महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-80, verse-12

शक्तिस्तु पूर्णपात्रेण संमितानवमा भवेत् ।
अवश्यं तात यष्टव्यं त्रिभिर्वर्णैर्यथाविधि ॥१२॥

12. śaktistu pūrṇapātreṇa saṁmitānavamā bhavet ,
avaśyaṁ tāta yaṣṭavyaṁ tribhirvarṇairyathāvidhi.

12. śaktiḥ tu pūrṇa-pātreṇa saṃmitā anavamā bhavet |
avaśyam tāta yaṣṭavyam tribhiḥ varṇaiḥ yathā-vidhi

12. tu śaktiḥ pūrṇa-pātreṇa saṃmitā anavamā bhavet tāta,
tribhiḥ varṇaiḥ yathā-vidhi avaśyam yaṣṭavyam

12. However, one's capacity (śakti) should ideally be measured by (or at least equal to) a full vessel; it should certainly not be less. Therefore, my dear son (tāta), a Vedic ritual (yajña) must necessarily be performed by the three (upper) social classes (varṇa) according to the prescribed rules.

Words meanings summery:

• शक्तिः (śaktiḥ) - one's capacity or means for giving sacrificial fees (power, ability, capacity, energy (śakti))

• तु (tu) - but, however, indeed

• पूर्ण-पात्रेण (pūrṇa-pātreṇa) - with a full vessel, by means of a full container

• संमिता (saṁmitā) - measured, equal to, proportionate, commensurate with

• अनवमा (anavamā) - not inferior, not low, not the least

• भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be

• अवश्यम् (avaśyam) - necessarily, certainly, surely

• तात (tāta) - dear son (address by Bhishma to Yudhishthira, often used for younger revered ones) (dear father, dear son, my child (vocative))

• यष्टव्यम् (yaṣṭavyam) - should be sacrificed, to be offered, ought to be worshipped

• त्रिभिः (tribhiḥ) - by three (instrumental plural)

• वर्णैः (varṇaiḥ) - by the three (upper) social classes (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya) (by classes, by social orders, by colors)

• यथा-विधि (yathā-vidhi) - according to rule, as prescribed, duly

Words meanings and morphology

शक्तिः (śaktiḥ) - one's capacity or means for giving sacrificial fees (power, ability, capacity, energy (śakti))

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of śakti

śakti - power, ability, capacity, energy, divine feminine power (śakti)

Root: śak (class 5)

तु (tu) - but, however, indeed

(indeclinable)

पूर्ण-पात्रेण (pūrṇa-pātreṇa) - with a full vessel, by means of a full container

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of pūrṇapātra

pūrṇapātra - a full vessel, a full measure

Compound type : karmadhāraya (pūrṇa+pātra)

• pūrṇa – full, complete
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root PṜ (to fill).
  Root: pṠ (class 3)
• pātra – vessel, container, recipient
  noun (neuter)

Note: It acts as the standard of comparison for 'śakti'.

संमिता (saṁmitā) - measured, equal to, proportionate, commensurate with

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of saṃmita

saṁmita - measured, equal to, proportionate, commensurate with

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root MĀ (to measure) with upasarga SAM.

Prefix: sam

Root: mā (class 2)

Note: Agrees with 'śaktiḥ'.

अनवमा (anavamā) - not inferior, not low, not the least

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of anavama

anavama - not inferior, not low, not the last, not the least

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (na+avama)

• na – not, no
  indeclinable
• avama – lowest, inferior, worst, last
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Agrees with 'śaktiḥ'.

भवेत् (bhavet) - may be, should be, would be

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (liṅ) of bhū

Root: bhū (class 1)

अवश्यम् (avaśyam) - necessarily, certainly, surely

(indeclinable)

तात (tāta) - dear son (address by Bhishma to Yudhishthira, often used for younger revered ones) (dear father, dear son, my child (vocative))

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of tāta

tāta - dear father, dear son, my child

यष्टव्यम् (yaṣṭavyam) - should be sacrificed, to be offered, ought to be worshipped

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of yaṣṭavya

yaṣṭavya - to be sacrificed, to be offered, to be worshipped

gerundive

Derived from root YAJ with suffix -tavya.

Root: yaj (class 1)

Note: Used here as a predicate, implying 'it is to be sacrificed'.

त्रिभिः (tribhiḥ) - by three (instrumental plural)

(numeral)

Note: Agrees with 'varṇaiḥ'.

वर्णैः (varṇaiḥ) - by the three (upper) social classes (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya) (by classes, by social orders, by colors)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of varṇa

varṇa - color, class, social order, character

Root: vṛ (class 9)

Note: The "three varṇas" traditionally refers to the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas who are eligible for Vedic rites.

यथा-विधि (yathā-vidhi) - according to rule, as prescribed, duly

(indeclinable)

Compound type : avyayībhāva (yathā+vidhi)

• yathā – as, in what manner
  indeclinable
• vidhi – rule, injunction, ordinance, method
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhā (class 3)