महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-65, verse-27

यदा निवर्त्यते पापो दण्डनीत्या महात्मभिः ।
तदा धर्मो न चलते सद्भूतः शाश्वतः परः ॥२७॥

27. yadā nivartyate pāpo daṇḍanītyā mahātmabhiḥ ,
tadā dharmo na calate sadbhūtaḥ śāśvataḥ paraḥ.

27. yadā nivartyate pāpaḥ daṇḍanītyā mahātmabhiḥ
tadā dharmaḥ na calate sadbhūtaḥ śāśvataḥ paraḥ

27. yadā mahātmabhiḥ daṇḍanītyā pāpaḥ nivartyate
tadā sadbhūtaḥ śāśvataḥ paraḥ dharmaḥ na calate

27. When the wicked are restrained by noble individuals (mahātman) through the rule of law (daṇḍanīti), then the well-established, eternal, supreme natural law (dharma) does not falter.

Words meanings summery:

• यदा (yadā) - when, at what time

• निवर्त्यते (nivartyate) - is restrained, is turned back, is deterred

• पापः (pāpaḥ) - the wicked person, the sinner

• दण्डनीत्या (daṇḍanītyā) - by the science of government, by penal justice, by the rule of law

• महात्मभिः (mahātmabhiḥ) - by great souls, by noble persons

• तदा (tadā) - then, at that time

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the natural law, the constitution, righteousness

• न (na) - not, no

• चलते (calate) - moves, wavers, falters, deviates

• सद्भूतः (sadbhūtaḥ) - well-established, truly existing, righteous

• शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ) - eternal, perpetual, everlasting

• परः (paraḥ) - supreme, highest, ultimate

Words meanings and morphology

यदा (yadā) - when, at what time

(indeclinable)

निवर्त्यते (nivartyate) - is restrained, is turned back, is deterred

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (Laṭ) of nivṛt

Present tense, 3rd person singular, Ātmanepada, passive voice.

Prefix: ni

Root: vṛt (class 1)

पापः (pāpaḥ) - the wicked person, the sinner

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pāpa

pāpa - evil, bad, wicked, sinful; a wicked person, a sinner

Note: Subject of 'nivartyate'.

दण्डनीत्या (daṇḍanītyā) - by the science of government, by penal justice, by the rule of law

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of daṇḍanīti

daṇḍanīti - science of government, policy of punishment, penal justice, rule of law

Compound type : Tatpurusha (daṇḍa+nīti)

• daṇḍa – stick, rod, punishment, scepter, authority
  noun (masculine)
  Root: daṇḍ (class 10)
• nīti – conduct, guidance, policy, morality, justice
  noun (feminine)
  Derived from root nī (to lead, guide).
  Root: nī (class 1)

Note: Agent for the passive verb 'nivartyate'.

महात्मभिः (mahātmabhiḥ) - by great souls, by noble persons

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of mahātman

mahātman - great-souled, noble, magnanimous; a great person, a sage

Compound type : Bahuvrihi (mahā+ātman)

• mahā – great, large, mighty
  adjective
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence, individual soul, Supreme Soul
  noun (masculine)
  Root: an (class 2)

Note: Agent for the passive verb 'nivartyate'.

तदा (tadā) - then, at that time

(indeclinable)

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the natural law, the constitution, righteousness

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

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

Derived from root dhṛ (to uphold, support).

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Subject of 'calate'.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

चलते (calate) - moves, wavers, falters, deviates

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (Laṭ) of cal

Present tense, 3rd person singular, Ātmanepada.

Root: cal (class 1)

सद्भूतः (sadbhūtaḥ) - well-established, truly existing, righteous

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sadbhūta

sadbhūta - truly existing, well-established, righteous, good

Past Passive Participle (bhūta)

Compound formed with sat (good, real) and bhūta (become, existing).

Compound type : Tatpurusha (sat+bhūta)

• sat – being, existing, good, true, real
  adjective (neuter)
  Present Active Participle
  Root as (to be).
  Root: as (class 2)
• bhūta – become, happened, existing, being
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root bhū (to be, become).
  Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'dharmaḥ'.

शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ) - eternal, perpetual, everlasting

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śāśvata

śāśvata - eternal, perpetual, everlasting, constant

Note: Qualifies 'dharmaḥ'.

परः (paraḥ) - supreme, highest, ultimate

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of para

para - other, distant, supreme, highest, ultimate

Note: Qualifies 'dharmaḥ'.