महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-8, verse-20

अधनेनार्थकामेन नार्थः शक्यो विवित्सता ।
अर्थैरर्था निबध्यन्ते गजैरिव महागजाः ॥२०॥

20. adhanenārthakāmena nārthaḥ śakyo vivitsatā ,
arthairarthā nibadhyante gajairiva mahāgajāḥ.

20. adhaneṇa arthakāmena na arthaḥ śakyaḥ vivitsatā
| arthaiḥ arthāḥ nibadhyante gajaiḥ iva mahāgajāḥ

20. adhaneṇa arthakāmena vivitsatā arthaḥ na śakyaḥ arthaiḥ
arthāḥ nibadhyante iva gajaiḥ mahāgajāḥ (nibadhyante)

20. A poor person, even one desiring wealth and seeking to acquire it, cannot obtain wealth. Wealth is secured by wealth, just as great elephants are captured with the help of other elephants.

Words meanings summery:

• अधनेण (adhaneṇa) - by a poor person, by one without wealth

• अर्थकामेन (arthakāmena) - by one desiring wealth, by a covetous person

• न (na) - not, no

• अर्थः (arthaḥ) - wealth, purpose, object

• शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - possible, able to be done, capable of being acquired

• विवित्सता (vivitsatā) - by one desiring to know, by one desiring to obtain

• अर्थैः (arthaiḥ) - by wealth, by riches, by resources

• अर्थाः (arthāḥ) - wealth, possessions, objects

• निबध्यन्ते (nibadhyante) - are bound, are secured, are acquired, are fastened

• गजैः (gajaiḥ) - by elephants

• इव (iva) - like, just as

• महागजाः (mahāgajāḥ) - great elephants, large elephants

Words meanings and morphology

अधनेण (adhaneṇa) - by a poor person, by one without wealth

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of adhana

adhana - poor, without wealth, lacking property

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (a+dhana)

• a – not, un-
  prefix
• dhana – wealth, property
  noun (neuter)

अर्थकामेन (arthakāmena) - by one desiring wealth, by a covetous person

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of arthakāma

arthakāma - desiring wealth, covetous

Compound type : tatpurusha (artha+kāma)

• artha – wealth, object
  noun (masculine)
• kāma – desire
  noun (masculine)

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

अर्थः (arthaḥ) - wealth, purpose, object

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of artha

artha - wealth, property, purpose, meaning, object, cause

शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - possible, able to be done, capable of being acquired

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śakya

śakya - possible, able, capable, practicable

Gerundive (Potential Passive Participle)

From verb root 'śak' (to be able). Means 'to be able to be X'.

Root: śak (class 5)

विवित्सता (vivitsatā) - by one desiring to know, by one desiring to obtain

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of vivitsat

vivitsat - desiring to know, desiring to obtain, seeking

Present Active Desiderative Participle

Desiderative stem of 'vid' (to know/find) + present active participle suffix.

Root: vid (class 2)

अर्थैः (arthaiḥ) - by wealth, by riches, by resources

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of artha

artha - wealth, property, purpose, meaning, object, cause

अर्थाः (arthāḥ) - wealth, possessions, objects

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of artha

artha - wealth, property, purpose, meaning, object, cause

निबध्यन्ते (nibadhyante) - are bound, are secured, are acquired, are fastened

(verb)

3rd person , plural, passive, present (laṭ) of bandh

Prefix: ni

Root: bandh (class 9)

गजैः (gajaiḥ) - by elephants

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of gaja

gaja - elephant

इव (iva) - like, just as

(indeclinable)

महागजाः (mahāgajāḥ) - great elephants, large elephants

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of mahāgaja

mahāgaja - great elephant, large elephant

Compound type : karmadhāraya (mahā+gaja)

• mahā – great, large
  adjective
• gaja – elephant
  noun (masculine)