महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-10, verse-69

वक्तव्यमिह पृष्टेन विनिश्चित्य विपर्ययम् ।
स चोपदेशः कर्तव्यो येन धर्ममवाप्नुयात् ॥६९॥

69. vaktavyamiha pṛṣṭena viniścitya viparyayam ,
sa copadeśaḥ kartavyo yena dharmamavāpnuyāt.

69. vaktavyam iha pṛṣṭena viniścitya viparyayam saḥ
ca upadeśaḥ kartavyaḥ yena dharmam avāpnuyāt

69. pṛṣṭena iha viparyayam viniścitya vaktavyam ca
saḥ upadeśaḥ kartavyaḥ yena dharmam avāpnuyāt

69. When questioned, one should first clearly ascertain the error or misunderstanding. Then, such counsel should be given by which one may achieve their natural law (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

• वक्तव्यम् (vaktavyam) - that which should be spoken, that which should be told, advice

• इह (iha) - here, in this world, in this matter

• पृष्टेन (pṛṣṭena) - by the one asked, by the questioned

• विनिश्चित्य (viniścitya) - having ascertained, having determined, having clearly understood

• विपर्ययम् (viparyayam) - the opposite, contradiction, error, mistake

• सः (saḥ) - he, that, such

• च (ca) - and, also

• उपदेशः (upadeśaḥ) - instruction, advice, teaching

• कर्तव्यः (kartavyaḥ) - should be done, should be performed, should be given

• येन (yena) - by which, whereby, by whom

• धर्मम् (dharmam) - natural law, duty, righteousness, constitution

• अवाप्नुयात् (avāpnuyāt) - one may attain, one should obtain, one might reach

Words meanings and morphology

वक्तव्यम् (vaktavyam) - that which should be spoken, that which should be told, advice

(adjective)

neuter, singular of vaktavya

vaktavya - that which should be spoken, that which should be said, fit to be spoken

Gerundive

From root √vac (to speak) + tavya (suffix for gerundive)

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Can function as a substantive, meaning 'speech' or 'that which is to be spoken'.

इह (iha) - here, in this world, in this matter

(indeclinable)

पृष्टेन (pṛṣṭena) - by the one asked, by the questioned

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of pṛṣṭa

pṛṣṭa - asked, questioned, interrogated

Past Passive Participle

From root √prach (to ask)

Root: prach (class 6)

Note: Used as a substantive here, meaning 'by the one who was asked'.

विनिश्चित्य (viniścitya) - having ascertained, having determined, having clearly understood

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (Gerund)

From prefixes vi- and ni- with root √ci (to observe, to perceive) + lyap suffix.

Prefixes: vi+ni

Root: ci (class 5)

विपर्ययम् (viparyayam) - the opposite, contradiction, error, mistake

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of viparyaya

viparyaya - reversal, inversion, contradiction, error, mistake

From vi-pari-√i (to go around, to invert)

Prefixes: vi+pari

Root: i (class 2)

सः (saḥ) - he, that, such

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Sandhi form of 'tad'.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

उपदेशः (upadeśaḥ) - instruction, advice, teaching

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of upadeśa

upadeśa - instruction, advice, teaching, initiation

From prefix upa- with root √diś (to point out, to instruct)

Prefix: upa

Root: diś (class 6)

कर्तव्यः (kartavyaḥ) - should be done, should be performed, should be given

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kartavya

kartavya - that which should be done, ought to be done, fit to be done

Gerundive

From root √kṛ (to do, to make) + tavya (suffix for gerundive)

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Agrees with upadeśaḥ.

येन (yena) - by which, whereby, by whom

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of yad

yad - which, what, who

Note: Used to introduce a subordinate clause, often translated as 'by which' or 'whereby'.

धर्मम् (dharmam) - natural law, duty, righteousness, constitution

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, righteousness, duty, virtue, constitution, essential quality

From root √dhṛ (to hold, to support)

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

अवाप्नुयात् (avāpnuyāt) - one may attain, one should obtain, one might reach

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of avāp

From prefix ava- with root √āp (to obtain, to reach)

Prefix: ava

Root: āp (class 5)

Note: Expresses potential, desire, or command.