महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-98, verse-15

पृष्ठतो भीरवः संख्ये वर्तन्तेऽधमपूरुषाः ।
शूराच्छरणमिच्छन्तः पर्जन्यादिव जीवनम् ॥१५॥

15. pṛṣṭhato bhīravaḥ saṁkhye vartante'dhamapūruṣāḥ ,
śūrāccharaṇamicchantaḥ parjanyādiva jīvanam.

15. pṛṣṭhataḥ bhīravaḥ saṃkhye vartante adhamapūruṣāḥ
śūrāt śaraṇam icchantaḥ parjanyāt iva jīvanam

15. saṃkhye pṛṣṭhataḥ bhīravaḥ adhamapūruṣāḥ vartante,
śūrāt śaraṇam icchantaḥ,
parjanyāt iva jīvanam

15. In battle, contemptible individuals (puruṣa), who are cowards, remain at the rear, seeking protection from a hero, just as one seeks life from a rain-cloud.

Words meanings summery:

• पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ) - from behind, in the rear, at the back

• भीरवः (bhīravaḥ) - cowards, fearful ones

• संख्ये (saṁkhye) - in battle, in combat

• वर्तन्ते (vartante) - they are, they exist, they remain

• अधमपूरुषाः (adhamapūruṣāḥ) - low men, inferior persons, contemptible individuals

• शूरात् (śūrāt) - from a hero, from a brave person

• शरणम् (śaraṇam) - refuge, protection, shelter

• इच्छन्तः (icchantaḥ) - desiring, wishing

• पर्जन्यात् (parjanyāt) - from a rain-cloud, from the rain-god

• इव (iva) - like, as, just as

• जीवनम् (jīvanam) - life, sustenance, livelihood

Words meanings and morphology

पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ) - from behind, in the rear, at the back

(indeclinable)

Derived from 'pṛṣṭha' (back) with the suffix '-tas'.

भीरवः (bhīravaḥ) - cowards, fearful ones

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of bhīru

bhīru - fearful, timid, coward

Root: bhī (class 3)

संख्ये (saṁkhye) - in battle, in combat

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of saṃkhya

saṁkhya - battle, combat, war

Prefix: sam

Root: khyā (class 2)

वर्तन्ते (vartante) - they are, they exist, they remain

(verb)

3rd person , plural, middle, present indicative (laṭ) of vṛt

Root: vṛt (class 1)

अधमपूरुषाः (adhamapūruṣāḥ) - low men, inferior persons, contemptible individuals

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of adhamapūruṣa

adhamapūruṣa - low man, inferior person, contemptible individual

Compound type : karmadhāraya (adhama+puruṣa)

• adhama – lowest, mean, vile, inferior
  adjective (masculine)
  Superlative of 'adha' (below).
• puruṣa – person, man, male, cosmic person (puruṣa)
  noun (masculine)

शूरात् (śūrāt) - from a hero, from a brave person

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of śūra

śūra - hero, warrior, brave, powerful

शरणम् (śaraṇam) - refuge, protection, shelter

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of śaraṇa

śaraṇa - shelter, refuge, protection, safety

Root: śṛ (class 1)

इच्छन्तः (icchantaḥ) - desiring, wishing

(participle)

Nominative, masculine, plural of iṣ

iṣ - to wish, desire, seek

Root: iṣ (class 6)

Note: Present active participle of 'iṣ'.

पर्जन्यात् (parjanyāt) - from a rain-cloud, from the rain-god

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of parjanya

parjanya - rain-cloud, god of rain (Indra)

इव (iva) - like, as, just as

(indeclinable)

जीवनम् (jīvanam) - life, sustenance, livelihood

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of jīvana

jīvana - life, living, livelihood, means of living, water

From root 'jīv' (to live).

Root: jīv (class 1)