महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-89, verse-17

प्रभुर्नियमने राजा य एतान्न नियच्छति ।
भुङ्क्ते स तस्य पापस्य चतुर्भागमिति श्रुतिः ।
तथा कृतस्य धर्मस्य चतुर्भागमुपाश्नुते ॥१७॥

17. prabhurniyamane rājā ya etānna niyacchati ,
bhuṅkte sa tasya pāpasya caturbhāgamiti śrutiḥ ,
tathā kṛtasya dharmasya caturbhāgamupāśnute.

17. prabhuḥ niyamane rājā yaḥ etān na
niyacchati bhuṅkte saḥ tasya pāpasya
caturthabhāgam iti śrutiḥ tathā kṛtasya
dharmasya caturthabhāgam upāśnute

17. yaḥ niyamane prabhuḥ rājā etān na
niyacchati saḥ tasya pāpasya caturthabhāgam
bhuṅkte iti śrutiḥ tathā kṛtasya
dharmasya caturthabhāgam upāśnute

17. A king, though capable of enforcing law (niyamane), who does not restrain these (wrongdoers), incurs a fourth part of their sin (pāpa) — thus is the sacred teaching (śruti). Similarly, he obtains a fourth part of the natural law (dharma) that has been followed.

Words meanings summery:

• प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - Qualifies 'rājā' as being capable. (lord, master, ruler, capable, powerful)

• नियमने (niyamane) - in controlling, in restraining, in regulating, in governing

• राजा (rājā) - king, ruler, sovereign

• यः (yaḥ) - Connects to 'rājā'. (who, which)

• एतान् (etān) - Refers to the 'upaghātakāḥ' (destroyers) mentioned in the first verse (89837). (these)

• न (na) - Negates 'niyacchati'. (not, no)

• नियच्छति (niyacchati) - he controls, he restrains, he governs, he curbs

• भुङ्क्ते (bhuṅkte) - Here, it means 'he suffers' or 'incurs'. (he eats, he enjoys, he experiences, he suffers)

• सः (saḥ) - Refers to the king. (he, that)

• तस्य (tasya) - Refers to the sin of the wrongdoers (etān). (of that, of him)

• पापस्य (pāpasya) - of sin, of evil, of wickedness

• चतुर्थभागम् (caturthabhāgam) - a fourth part, one-fourth share

• इति (iti) - Marks the end of a quotation or statement. (thus, in this manner, so)

• श्रुतिः (śrutiḥ) - Refers to the ancient Vedic scriptures or teachings. (sacred tradition, Vedic text, revealed knowledge, what is heard)

• तथा (tathā) - Introduces a parallel statement. (similarly, thus, so, in that manner)

• कृतस्य (kṛtasya) - Refers to righteous acts or duties. (of what is done, of what is performed, of a good deed)

• धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma, of righteousness, of duty, of natural law, of religious merit

• चतुर्थभागम् (caturthabhāgam) - a fourth part, one-fourth share

• उपाश्नुते (upāśnute) - he obtains, he enjoys, he gains, he partakes of

Words meanings and morphology

प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - Qualifies 'rājā' as being capable. (lord, master, ruler, capable, powerful)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of prabhu

prabhu - lord, master, ruler, sovereign, capable, powerful

From root bhū (to be) with prefix pra.

Prefix: pra

Root: bhū (class 1)

नियमने (niyamane) - in controlling, in restraining, in regulating, in governing

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of niyamana

niyamana - controlling, restraining, governing, regulating, discipline

From root yam (to control) with prefix ni and suffix -ana.

Prefix: ni

Root: yam (class 1)

Note: Refers to the sphere of action or capacity.

राजा (rājā) - king, ruler, sovereign

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler, sovereign, prince

From root rāj (to rule).

Root: rāj (class 1)

यः (yaḥ) - Connects to 'rājā'. (who, which)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what

एतान् (etān) - Refers to the 'upaghātakāḥ' (destroyers) mentioned in the first verse (89837). (these)

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of etad

etad - this, these

Note: Object of 'niyacchati'.

न (na) - Negates 'niyacchati'. (not, no)

(indeclinable)

नियच्छति (niyacchati) - he controls, he restrains, he governs, he curbs

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of ni-yam

Present Indicative

Parasmaipada, 3rd person singular.

Prefix: ni

Root: yam (class 1)

भुङ्क्ते (bhuṅkte) - Here, it means 'he suffers' or 'incurs'. (he eats, he enjoys, he experiences, he suffers)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of bhuj

Present Indicative

Ātmanepada, 3rd person singular.

Root: bhuj (class 7)

सः (saḥ) - Refers to the king. (he, that)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

तस्य (tasya) - Refers to the sin of the wrongdoers (etān). (of that, of him)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Qualifies 'pāpasya'.

पापस्य (pāpasya) - of sin, of evil, of wickedness

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, singular of pāpa

pāpa - sin, evil, wickedness, vice

चतुर्थभागम् (caturthabhāgam) - a fourth part, one-fourth share

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of caturthabhāga

caturthabhāga - a fourth part, one-fourth share

Tatpuruṣa compound.

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (caturtha+bhāga)

• caturtha – fourth
  numeral (masculine)
• bhāga – share, portion, part, division
  noun (masculine)
  From root bhaj (to divide, partake).
  Root: bhaj (class 1)

Note: Object of 'bhuṅkte'.

इति (iti) - Marks the end of a quotation or statement. (thus, in this manner, so)

(indeclinable)

श्रुतिः (śrutiḥ) - Refers to the ancient Vedic scriptures or teachings. (sacred tradition, Vedic text, revealed knowledge, what is heard)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of śruti

śruti - hearing, listening, sacred knowledge, revelation, Vedic text, oral tradition

From root śru (to hear) with suffix -ti.

Root: śru (class 5)

तथा (tathā) - Introduces a parallel statement. (similarly, thus, so, in that manner)

(indeclinable)

कृतस्य (kṛtasya) - Refers to righteous acts or duties. (of what is done, of what is performed, of a good deed)

(adjective)

Genitive, neuter, singular of kṛta

kṛta - done, made, performed, good deed, merit

Past Passive Participle

From root kṛ (to do, make).

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Qualifies 'dharmasya'.

धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma, of righteousness, of duty, of natural law, of religious merit

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - righteousness, duty, natural law, constitution, religion, virtue, proper conduct

From root dhṛ (to uphold, support) with suffix -ma.

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

चतुर्थभागम् (caturthabhāgam) - a fourth part, one-fourth share

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of caturthabhāga

caturthabhāga - a fourth part, one-fourth share

Compound noun.

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (caturtha+bhāga)

• caturtha – fourth
  numeral (masculine)
• bhāga – share, portion, part, division
  noun (masculine)
  From root bhaj (to divide, partake).
  Root: bhaj (class 1)

Note: Object of 'upāśnute'.

उपाश्नुते (upāśnute) - he obtains, he enjoys, he gains, he partakes of

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of upāś

Present Indicative

Ātmanepada, 3rd person singular. From root aś with prefix upa.

Prefix: upa

Root: aś (class 5)