महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-80, verse-2

भीष्म उवाच ।
प्रतिकर्म पुराचार ऋत्विजां स्म विधीयते ।
आदौ छन्दांसि विज्ञाय द्विजानां श्रुतमेव च ॥२॥

2. bhīṣma uvāca ,
pratikarma purācāra ṛtvijāṁ sma vidhīyate ,
ādau chandāṁsi vijñāya dvijānāṁ śrutameva ca.

2. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca prati-karma purācāraḥ ṛtvijām sma
vidhīyate ādau chandāṃsi vijñāya dvijānām śrutam eva ca

2. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca ṛtvijām prati-karma purācāraḥ sma
vidhīyate ādau dvijānām chandāṃsi śrutam ca eva vijñāya

2. Bhīṣma replied, "Regarding the priests (ṛtvij), the ancient custom for each ritual (karma) is established. First, one should thoroughly understand the Vedic knowledge (chandas) and the sacred learning (śruta) of the twice-born (dvija)."

Words meanings summery:

• भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma

• उवाच (uvāca) - spoke, said

• प्रति-कर्म (prati-karma) - for each ritual (karma), for every action

• पुराचारः (purācāraḥ) - ancient custom, traditional practice

• ऋत्विजाम् (ṛtvijām) - of priests (ṛtvij), of sacrificers

• स्म (sma) - indeed, certainly (emphatic particle, often indicates past or customary action when used with present tense)

• विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed, is ordained, is established

• आदौ (ādau) - at first, in the beginning

• छन्दांसि (chandāṁsi) - Vedic hymns, metrical texts, the Vedas

• विज्ञाय (vijñāya) - having known, having understood, having discerned

• द्विजानाम् (dvijānām) - of the twice-born (dvija), of Brahmins

• श्रुतम् (śrutam) - learning, sacred knowledge, what has been heard

• एव (eva) - indeed, certainly, only, just

• च (ca) - and

Words meanings and morphology

भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - Bhishma, a name of Devavrata

उवाच (uvāca) - spoke, said

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of vac

Perfect active third person singular

reduplicated form, from root vac

Root: vac (class 2)

प्रति-कर्म (prati-karma) - for each ritual (karma), for every action

(indeclinable)

compound of prati (each) and karma (action/ritual)

Compound type : avyayībhāva (prati+karma)

• prati – each, every, towards
  preposition
• karma – action, deed, ritual, result of action
  noun (neuter)

पुराचारः (purācāraḥ) - ancient custom, traditional practice

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of purācāra

purācāra - ancient custom, traditional practice

compound of purā (anciently) and ācāra (custom)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (purā+ācāra)

• purā – formerly, anciently, in the past
  indeclinable
• ācāra – conduct, custom, practice
  noun (masculine)

ऋत्विजाम् (ṛtvijām) - of priests (ṛtvij), of sacrificers

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of ṛtvij

ṛtvij - priest, sacrificer

स्म (sma) - indeed, certainly (emphatic particle, often indicates past or customary action when used with present tense)

(indeclinable)

विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed, is ordained, is established

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (lat) of dhā

Present passive third person singular

from root dhā with prefix vi-

Prefix: vi

Root: dhā (class 3)

आदौ (ādau) - at first, in the beginning

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of ādi

ādi - beginning, first, origin

छन्दांसि (chandāṁsi) - Vedic hymns, metrical texts, the Vedas

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, plural of chandas

chandas - Vedic hymns, sacred texts, meter, the Vedas

विज्ञाय (vijñāya) - having known, having understood, having discerned

(indeclinable participle (absolutive/gerund))

द्विजानाम् (dvijānām) - of the twice-born (dvija), of Brahmins

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of dvija

dvija - twice-born, Brahmin, bird, tooth

compound of dvi (twice) and ja (born)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dvi+ja)

• dvi – two, twice
  numeral
• ja – born, produced from
  adjective (masculine)
  agent noun/suffix
  from root jan
  Root: jan (class 4)

श्रुतम् (śrutam) - learning, sacred knowledge, what has been heard

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of śruta

śruta - heard, revealed, sacred knowledge, learning

past passive participle

from root śru

Root: śru (class 5)

एव (eva) - indeed, certainly, only, just

(indeclinable)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)