महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-86, verse-15

अथ योऽधर्मतः पाति राजामात्योऽथ वात्मजः ।
धर्मासने नियुक्तः सन्धर्ममूलं नरर्षभ ॥१५॥

15. atha yo'dharmataḥ pāti rājāmātyo'tha vātmajaḥ ,
dharmāsane niyuktaḥ sandharmamūlaṁ nararṣabha.

15. atha yaḥ adharmataḥ pāti rājā amātyaḥ atha vā ātmajaḥ
dharmāsane niyuktaḥ san dharmamūlam nararṣabha

15. atha nararṣabha yaḥ rājā amātyaḥ atha vā ātmajaḥ
dharmāsane niyuktaḥ san adharmataḥ pāti dharmamūlam

15. Now, O best of men (nararṣabha), whoever—be it a king, a minister, or even his own son—being appointed to the seat of justice (dharmāsana), rules unjustly (adharma), he undermines the very foundation of natural law (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

• अथ (atha) - now (now, then, moreover, therefore)

• यः (yaḥ) - whoever (who, whoever, which)

• अधर्मतः (adharmataḥ) - unjustly (unrighteously, unjustly, from unrighteousness)

• पाति (pāti) - rules, governs (protects, rules, governs)

• राजा (rājā) - king (king, ruler)

• अमात्यः (amātyaḥ) - minister (minister, counsellor)

• अथ (atha) - or (or, and)

• वा (vā) - or (or, either)

• आत्मजः (ātmajaḥ) - one's own son (born of oneself, son, offspring)

• धर्मासने (dharmāsane) - on the seat of justice (on the seat of justice, on the judicial bench)

• नियुक्तः (niyuktaḥ) - appointed (appointed, engaged, commissioned)

• सन् (san) - being (being, existing)

• धर्ममूलम् (dharmamūlam) - the foundation of natural law (the root of dharma, the foundation of righteousness)

• नरर्षभ (nararṣabha) - O best of men (O best of men, O chief among men)

Words meanings and morphology

अथ (atha) - now (now, then, moreover, therefore)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects to the previous verse, indicating a continuation or new point.

यः (yaḥ) - whoever (who, whoever, which)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what (relative pronoun)

Note: Subject of the relative clause.

अधर्मतः (adharmataḥ) - unjustly (unrighteously, unjustly, from unrighteousness)

(indeclinable)

The suffix -tas indicates 'from, by means of, in the manner of.'

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+dharma)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
• dharma – constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty, virtue, justice
  noun (masculine)
  Root: √dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Modifies 'pāti'.

पाति (pāti) - rules, governs (protects, rules, governs)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (Laṭ) of √pā

Present indicative

Class 2 verb.

Root: √pā (class 2)

राजा (rājā) - king (king, ruler)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, sovereign, ruler

Note: Co-subject with 'amātyaḥ' and 'ātmajaḥ'.

अमात्यः (amātyaḥ) - minister (minister, counsellor)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of amātya

amātya - a companion, kinsman, minister, counsellor

From amā (at home, together) + -tya suffix.

Note: Co-subject with 'rājā' and 'ātmajaḥ'.

अथ (atha) - or (or, and)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects 'amātyaḥ' and 'ātmajaḥ' as alternatives.

वा (vā) - or (or, either)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects 'amātyaḥ' and 'ātmajaḥ' as alternatives.

आत्मजः (ātmajaḥ) - one's own son (born of oneself, son, offspring)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ātmaja

ātmaja - born from oneself, son, offspring, child

From ātman (self) + -ja (born).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (ātman+ja)

• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence, mind, ego
  noun (masculine)
• ja – born, produced from
  adjective
  From √jan 'to be born'.
  Root: √jan (class 4)

Note: Co-subject with 'rājā' and 'amātyaḥ'.

धर्मासने (dharmāsane) - on the seat of justice (on the seat of justice, on the judicial bench)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of dharmāsana

dharmāsana - seat of dharma, throne of justice, judicial bench

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+āsana)

• dharma – constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty, virtue, justice
  noun (masculine)
  Root: √dhṛ (class 1)
• āsana – seat, sitting, posture
  noun (neuter)
  From √ās 'to sit'.
  Root: √ās (class 2)

Note: Indicates the place of appointment.

नियुक्तः (niyuktaḥ) - appointed (appointed, engaged, commissioned)

(participle)

Nominative, masculine, singular of niyukta

niyukta - appointed, engaged, commissioned, entrusted

Past Passive Participle

From ni-√yuj (to yoke, appoint).

Prefix: ni

Root: √yuj (class 7)

सन् (san) - being (being, existing)

(participle)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sat

sat - being, existing, good, real (present participle)

Present Active Participle

From √as (to be).

Root: √as (class 2)

Note: Used predicatively with 'niyuktaḥ', indicating the state of being appointed.

धर्ममूलम् (dharmamūlam) - the foundation of natural law (the root of dharma, the foundation of righteousness)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of dharmamūla

dharmamūla - the root of dharma, the foundation of righteousness/natural law

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+mūla)

• dharma – constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty, virtue, justice
  noun (masculine)
  Root: √dhṛ (class 1)
• mūla – root, origin, foundation, source
  noun (neuter)

Note: Predicate nominative, the implied verb being 'is' (asti), or object if 'destroys' is implied.

नरर्षभ (nararṣabha) - O best of men (O best of men, O chief among men)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of nararṣabha

nararṣabha - chief among men, best of men, foremost man

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (nara+ṛṣabha)

• nara – man, person
  noun (masculine)
• ṛṣabha – bull, chief, best, excellent
  noun (masculine)

Note: An address to the listener.