महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-138, verse-17

द्रष्टव्यं नैतदेवं हि कथं ज्यायस्तमो हि सः ।
स्मृतमाकाशमण्डं तु तस्माज्जातः पितामहः ॥१७॥

17. draṣṭavyaṁ naitadevaṁ hi kathaṁ jyāyastamo hi saḥ ,
smṛtamākāśamaṇḍaṁ tu tasmājjātaḥ pitāmahaḥ.

17. draṣṭavyam na etat evam hi katham jyāyastamaḥ hi
saḥ smṛtam ākāśamaṇḍam tu tasmāt jātaḥ pitāmahaḥ

17. etat evam na draṣṭavyam hi katham saḥ hi jyāyastamaḥ
tu ākāśamaṇḍam smṛtam tasmāt pitāmahaḥ jātaḥ

17. This should not be considered in that way; how indeed could he be the greatest then? Rather, the cosmic sphere of space (ākāśamaṇḍam) is remembered, and from that was born the grandfather (Brahmā).

Words meanings summery:

• द्रष्टव्यम् (draṣṭavyam) - should be considered (to be seen, to be observed, to be considered)

• न (na) - not (not, no)

• एतत् (etat) - this (matter, the previous statement) (this, that)

• एवम् (evam) - in that way (thus, in this manner, in such a way)

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

• कथम् (katham) - how (could it be) (how, in what manner, why)

• ज्यायस्तमः (jyāyastamaḥ) - the most supreme (greatest, most excellent, supreme)

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

• सः (saḥ) - he (Brahmā) (he, that)

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam) - is remembered (in tradition/scripture) (remembered, recollected, traditional)

• आकाशमण्डम् (ākāśamaṇḍam) - the cosmic sphere of space (referring to the primordial source) (sky-egg, cosmic sphere of space)

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

• तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from that (cosmic sphere) (from that, therefore)

• जातः (jātaḥ) - was born (born, produced)

• पितामहः (pitāmahaḥ) - the grandfather (Brahmā) (grandfather, great father (an epithet of Brahmā))

Words meanings and morphology

द्रष्टव्यम् (draṣṭavyam) - should be considered (to be seen, to be observed, to be considered)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of draṣṭavya

draṣṭavya - to be seen, visible, to be observed, to be considered

Gerundive (karmaṇi kṛtya)

From root 'dṛś' (to see) with suffix '-tavya'.

Root: dṛś (class 1)

Note: Predicative use, implies obligation or propriety.

न (na) - not (not, no)

(indeclinable)

Note: Negation particle.

एतत् (etat) - this (matter, the previous statement) (this, that)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etad

etad - this

Note: Refers to the idea that Brahmā is simply born from an egg.

एवम् (evam) - in that way (thus, in this manner, in such a way)

(indeclinable)

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

(indeclinable)

Note: Particle for emphasis or explanation.

कथम् (katham) - how (could it be) (how, in what manner, why)

(indeclinable)

Note: Interrogative particle.

ज्यायस्तमः (jyāyastamaḥ) - the most supreme (greatest, most excellent, supreme)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of jyāyastama

jyāyastama - greatest, most excellent, supreme (superlative of 'jya' or 'jyaś', older, superior)

Superlative form using suffix '-tama'. Related to 'jyeṣṭha' (eldest, most excellent).

Note: Refers to 'saḥ'.

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

(indeclinable)

Note: Particle for emphasis or explanation.

सः (saḥ) - he (Brahmā) (he, that)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Refers to Brahmā.

स्मृतम् (smṛtam) - is remembered (in tradition/scripture) (remembered, recollected, traditional)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of smṛta

smṛta - remembered, recollected, known from tradition

Past Passive Participle

From root 'smṛ' (to remember).

Root: smṛ (class 1)

Note: Predicative use, 'is remembered'.

आकाशमण्डम् (ākāśamaṇḍam) - the cosmic sphere of space (referring to the primordial source) (sky-egg, cosmic sphere of space)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of ākāśamaṇḍa

ākāśamaṇḍa - sky-egg, celestial sphere, cosmic sphere of space

Compound of 'ākāśa' (space, sky) and 'maṇḍa' (egg, sphere, circle).

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (ākāśa+maṇḍa)

• ākāśa – space, ether, sky
  noun (masculine)
• maṇḍa – egg, sphere, orb, circle, foam
  noun (neuter)

Note: Subject of 'smṛtam'.

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

(indeclinable)

Note: Particle.

तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from that (cosmic sphere) (from that, therefore)

(pronoun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Refers to 'ākāśamaṇḍam'.

जातः (jātaḥ) - was born (born, produced)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of jāta

jāta - born, produced, occurred

Past Passive Participle

From root 'jan' (to be born).

Root: jan (class 4)

Note: Predicative use, 'was born'.

पितामहः (pitāmahaḥ) - the grandfather (Brahmā) (grandfather, great father (an epithet of Brahmā))

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pitāmaha

pitāmaha - grandfather, great father, Brahmā

Note: Subject of 'jātaḥ'.