महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-107, verse-72

उदक्शिरा न स्वपेत तथा प्रत्यक्शिरा न च ।
प्राक्शिरास्तु स्वपेद्विद्वानथ वा दक्षिणाशिराः ॥७२॥

72. udakśirā na svapeta tathā pratyakśirā na ca ,
prākśirāstu svapedvidvānatha vā dakṣiṇāśirāḥ.

72. udakśirāḥ na svapeta tathā pratyakśirāḥ na ca |
prākśirāḥ tu svapet vidvān atha vā dakṣiṇāśirāḥ

72. udakśirāḥ na svapeta tathā ca pratyakśirāḥ na (svapeta)
tu vidvān prākśirāḥ (svapet) atha vā dakṣiṇāśirāḥ svapet

72. One should not sleep with their head facing north, nor similarly with their head facing west. However, a learned person should sleep with their head facing east, or alternatively, facing south.

Words meanings summery:

• उदक्शिराः (udakśirāḥ) - with head to the north

• न (na) - not, no

• स्वपेत (svapeta) - one should sleep

• तथा (tathā) - similarly (not to sleep) (thus, so, similarly, likewise)

• प्रत्यक्शिराः (pratyakśirāḥ) - with head to the west

• न (na) - not, no

• च (ca) - and

• प्राक्शिराः (prākśirāḥ) - with head to the east

• तु (tu) - but, however, on the other hand

• स्वपेत् (svapet) - one should sleep

• विद्वान् (vidvān) - a learned person (a learned person, wise, knowing)

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

• वा (vā) - or, either...or

• दक्षिणाशिराः (dakṣiṇāśirāḥ) - with head to the south

Words meanings and morphology

उदक्शिराः (udakśirāḥ) - with head to the north

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of udakśiras

udakśiras - having the head turned to the north

Bahuvrihi compound: udac (north) + śiras (head)

Compound type : bahuvrihi (udac+śiras)

• udac – north, upwards
  indeclinable
• śiras – head
  noun (neuter)

Note: Refers to the implied subject (one)

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates the verb 'svapeta'

स्वपेत (svapeta) - one should sleep

(verb)

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

Root: √svap (class 2)

Note: Ātmanepada form of optative

तथा (tathā) - similarly (not to sleep) (thus, so, similarly, likewise)

(indeclinable)

प्रत्यक्शिराः (pratyakśirāḥ) - with head to the west

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pratyakśiras

pratyakśiras - having the head turned to the west

Bahuvrihi compound: pratyac (west) + śiras (head)

Compound type : bahuvrihi (pratyac+śiras)

• pratyac – west, backwards, adverse
  indeclinable
  From prati (against, towards) + añc (to bend, turn)
  Prefix: prati
• śiras – head
  noun (neuter)

Note: Refers to the implied subject (one)

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates the implied verb 'svapeta'

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects clauses or phrases

प्राक्शिराः (prākśirāḥ) - with head to the east

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of prākśiras

prākśiras - having the head turned to the east

Bahuvrihi compound: prāñc (east) + śiras (head)

Compound type : bahuvrihi (prāñc+śiras)

• prāñc – east, front, preceding
  indeclinable
  From pra (forward) + añc (to bend, turn)
  Prefix: pra
• śiras – head
  noun (neuter)

Note: Refers to the subject 'vidvān'

तु (tu) - but, however, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

स्वपेत् (svapet) - one should sleep

(verb)

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

Root: √svap (class 2)

Note: Parasmaipada form of optative

विद्वान् (vidvān) - a learned person (a learned person, wise, knowing)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vidvat

vidvat - knowing, learned, wise

Present Active Participle

From √vid (to know, perceive)

Root: √vid (class 2)

Note: Subject of the verb 'svapet'

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

(indeclinable)

वा (vā) - or, either...or

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects alternatives

दक्षिणाशिराः (dakṣiṇāśirāḥ) - with head to the south

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dakṣiṇāśiras

dakṣiṇāśiras - having the head turned to the south

Bahuvrihi compound: dakṣiṇa (south) + śiras (head)

Compound type : bahuvrihi (dakṣiṇa+śiras)

• dakṣiṇa – south, right, southern, dexterous
  adjective
• śiras – head
  noun (neuter)

Note: Refers to the subject 'vidvān'