महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-137, verse-16

क्षत्रियेष्वाश्रितो धर्मः प्रजानां परिपालनम् ।
क्षत्राद्वृत्तिर्ब्राह्मणानां तैः कथं ब्राह्मणो वरः ॥१६॥

16. kṣatriyeṣvāśrito dharmaḥ prajānāṁ paripālanam ,
kṣatrādvṛttirbrāhmaṇānāṁ taiḥ kathaṁ brāhmaṇo varaḥ.

16. kṣatriyeṣu āśritaḥ dharmaḥ prajānām paripālanam
kṣatrāt vṛttiḥ brāhmaṇānām taiḥ katham brāhmaṇaḥ varaḥ

16. The natural law (dharma) for Kṣatriyas is the protection of subjects. The livelihood of Brahmins depends on the Kṣatriya power. How then can a Brahmin be superior to them (Kṣatriyas)?

Words meanings summery:

• क्षत्रियेषु (kṣatriyeṣu) - among Kṣatriyas, in Kṣatriyas

• आश्रितः (āśritaḥ) - resting in, dependent on, inherent in, resorted to

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the intrinsic duty or natural law (natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness, constitution)

• प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the subjects, of the people, of the creatures

• परिपालनम् (paripālanam) - protection, governing, maintenance

• क्षत्रात् (kṣatrāt) - from Kṣatriya power, from the Kṣatriya class

• वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - livelihood, profession, existence, conduct

• ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of Brahmins

• तैः (taiḥ) - Refers back to the Kṣatriyas, implicitly mentioned in 'kṣatriyeṣu'. (by them (referring to Kṣatriyas))

• कथम् (katham) - how, in what way

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

• वरः (varaḥ) - superior, excellent, best

Words meanings and morphology

क्षत्रियेषु (kṣatriyeṣu) - among Kṣatriyas, in Kṣatriyas

(noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of kṣatriya

kṣatriya - a member of the warrior or ruling class

आश्रितः (āśritaḥ) - resting in, dependent on, inherent in, resorted to

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of āśrita

āśrita - dependent on, resorted to, inherent in, resting on

Past Passive Participle

Past passive participle of ā + śri (to lean on, to take refuge).

Prefix: ā

Root: śri (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'dharmaḥ'.

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the intrinsic duty or natural law (natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness, constitution)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness, virtue, constitution

Derived from root dhṛ (to uphold, sustain).

Root: dhṛ (class 3)

प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the subjects, of the people, of the creatures

(noun)

Genitive, feminine, plural of prajā

prajā - offspring, subjects, people, creatures

Derived from pra + jan (to be born).

Prefix: pra

Root: jan (class 4)

परिपालनम् (paripālanam) - protection, governing, maintenance

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of paripālana

paripālana - protection, governing, fostering, maintenance

Derived from pari + pāl (to protect).

Prefix: pari

Root: pāl (class 10)

Note: Functions as the predicate nominative, defining 'dharmaḥ'.

क्षत्रात् (kṣatrāt) - from Kṣatriya power, from the Kṣatriya class

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of kṣatra

kṣatra - rule, dominion, temporal power, the warrior class (Kṣatriya)

Note: Indicates the source of livelihood.

वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - livelihood, profession, existence, conduct

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of vṛtti

vṛtti - livelihood, profession, mode of life, existence, conduct

Derived from root vṛt (to exist, to turn).

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Subject of the implied verb 'is'.

ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of Brahmins

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - Brahmin

Note: Possessive, 'livelihood of Brahmins'.

तैः (taiḥ) - Refers back to the Kṣatriyas, implicitly mentioned in 'kṣatriyeṣu'. (by them (referring to Kṣatriyas))

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of tad

tad - that, those

Demonstrative pronoun.

कथम् (katham) - how, in what way

(indeclinable)

Note: Interrogative particle.

ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - Brahmin

Note: Subject of the question.

वरः (varaḥ) - superior, excellent, best

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - best, excellent, superior, choice, boon

Note: Predicate adjective, 'superior'.