत्तमौ (ṛṣisattamau) - two best of sages, two supreme sages (munis)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, dual of ṛṣisattama

ṛṣisattama - best of sages, supreme sage

Compound type : tatpurusha (ṛṣi+sattama)

• ṛṣi – sage, seer, inspired poet, ascetic (muni)
  noun (masculine)
• sattama – best, most excellent, pre-eminent
  adjective (masculine)
  superlative suffix -tama

Note: Agrees with 'devau'

तपः (tapaḥ) - asceticism, penance, austerity

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of tapas

tapas - heat, penance, asceticism, austerity, religious devotion (tapas)

Note: Object of 'carantau'

चरन्तौ (carantau) - two performing, two practicing, two moving

(participle)

Accusative, masculine, dual of carat

carat - moving, walking, practicing, performing

Present Active Participle

Root: car (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'devau', 'ṛṣisattamau'

सुमहत् (sumahat) - very much, greatly, very great (adverbial usage)

(indeclinable)

Compound type : karmadharaya (su+mahat)

• su – good, well, excellent, very (prefix)
  indeclinable
• mahat – great, large, mighty, important
  adjective (neuter)

Note: Used adverbially, modifying 'ātmaniṣṭhau'

आत्मनिष्ठौ (ātmaniṣṭhau) - two devoted to the self (ātman), two absorbed in the self (ātman)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, dual of ātmaniṣṭha

ātmaniṣṭha - devoted to the self, absorbed in the self (ātman), firm in the self

Compound type : tatpurusha (ātman+niṣṭha)

• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence (ātman)
  noun (masculine)
• niṣṭha – standing firm, devoted to, intent on, absorbed in
  adjective (masculine)
  Prefix: ni
  Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'devau', 'ṛṣisattamau'

महाव्रताउ (mahāvratāu) - two observing great vows, two of great vows

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, dual of mahāvrata

mahāvrata - observing great vows, having great vows; a severe religious observance

Compound type : bahuvrihi (mahā+vrata)

• mahā – great, mighty, large
  adjective
• vrata – vow, religious observance, sacred duty
  noun (neuter)

Note: Agrees with 'devau', 'ṛṣisattamau'