महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-109, verse-2

ब्रह्मक्षत्रेण नियमाश्चर्तव्या इति नः श्रुतम् ।
उपवासे कथं तेषां कृत्यमस्ति पितामह ॥२॥

2. brahmakṣatreṇa niyamāścartavyā iti naḥ śrutam ,
upavāse kathaṁ teṣāṁ kṛtyamasti pitāmaha.

2. brahmakṣatreṇa niyamāḥ cartavyāḥ iti naḥ śrutam
upavāse katham teṣām kṛtyam asti pitāmaha

2. pitāmaha naḥ iti śrutam brahmakṣatreṇa niyamāḥ
cartavyāḥ upavāse teṣām kṛtyam katham asti

2. O grandfather, we have heard that Brahmins and Kṣatriyas must observe specific regulations. How then does the practice of fasting apply as a duty for them?

Words meanings summery:

• ब्रह्मक्षत्रेण (brahmakṣatreṇa) - by the Brahmin and Kṣatriya classes (by the Brahmin and Kṣatriya classes, by spiritual and temporal power)

• नियमाः (niyamāḥ) - observances, rules, restraints

• चर्तव्याः (cartavyāḥ) - to be performed, to be done, obligatory

• इति (iti) - thus, in this way, marking direct speech or thought

• नः (naḥ) - by us, to us

• श्रुतम् (śrutam) - heard (by us) (heard, learned, revealed)

• उपवासे (upavāse) - in fasting, in the context of a fast

• कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner

• तेषाम् (teṣām) - of the Brahmins and Kṣatriyas mentioned (of them, for them)

• कृत्यम् (kṛtyam) - duty, action, what is to be done

• अस्ति (asti) - is, exists

• पितामह (pitāmaha) - O Bhishma (the usual address in Mahabharata) (O grandfather)

Words meanings and morphology

ब्रह्मक्षत्रेण (brahmakṣatreṇa) - by the Brahmin and Kṣatriya classes (by the Brahmin and Kṣatriya classes, by spiritual and temporal power)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of brahmakṣatra

brahmakṣatra - the class of Brahmins and Kṣatriyas; sacerdotal and regal power combined

Compound type : dvandva (brahman+kṣatra)

• brahman – a Brahmin, a member of the priestly class; the sacred word; the ultimate reality (brahman)
  noun (masculine)
• kṣatra – the Kṣatriya class, temporal power, valor, dominion
  noun (neuter)

नियमाः (niyamāḥ) - observances, rules, restraints

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of niyama

niyama - an observance, a rule, a self-imposed restraint; a vow

चर्तव्याः (cartavyāḥ) - to be performed, to be done, obligatory

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of kartavya

kartavya - to be done, proper to be done, duty; obligatory

gerundive

Future Passive Participle formed from root kṛ (to do) with suffix -tavya.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

इति (iti) - thus, in this way, marking direct speech or thought

(indeclinable)

नः (naḥ) - by us, to us

(pronoun)

plural of asmad

asmad - I, we

Note: Implies 'by us' in context of 'śrutam' (heard by us).

श्रुतम् (śrutam) - heard (by us) (heard, learned, revealed)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śruta

śruta - heard, listened, known by tradition; revealed text, scripture

past passive participle

Formed from root śru (to hear) with suffix -ta.

Root: śru (class 5)

Note: Used impersonally, 'it has been heard'.

उपवासे (upavāse) - in fasting, in the context of a fast

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of upavāsa

upavāsa - fasting, a fast; religious observance involving abstinence from food

Prefix: upa

Root: vas (class 1)

कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner

(indeclinable)

तेषाम् (teṣām) - of the Brahmins and Kṣatriyas mentioned (of them, for them)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of tad

tad - that, he, she, it; those, them

कृत्यम् (kṛtyam) - duty, action, what is to be done

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kṛtya

kṛtya - to be done, proper to be done, duty, action, obligation

gerundive

Future Passive Participle formed from root kṛ (to do) with suffix -tya, used as a noun.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

अस्ति (asti) - is, exists

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present indicative (laṭ) of as

Root: as (class 2)

पितामह (pitāmaha) - O Bhishma (the usual address in Mahabharata) (O grandfather)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of pitāmaha

pitāmaha - paternal grandfather; a respectful address for an elder; often refers to Bhishma in epic contexts