महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-70, verse-3

दण्डनीतिः स्वधर्मेभ्यश्चातुर्वर्ण्यं नियच्छति ।
प्रयुक्ता स्वामिना सम्यगधर्मेभ्यश्च यच्छति ॥३॥

3. daṇḍanītiḥ svadharmebhyaścāturvarṇyaṁ niyacchati ,
prayuktā svāminā samyagadharmebhyaśca yacchati.

3. daṇḍanītiḥ svadharmebhyaḥ ca cāturvarṇyam niyacchati
prayuktā svāminā samyak adharmebhyaḥ ca yacchati

3. daṇḍanītiḥ cāturvarṇyam svadharmebhyaḥ niyacchati
ca svāminā samyak prayuktā adharmebhyaḥ ca yacchati

3. The science of governance (daṇḍanīti) directs the four social classes (cāturvarṇya) towards their respective natural laws (dharma). When correctly employed by the ruler, it also restrains them from unrighteous actions.

Words meanings summery:

• दण्डनीतिः (daṇḍanītiḥ) - The science of governance (daṇḍanīti) (science of governance, punitive justice)

• स्वधर्मेभ्यः (svadharmebhyaḥ) - towards their respective natural laws (dharma) (for their own duties, to their own natural laws)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• चातुर्वर्ण्यम् (cāturvarṇyam) - the four social classes (cāturvarṇya) (the system of four classes, the four castes)

• नियच्छति (niyacchati) - directs (directs, controls, restrains)

• प्रयुक्ता (prayuktā) - when employed (referring to daṇḍanīti) (employed, applied, used)

• स्वामिना (svāminā) - by the ruler (by the lord, by the owner, by the master)

• सम्यक् (samyak) - correctly (properly, correctly, rightly)

• अधर्मेभ्यः (adharmebhyaḥ) - from unrighteous actions (from unrighteousness, from injustice)

• च (ca) - also (and, also)

• यच्छति (yacchati) - restrains (grants, bestows, restrains, controls)

Words meanings and morphology

दण्डनीतिः (daṇḍanītiḥ) - The science of governance (daṇḍanīti) (science of governance, punitive justice)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of daṇḍanīti

daṇḍanīti - science of governance, policy of punishment, punitive justice

Compound: daṇḍa (rod, punishment) + nīti (guidance, policy).

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (daṇḍa+nīti)

• daṇḍa – rod, staff, punishment
  noun (masculine)
• nīti – guidance, policy, conduct, ethics
  noun (feminine)
  Derived from root √nī (to lead).
  Root: nī (class 1)

स्वधर्मेभ्यः (svadharmebhyaḥ) - towards their respective natural laws (dharma) (for their own duties, to their own natural laws)

(noun)

Dative, masculine, plural of svadharma

svadharma - one's own natural law, duty, intrinsic nature

Compound: sva (own) + dharma (natural law, duty).

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (sva+dharma)

• sva – own, self
  pronoun
• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Indicates the goal or direction for 'niyacchati'.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

चातुर्वर्ण्यम् (cāturvarṇyam) - the four social classes (cāturvarṇya) (the system of four classes, the four castes)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of cāturvarṇya

cāturvarṇya - the system of four castes/classes, the four varṇas

From catur (four) + varṇa (color, class).

Compound type : dvigu-tatpuruṣa (catur+varṇa)

• catur – four
  numeral
• varṇa – color, class, social order
  noun (masculine)
  Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: Object of 'niyacchati'.

नियच्छति (niyacchati) - directs (directs, controls, restrains)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of niyacch

Present Active

Present tense, 3rd person singular, active voice. From √yam with prefix ni.

Prefix: ni

Root: yam (class 1)

प्रयुक्ता (prayuktā) - when employed (referring to daṇḍanīti) (employed, applied, used)

(participle)

Nominative, feminine, singular of prayukta

prayukta - employed, applied, joined, produced

Past Passive Participle

Past passive participle from root √yuj (to join, apply) with prefix pra.

Prefix: pra

Root: yuj (class 7)

Note: Agrees with 'daṇḍanītiḥ' (feminine singular nominative) in an adverbial sense: 'being employed'.

स्वामिना (svāminā) - by the ruler (by the lord, by the owner, by the master)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of svāmin

svāmin - owner, master, lord, ruler

Derived from sva (own) + -in.

Note: Agent of the action 'prayuktā'.

सम्यक् (samyak) - correctly (properly, correctly, rightly)

(indeclinable)

From sam-añc (to go together, to be complete).

Prefix: sam

Root: añc (class 1)

Note: Modifies 'prayuktā'.

अधर्मेभ्यः (adharmebhyaḥ) - from unrighteous actions (from unrighteousness, from injustice)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, plural of adharma

adharma - unrighteousness, injustice, wrong conduct, non-natural law

Compound: a (negation) + dharma (natural law, duty).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+dharma)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix.
• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Indicates separation from or restraint from for 'yacchati'.

च (ca) - also (and, also)

(indeclinable)

यच्छति (yacchati) - restrains (grants, bestows, restrains, controls)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of yacch

Present Active

Present tense, 3rd person singular, active voice. From root √yam (to restrain, give).

Root: yam (class 1)