महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-72, verse-17

यो हि दोग्ध्रीमुपास्ते तु स नित्यं लभते पयः ।
एवं राष्ट्रमुपायेन भुञ्जानो लभते फलम् ॥१७॥

17. yo hi dogdhrīmupāste tu sa nityaṁ labhate payaḥ ,
evaṁ rāṣṭramupāyena bhuñjāno labhate phalam.

17. yaḥ hi dogdhrīm upāste tu saḥ nityam labhate payaḥ
evam rāṣṭram upāyena bhuñjānaḥ labhate phalam

17. hi yaḥ tu dogdhrīm upāste saḥ nityam payaḥ labhate
evam upāyena rāṣṭram bhuñjānaḥ phalam labhate

17. Indeed, he who serves (upāste) a milch cow (dogdhrīm) obtains milk constantly. In the same way, one who enjoys (bhuñjānaḥ) the kingdom (rāṣṭram) with proper methods (upāya) obtains its fruit.

Words meanings summery:

• यः (yaḥ) - who, whoever

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

• दोग्ध्रीम् (dogdhrīm) - a milch cow

• उपास्ते (upāste) - He attends to or cares for (a cow). (he serves, he attends to, he approaches, he worships)

• तु (tu) - but, indeed, on the other hand

• सः (saḥ) - he, that one

• नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly, perpetually

• लभते (labhate) - he obtains, he gains, he finds

• पयः (payaḥ) - milk, water

• एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner, similarly

• राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram) - kingdom, realm, nation

• उपायेन (upāyena) - By proper or effective methods of governance. (by proper means, by a method, by a stratagem)

• भुञ्जानः (bhuñjānaḥ) - Ruling or administering (the kingdom). (enjoying, ruling, protecting, consuming)

• लभते (labhate) - he obtains, he gains, he finds

• फलम् (phalam) - The positive results or benefits from ruling the kingdom. (fruit, result, reward)

Words meanings and morphology

यः (yaḥ) - who, whoever

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what

Note: Subject of 'upāste' and 'labhate'.

हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

(indeclinable)

दोग्ध्रीम् (dogdhrīm) - a milch cow

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of dogdhrī

dogdhrī - milch cow, cow that gives milk

Feminine derivative of 'dogdhṛ' (milker), from root duh (to milk).

Root: duh (class 2)

Note: Object of 'upāste'.

उपास्ते (upāste) - He attends to or cares for (a cow). (he serves, he attends to, he approaches, he worships)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present indicative (laṭ) of upās

present indicative

From prefix upa- and root ās (to sit). Middle voice form.

Prefix: upa

Root: ās (class 2)

Note: Refers to 'yaḥ'.

तु (tu) - but, indeed, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

सः (saḥ) - he, that one

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Correlative to 'yaḥ'.

नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly, perpetually

(indeclinable)

Note: Modifies 'labhate'.

लभते (labhate) - he obtains, he gains, he finds

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present indicative (laṭ) of labh

present indicative

Root verb (1st class), middle voice

Root: labh (class 1)

पयः (payaḥ) - milk, water

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of payas

payas - milk, water, juice, vigour

Note: Object of 'labhate'.

एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner, similarly

(indeclinable)

राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram) - kingdom, realm, nation

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of rāṣṭra

rāṣṭra - kingdom, realm, nation, country

Derived from rāj (to rule)

Root: rāj (class 1)

Note: Object of 'bhuñjānaḥ'.

उपायेन (upāyena) - By proper or effective methods of governance. (by proper means, by a method, by a stratagem)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of upāya

upāya - means, method, resource, stratagem, proper course of action

Derived from upa-i (to approach, go to)

Prefix: upa

Root: i (class 2)

Note: Describes the manner of ruling.

भुञ्जानः (bhuñjānaḥ) - Ruling or administering (the kingdom). (enjoying, ruling, protecting, consuming)

(participle)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhuñjāna

bhuñjāna - enjoying, eating, consuming, ruling, protecting

present active participle (ātmanepada)

From root bhuj (to enjoy, eat, rule).

Root: bhuj (class 7)

Note: Describes the king's action of administering.

लभते (labhate) - he obtains, he gains, he finds

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present indicative (laṭ) of labh

present indicative

Root verb (1st class), middle voice

Root: labh (class 1)

फलम् (phalam) - The positive results or benefits from ruling the kingdom. (fruit, result, reward)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of phala

phala - fruit, result, consequence, reward

Note: Object of 'labhate'.