महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-1, verse-15

प्लवन्ते धर्मलघवो लोकेऽम्भसि यथा प्लवाः ।
मज्जन्ति पापगुरवः शस्त्रं स्कन्नमिवोदके ॥१५॥

15. plavante dharmalaghavo loke'mbhasi yathā plavāḥ ,
majjanti pāpaguravaḥ śastraṁ skannamivodake.

15. plavante dharmalaghavo loke ambhasi yathā plavāḥ
majjanti pāpaguravaḥ śastram skannam iva udake

15. dharmalaghavo loke yathā plavāḥ ambhasi plavante
pāpaguravaḥ skannam śastram udake iva majjanti

15. Those who are light regarding their intrinsic nature (dharma) float in the world, just as rafts float on water. Those who are heavy with sin (pāpa) sink, like a weapon dropped into water.

Words meanings summery:

• प्लवन्ते (plavante) - they float

• धर्मलघवो (dharmalaghavo) - light regarding their intrinsic nature (dharma) (light in dharma, having little dharma)

• लोके (loke) - in the world

• अम्भसि (ambhasi) - in water

• यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, in what manner)

• प्लवाः (plavāḥ) - rafts (boats, rafts)

• मज्जन्ति (majjanti) - they sink, they drown

• पापगुरवः (pāpaguravaḥ) - heavy with sin (pāpa) (heavy with sin, weighty with evil)

• शस्त्रम् (śastram) - a weapon (weapon, knife, sword)

• स्कन्नम् (skannam) - dropped (fallen, dropped, slipped)

• इव (iva) - like (like, as, as if)

• उदके (udake) - in water

Words meanings and morphology

प्लवन्ते (plavante) - they float

(verb)

3rd person , plural, middle, present (laṭ) of plu

Present Middle

root plu, 3rd person plural present middle

Root: plu (class 1)

Note: Also called Atmanepada.

धर्मलघवो (dharmalaghavo) - light regarding their intrinsic nature (dharma) (light in dharma, having little dharma)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dharmalaghū

dharmalaghū - light in virtue, having little piety or religion

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+laghu)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, intrinsic nature
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• laghu – light, small, trifling, insignificant
  adjective

Note: The form `dharmalaghavo` implies `dharmalaghavaḥ` before sandhi.

लोके (loke) - in the world

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of loka

loka - world, universe, people

Root: lok (class 1)

अम्भसि (ambhasi) - in water

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of ambhas

ambhas - water, fluid

यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as, in what manner)

(indeclinable)

प्लवाः (plavāḥ) - rafts (boats, rafts)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of plava

plava - boat, raft, swimming, floating

from root plu (to float)

Root: plu (class 1)

मज्जन्ति (majjanti) - they sink, they drown

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of majj

Present Active

root majj, 3rd person plural present active

Root: majj (class 6)

पापगुरवः (pāpaguravaḥ) - heavy with sin (pāpa) (heavy with sin, weighty with evil)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of pāpaguru

pāpaguru - heavy with sin, laden with evil

compound of pāpa (sin) and guru (heavy)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (pāpa+guru)

• pāpa – sin, evil, wicked
  noun (neuter)
• guru – heavy, weighty, important
  adjective

शस्त्रम् (śastram) - a weapon (weapon, knife, sword)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śastra

śastra - weapon, instrument, knife

from root śas (to cut)

Root: śas (class 2)

Note: Used as a nominative, implied subject of comparison.

स्कन्नम् (skannam) - dropped (fallen, dropped, slipped)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of skanna

skanna - dropped, fallen, slipped

Past Passive Participle

past passive participle of root skand (to fall, drop)

Root: skand (class 1)

इव (iva) - like (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

उदके (udake) - in water

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of udaka

udaka - water

Root: und (class 7)