महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-117, verse-25

प्राणदानात्परं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति ।
न ह्यात्मनः प्रियतरः कश्चिदस्तीति निश्चितम् ॥२५॥

25. prāṇadānātparaṁ dānaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati ,
na hyātmanaḥ priyataraḥ kaścidastīti niścitam.

25. prāṇadānāt param dānam na bhūtam na bhaviṣyati na
hi ātmanaḥ priyataraḥ kaścit asti iti niścitam

25. prāṇadānāt param dānam na bhūtam na bhaviṣyati;
hi ātmanaḥ priyataraḥ kaścit na asti iti niścitam

25. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a greater gift (dāna) than the giving of life. For it is certain that nothing is dearer than one's own self (ātman).

Words meanings summery:

• प्राणदानात् (prāṇadānāt) - than the giving of life, from giving life, than saving a life

• परम् (param) - superior, higher, greater, supreme

• दानम् (dānam) - gift, donation, act of giving (dāna)

• न (na) - not, no, nor

• भूतम् (bhūtam) - was, existed, past

• न (na) - not, no, nor

• भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be, will happen

• न (na) - not, no, nor

• हि (hi) - indeed, for, surely, because

• आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the self, of one's own (ātman)

• प्रियतरः (priyataraḥ) - dearer, more beloved

• कश्चित् (kaścit) - someone, anyone, anything

• अस्ति (asti) - is, exists

• इति (iti) - thus, in this manner, 'that' (introduces quoted speech or conclusion)

• निश्चितम् (niścitam) - certain, ascertained, resolved, determined

Words meanings and morphology

प्राणदानात् (prāṇadānāt) - than the giving of life, from giving life, than saving a life

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of prāṇadāna

prāṇadāna - giving of life, saving life

Compound of prāṇa (life-breath) and dāna (giving)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (prāṇa+dāna)

• prāṇa – life-breath, vital air, life, spirit
  noun (masculine)
• dāna – giving, gift, donation
  noun (neuter)
  Root: dā (class 3)

Note: Used for comparison, meaning 'than the giving of life'.

परम् (param) - superior, higher, greater, supreme

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of para

para - other, another, supreme, highest, excellent, superior

Note: Predicate adjective for 'dānam'.

दानम् (dānam) - gift, donation, act of giving (dāna)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of dāna

dāna - giving, gift, donation (dāna)

Derived from root dā (to give)

Root: dā (class 3)

Note: Subject of the verb 'asti' (implied) in the first clause.

न (na) - not, no, nor

(indeclinable)

भूतम् (bhūtam) - was, existed, past

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of bhūta

bhūta - existed, was, being, creature, element, past

Past Passive Participle

From root bhū (to be, exist)

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Used as a copula in the past tense, meaning 'there was'.

न (na) - not, no, nor

(indeclinable)

भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be, will happen

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, future (lṛṭ) of bhū

Future Active Indicative

3rd person singular

Root: bhū (class 1)

न (na) - not, no, nor

(indeclinable)

हि (hi) - indeed, for, surely, because

(indeclinable)

Note: Expresses emphasis or introduces a reason.

आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the self, of one's own (ātman)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - self, soul, spirit, individual self (ātman)

Note: Possessive, linked with 'priyataraḥ'.

प्रियतरः (priyataraḥ) - dearer, more beloved

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of priyatara

priyatara - dearer, more beloved, more agreeable

Comparative Adjective

Comparative form of priya (dear) with suffix -tara

Note: Predicate adjective for 'kaścit'.

कश्चित् (kaścit) - someone, anyone, anything

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kaścid

kaścid - someone, anyone, anything (indefinite pronoun)

Note: Subject of the verb 'asti'.

अस्ति (asti) - is, exists

(verb)

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

Present Active Indicative

3rd person singular

Root: as (class 2)

इति (iti) - thus, in this manner, 'that' (introduces quoted speech or conclusion)

(indeclinable)

Note: Indicates the conclusion of the statement 'nothing is dearer than one's own self'.

निश्चितम् (niścitam) - certain, ascertained, resolved, determined

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of niścita

niścita - certain, ascertained, resolved, determined

Past Passive Participle

From root ci (to gather) with prefix niś

Prefix: nis

Root: ci (class 5)

Note: Predicate adjective, often implying 'it is certain'.