महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-336, verse-4

नूनमेकान्तधर्मोऽयं श्रेष्ठो नारायणप्रियः ।
अगत्वा गतयस्तिस्रो यद्गच्छन्त्यव्ययं हरिम् ॥४॥

4. nūnamekāntadharmo'yaṁ śreṣṭho nārāyaṇapriyaḥ ,
agatvā gatayastisro yadgacchantyavyayaṁ harim.

4. nūnam ekāntadharmaḥ ayam śreṣṭhaḥ nārāyaṇapriyaḥ
agatvā gatayaḥ tisraḥ yat gacchanti avyayam harim

4. nūnam ayam ekāntadharmaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ nārāyaṇapriyaḥ
yat tisraḥ gatayaḥ agatvā avyayam harim gacchanti

4. Certainly, this path of exclusive devotion (ekānta-dharma) is supreme and dear to Nārāyaṇa, because without traversing the three other paths (gati), they directly reach the imperishable Hari.

Words meanings summery:

• नूनम् (nūnam) - Emphasizes the certainty and truth of the statement being made about ekānta-dharma. (certainly, surely, indeed)

• एकान्तधर्मः (ekāntadharmaḥ) - Refers to the religious principle or practice of singular, exclusive devotion to a single deity (Hari). (the dharma of exclusive devotion, sole path)

• अयम् (ayam) - Refers to the immediately preceding 'ekāntadharma', indicating its present discussion. (this)

• श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - Describes 'ekāntadharma' as the highest and most superior path or principle. (best, most excellent, supreme)

• नारायणप्रियः (nārāyaṇapriyaḥ) - Another attribute of 'ekāntadharma', signifying its special favor and acceptance by Lord Nārāyaṇa. (dear to Nārāyaṇa, beloved by Nārāyaṇa)

• अगत्वा (agatvā) - Indicates that the followers of ekānta-dharma bypass the other three paths. (without going, without traversing)

• गतयः (gatayaḥ) - Refers to the three other spiritual paths or destinations distinct from ekānta-dharma. (paths, destinations, movements)

• तिस्रः (tisraḥ) - Specifies that it is the *three* other paths that are bypassed. (three)

• यत् (yat) - Introduces the reason or explanation for the previous statement; translates as 'because'. (that, which, because)

• गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - The implied subject (followers of ekānta-dharma) directly attain Hari. (they go, they attain, they reach)

• अव्ययम् (avyayam) - Describes Hari as the eternal, unchanging, and indestructible Supreme Being. (imperishable, immutable, eternal)

• हरिम् (harim) - The Supreme Being, Lord Hari, who is the ultimate object of devotion. (Hari, Vishnu, Krishna)

Words meanings and morphology

नूनम् (nūnam) - Emphasizes the certainty and truth of the statement being made about ekānta-dharma. (certainly, surely, indeed)

(indeclinable)

एकान्तधर्मः (ekāntadharmaḥ) - Refers to the religious principle or practice of singular, exclusive devotion to a single deity (Hari). (the dharma of exclusive devotion, sole path)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ekāntadharma

ekāntadharma - the dharma of exclusive devotion, the sole way/principle of righteousness

Compound: ekānta (exclusive, sole) + dharma (religious duty, principle, intrinsic nature)

Compound type : tatpurusha (ekānta+dharma)

• ekānta – exclusive, sole, devoted to one object, unique
  adjective (masculine)
• dharma – constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty, religion
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Subject of the sentence.

अयम् (ayam) - Refers to the immediately preceding 'ekāntadharma', indicating its present discussion. (this)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one (demonstrative pronoun)

Note: Modifies 'ekāntadharmaḥ'.

श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - Describes 'ekāntadharma' as the highest and most superior path or principle. (best, most excellent, supreme)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, most excellent, supreme, chief

superlative of praśasya (excellent)

Note: Predicate adjective for 'ekāntadharmaḥ'.

नारायणप्रियः (nārāyaṇapriyaḥ) - Another attribute of 'ekāntadharma', signifying its special favor and acceptance by Lord Nārāyaṇa. (dear to Nārāyaṇa, beloved by Nārāyaṇa)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of nārāyaṇapriya

nārāyaṇapriya - dear to Nārāyaṇa, beloved by Nārāyaṇa

Compound: Nārāyaṇa (a name of Vishnu) + priya (dear)

Compound type : tatpurusha (nārāyaṇa+priya)

• nārāyaṇa – Nārāyaṇa (a name of Vishnu, meaning 'resting in the waters' or 'refuge of man')
  proper noun (masculine)
• priya – dear, beloved, favorite, pleasing
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Predicate adjective for 'ekāntadharmaḥ'.

अगत्वा (agatvā) - Indicates that the followers of ekānta-dharma bypass the other three paths. (without going, without traversing)

(indeclinable)

absolutive (gerund)

absolutive (gerund) of the negated root gam (to go) with prefix 'a-'

Prefix: a

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Negated absolutive.

गतयः (gatayaḥ) - Refers to the three other spiritual paths or destinations distinct from ekānta-dharma. (paths, destinations, movements)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, plural of gati

gati - path, course, movement, going, destination, state, means

derived from root gam (to go)

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Object of the implied action of 'agatvā' (i.e., not traversing the paths). While nominative form, context necessitates accusative function.

तिस्रः (tisraḥ) - Specifies that it is the *three* other paths that are bypassed. (three)

(numeral)

Note: Modifies 'gatayaḥ'. While nominative form, context necessitates accusative function.

यत् (yat) - Introduces the reason or explanation for the previous statement; translates as 'because'. (that, which, because)

(indeclinable)

Note: Relative pronoun used adverbially to mean 'because'.

गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - The implied subject (followers of ekānta-dharma) directly attain Hari. (they go, they attain, they reach)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (lat) of gam

present active

root gam (1st class, bhvadi), present tense, 3rd person plural, active voice

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: The implied subject is 'those who follow ekāntadharma'.

अव्ययम् (avyayam) - Describes Hari as the eternal, unchanging, and indestructible Supreme Being. (imperishable, immutable, eternal)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of avyaya

avyaya - imperishable, immutable, eternal, indestructible; indeclinable

A (negation) + vyaya (expenditure, decay) = without decay

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (a+vyaya)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
  negative prefix
• vyaya – expenditure, loss, decay, destruction
  noun (masculine)

Note: Modifies 'harim'.

हरिम् (harim) - The Supreme Being, Lord Hari, who is the ultimate object of devotion. (Hari, Vishnu, Krishna)

(proper noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of hari

hari - Hari (a name of Vishnu/Krishna), remover of evil/suffering, lion, tawny

Note: Object of 'gacchanti'.