महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-67, verse-17

अराजकाः प्रजाः पूर्वं विनेशुरिति नः श्रुतम् ।
परस्परं भक्षयन्तो मत्स्या इव जले कृशान् ॥१७॥

17. arājakāḥ prajāḥ pūrvaṁ vineśuriti naḥ śrutam ,
parasparaṁ bhakṣayanto matsyā iva jale kṛśān.

17. arājakāḥ prajāḥ pūrvam vineśuḥ iti naḥ śrutam
parasparam bhakṣayantaḥ matsyāḥ iva jale kṛśān

17. naḥ iti śrutam yat pūrvam अराजकाः prajāḥ parasparam
jale kṛśān matsyāḥ iva bhakṣayantaḥ vineśuḥ

17. We have heard that previously, people without a ruler perished, devouring each other, just like strong fish devouring weak ones in water.

Words meanings summery:

• अराजकाः (arājakāḥ) - people without a ruler (without a king, kingless, anarchic)

• प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - people, subjects, offspring

• पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - formerly, previously, before

• विनेशुः (vineśuḥ) - they perished, they were destroyed

• इति (iti) - thus, so (quotative particle)

• नः (naḥ) - by us (by us, to us (enclitic pronoun))

• श्रुतम् (śrutam) - it is heard (heard, listened)

• परस्परम् (parasparam) - each other (mutually, reciprocally, each other)

• भक्षयन्तः (bhakṣayantaḥ) - devouring, eating

• मत्स्याः (matsyāḥ) - strong fish (in the analogy) (fish)

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• जले (jale) - in water

• कृशान् (kṛśān) - the weak fish (weak ones, lean ones)

Words meanings and morphology

अराजकाः (arājakāḥ) - people without a ruler (without a king, kingless, anarchic)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of arājaka

arājaka - kingless, without a ruler, anarchic

Negation 'a-' + 'rājan' (king).

Note: Agrees with 'prajāḥ'.

प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - people, subjects, offspring

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, plural of prajā

prajā - offspring, people, subjects, progeny

पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - formerly, previously, before

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverbial usage.

विनेशुः (vineśuḥ) - they perished, they were destroyed

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, perfect indicative (lit) of naś

Perfect Indicative

Root 'naś' (class 4, parasmaipada) with upasarga 'vi' in perfect tense, 3rd person plural.

Prefix: vi

Root: naś (class 4)

इति (iti) - thus, so (quotative particle)

(indeclinable)

Note: Marks the end of a quote or a summary statement.

नः (naḥ) - by us (by us, to us (enclitic pronoun))

(pronoun)

plural of asmad

asmad - we, us

Enclitic form of the 1st person plural pronoun 'asmad'.

Note: Here, functions as the agent in a passive construction with 'śrutam' (by us it is heard).

श्रुतम् (śrutam) - it is heard (heard, listened)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śruta

śruta - heard, perceived, sacred knowledge, tradition

Past Passive Participle

Past Passive Participle of root 'śru' (to hear).

Root: śru (class 5)

परस्परम् (parasparam) - each other (mutually, reciprocally, each other)

(indeclinable)

Note: Acts as an adverb here modifying 'bhakṣayantaḥ'.

भक्षयन्तः (bhakṣayantaḥ) - devouring, eating

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of bhakṣayat

bhakṣayat - eating, devouring

Present Active Participle

Present Active Participle of the causative root 'bhakṣ' (from 'bhaj', class 10/causative).

Root: bhakṣ (class 10)

Note: Describes the action of the 'prajāḥ'.

मत्स्याः (matsyāḥ) - strong fish (in the analogy) (fish)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of matsya

matsya - fish

Note: In comparison, refers to the stronger fish.

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

Note: Used for comparison.

जले (jale) - in water

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of jala

jala - water

Note: Indicates the location of the fish.

कृशान् (kṛśān) - the weak fish (weak ones, lean ones)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, plural of kṛśa

kṛśa - thin, lean, emaciated, weak

Note: Refers to weak fish, being devoured (object of 'bhakṣayantaḥ').