महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-150, verse-4

एतावन्मात्रमेतद्धि भूतानां प्राज्ञलक्षणम् ।
कालयुक्तोऽप्युभयविच्छेषमर्थं समाचरेत् ॥४॥

4. etāvanmātrametaddhi bhūtānāṁ prājñalakṣaṇam ,
kālayukto'pyubhayaviccheṣamarthaṁ samācaret.

4. etāvanmātram etat hi bhūtānām prājñalakṣaṇam
kālayuktaḥ api ubhayavit śeṣam artham samācaret

4. etat hi etāvanmātram bhūtānām prājñalakṣaṇam
kālayuktaḥ api ubhayavit śeṣam artham samācaret

4. This much alone is indeed the distinguishing mark of a wise person among all beings: one who understands both (the appropriate and the inappropriate), even when constrained by time, should duly perform the remaining duties.

Words meanings summery:

• एतावन्मात्रम् (etāvanmātram) - this much alone (only this much)

• एतत् (etat) - this

• हि (hi) - indeed

• भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - among all beings (of beings)

• प्राज्ञलक्षणम् (prājñalakṣaṇam) - distinguishing mark of a wise person (characteristic of a wise person)

• कालयुक्तः (kālayuktaḥ) - constrained by time (joined with time)

• अपि (api) - even

• उभयवित् (ubhayavit) - one who understands both (the appropriate and the inappropriate) (knower of both)

• शेषम् (śeṣam) - the remaining duties (remaining)

• अर्थम् (artham) - duties (purpose)

• समाचरेत् (samācaret) - should duly perform (should perform)

Words meanings and morphology

एतावन्मात्रम् (etāvanmātram) - this much alone (only this much)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etāvanmātra

etāvanmātra - only this much

Compound type : tatpurusha (etāvat+mātra)

• etāvat – so much
  adjective (neuter)
• mātra – measure
  noun (neuter)

Note: Refers to lakṣaṇam

एतत् (etat) - this

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etad

etad - this

हि (hi) - indeed

(indeclinable)

भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - among all beings (of beings)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of bhūta

bhūta - being

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root bhū (to be, to exist)

Root: bhū (class 1)

प्राज्ञलक्षणम् (prājñalakṣaṇam) - distinguishing mark of a wise person (characteristic of a wise person)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of prājñalakṣaṇa

prājñalakṣaṇa - sign of a wise person

Compound type : tatpurusha (prājña+lakṣaṇa)

• prājña – wise
  noun (masculine)
• lakṣaṇa – mark
  noun (neuter)

कालयुक्तः (kālayuktaḥ) - constrained by time (joined with time)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kālayukta

kālayukta - connected with time

Compound type : tatpurusha (kāla+yukta)

• kāla – time
  noun (masculine)
• yukta – joined
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root yuj (to join, connect)
  Root: yuj (class 7)

Note: Refers to the implied agent of samācaret

अपि (api) - even

(indeclinable)

उभयवित् (ubhayavit) - one who understands both (the appropriate and the inappropriate) (knower of both)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ubhayavid

ubhayavid - knower of both

Derived from ubhaya (both) + vid (knowing)

Compound type : tatpurusha (ubhaya+vid)

• ubhaya – both
  pronoun (masculine)
• vid – knowing
  adjective (masculine)
  Derived from root vid (to know)
  Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Refers to the implied agent of samācaret

शेषम् (śeṣam) - the remaining duties (remaining)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of śeṣa

śeṣa - remainder

Root: śiṣ (class 7)

अर्थम् (artham) - duties (purpose)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of artha

artha - purpose

समाचरेत् (samācaret) - should duly perform (should perform)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of samācar

Prefixes: sam+ā

Root: car (class 1)