महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-84, verse-10

नैकमिच्छेद्गणं हित्वा स्याच्चेदन्यतरग्रहः ।
यस्त्वेको बहुभिः श्रेयान्कामं तेन गणं त्यजेत् ॥१०॥

10. naikamicchedgaṇaṁ hitvā syāccedanyataragrahaḥ ,
yastveko bahubhiḥ śreyānkāmaṁ tena gaṇaṁ tyajet.

10. na ekam icchet gaṇam hitvā syāt cet anyataragrahaḥ
yaḥ tu ekaḥ bahubhiḥ śreyān kāmam tena gaṇam tyajet

10. cet anyataragrahaḥ syāt (tadā) gaṇam hitvā ekam na icchet
tu yaḥ ekaḥ bahubhiḥ śreyān (syāt) kāmam tena gaṇam tyajet

10. If a choice must be made between two alternatives (anyataragraha), one should not desire to abandon the group (gaṇa) for the sake of a single individual. However, if one individual is decidedly superior to many, one should certainly abandon the group for that individual.

Words meanings summery:

• न (na) - not

• एकम् (ekam) - a single individual (one, a single one)

• इच्छेत् (icchet) - one should wish, one should desire

• गणम् (gaṇam) - group, multitude

• हित्वा (hitvā) - having abandoned, having left aside

• स्यात् (syāt) - may it be, it should be

• चेत् (cet) - if

• अन्यतरग्रहः (anyataragrahaḥ) - the choice of one of two, grasping one alternative

• यः (yaḥ) - who, which

• तु (tu) - but, however, indeed

• एकः (ekaḥ) - one, a single individual

• बहुभिः (bahubhiḥ) - by many, than many

• श्रेयान् (śreyān) - superior, better, more excellent

• कामम् (kāmam) - indeed, certainly, willingly

• तेन (tena) - by him, for his sake, by that one

• गणम् (gaṇam) - the group

• त्यजेत् (tyajet) - one should abandon, one should forsake

Words meanings and morphology

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

Negative particle.

Note: Negates icchet.

एकम् (ekam) - a single individual (one, a single one)

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of eka

eka - one, a single, alone

Note: Object of icchet. Refers to a single individual.

इच्छेत् (icchet) - one should wish, one should desire

(verb)

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

Tudādi class (6th conjugation), Parasmaipada, Optative mood.

Root: iṣ (class 6)

गणम् (gaṇam) - group, multitude

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of gaṇa

gaṇa - group, multitude, assembly, troop

Root: gaṇ (class 10)

Note: Object of hitvā, meaning "having left the group".

हित्वा (hitvā) - having abandoned, having left aside

(indeclinable)

absolutive (gerund)

Absolutive form derived from root hā 'to abandon'.

Root: hā (class 3)

Note: Modifies icchet, indicating an action completed before the main verb's action.

स्यात् (syāt) - may it be, it should be

(verb)

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

Adādi class (2nd conjugation), Parasmaipada, Optative mood.

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Used in the conditional clause 'cet ... syāt'.

चेत् (cet) - if

(indeclinable)

Conditional particle.

Note: Introduces a conditional clause.

अन्यतरग्रहः (anyataragrahaḥ) - the choice of one of two, grasping one alternative

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of anyataragraha

anyataragraha - the grasping of one of two, choosing one alternative

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpurusha (anyatara+graha)

• anyatara – one of two, either
  pronoun (masculine/feminine/neuter)
• graha – grasping, seizing, choice
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from root grah 'to seize, to grasp'.
  Root: grah (class 9)

Note: Subject of syāt.

यः (yaḥ) - who, which

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - which, what, who (relative pronoun)

Note: Subject of the relative clause.

तु (tu) - but, however, indeed

(indeclinable)

Adversative or emphatic particle.

Note: Introduces a contrasting idea.

एकः (ekaḥ) - one, a single individual

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of eka

eka - one, a single, alone

Note: Subject of the implied 'syāt' in the relative clause.

बहुभिः (bahubhiḥ) - by many, than many

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of bahu

bahu - many, much, numerous

Note: Functions as the standard of comparison with 'śreyān' (superior to many).

श्रेयान् (śreyān) - superior, better, more excellent

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreyas

śreyas - better, superior, more excellent, best (comparative/superlative of praśasya/śrī)

Comparative/superlative form of praśasya 'praiseworthy' or related to śrī 'fortune'.

Root: śrī

Note: Predicate adjective for ekaḥ.

कामम् (kāmam) - indeed, certainly, willingly

(indeclinable)

Accusative of kāma 'desire' used adverbially.

Note: Emphasizes the verb tyajet.

तेन (tena) - by him, for his sake, by that one

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it (demonstrative/personal pronoun)

Note: Refers back to the 'ekaḥ' (the one superior individual). Often implies 'for his sake'.

गणम् (gaṇam) - the group

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of gaṇa

gaṇa - group, multitude, assembly, troop

Root: gaṇ (class 10)

Note: Object of tyajet.

त्यजेत् (tyajet) - one should abandon, one should forsake

(verb)

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

Bhvādi class (1st conjugation), Parasmaipada, Optative mood.

Root: tyaj (class 1)