महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-125, verse-4

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
गृहीत्वा रक्षसा मुक्तो द्विजातिः कानने यथा ॥४॥

4. atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam ,
gṛhītvā rakṣasā mukto dvijātiḥ kānane yathā.

4. atra api udāharanti imam itihāsam purātanam
gṛhītvā rakṣasā muktaḥ dvijātiḥ kānane yathā

4. Regarding this, they narrate an ancient story (itihāsa) about how a twice-born (dvijāti), after being captured by a demon (rakṣas), was released in the forest.

Words meanings summery:

• अत्र (atra) - here, in this matter

• अपि (api) - also, even

• उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite, they illustrate, they narrate

• इमम् (imam) - Refers to the story/narrative. (this, this one)

• इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - An ancient story or account. (narrative, history, legend)

• पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient, old

• गृहीत्वा (gṛhītvā) - having seized, having captured

• रक्षसा (rakṣasā) - by a demon, by a monster

• मुक्तः (muktaḥ) - released, freed, liberated

• द्विजातिः (dvijātiḥ) - Specifically refers to a Brahmin, which is common in such narratives. (twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya))

• कानने (kānane) - in the forest, in the grove

• यथा (yathā) - as, how, just as

Words meanings and morphology

अत्र (atra) - here, in this matter

(indeclinable)

अपि (api) - also, even

(indeclinable)

उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite, they illustrate, they narrate

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (lat) of udāhṛ

Present Active, 3rd Person Plural

From ut + ā + hṛ (to carry)

Prefixes: ut+ā

Root: hṛ (class 1)

Note: The implied subject is 'people' or 'learned ones'.

इमम् (imam) - Refers to the story/narrative. (this, this one)

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

Note: Also works for neuter accusative singular. Here, referring to `itihāsam` (masculine).

इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - An ancient story or account. (narrative, history, legend)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of itihāsa

itihāsa - history, tradition, narrative, legend, epic

Literally 'thus it was'

पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient, old

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of purātana

purātana - ancient, old, former

From purā (formerly) + tana suffix

Note: Agrees with `itihāsam`.

गृहीत्वा (gṛhītvā) - having seized, having captured

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (Gerund)

Absolutive form from root grah (to seize)

Root: grah (class 9)

Note: Gerund, so indeclinable.

रक्षसा (rakṣasā) - by a demon, by a monster

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of rakṣas

rakṣas - demon, monster, evil being

मुक्तः (muktaḥ) - released, freed, liberated

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mukta

mukta - released, freed, liberated, dischared; (ppp. of muc) released

Past Passive Participle

From root muc (to release), ppp.

Root: muc (class 6)

Note: Agrees with `dvijātiḥ`.

द्विजातिः (dvijātiḥ) - Specifically refers to a Brahmin, which is common in such narratives. (twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dvijāti

dvijāti - twice-born; a member of the three upper varṇas (Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya); a bird, a tooth

Compound: dvi (two) + jāti (birth)

Compound type : bahuvrihi (dvi+jāti)

• dvi – two
  numeral
• jāti – birth, origin, species, class
  noun (feminine)

कानने (kānane) - in the forest, in the grove

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of kānana

kānana - forest, grove, wood

यथा (yathā) - as, how, just as

(indeclinable)

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