महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-150, verse-7

स्प्रष्टुमप्यसमर्थो हि ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् ।
अधर्मः सततो धर्मं कालेन परिरक्षितम् ॥७॥

7. spraṣṭumapyasamartho hi jvalantamiva pāvakam ,
adharmaḥ satato dharmaṁ kālena parirakṣitam.

7. spraṣṭum api asamarthaḥ hi jvalantam iva pāvakam
adharmaḥ satataḥ dharmam kālena parirakṣitam

7. adharmaḥ hi satataḥ api jvalantam pāvakam iva
kālena parirakṣitam dharmam spraṣṭum asamarthaḥ

7. Indeed, unrighteousness (adharma), even if constant, is incapable of touching the natural law (dharma), which is well-protected by time, just as one cannot touch a blazing fire.

Words meanings summery:

• स्प्रष्टुम् (spraṣṭum) - to touch

• अपि (api) - even

• असमर्थः (asamarthaḥ) - incapable

• हि (hi) - indeed

• ज्वलन्तम् (jvalantam) - blazing

• इव (iva) - just as (like)

• पावकम् (pāvakam) - a blazing fire (fire)

• अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness (adharma) (unrighteousness)

• सततः (satataḥ) - even if constant (constant)

• धर्मम् (dharmam) - the natural law (dharma) (natural law)

• कालेन (kālena) - by time

• परिरक्षितम् (parirakṣitam) - which is well-protected (well-guarded)

Words meanings and morphology

स्प्रष्टुम् (spraṣṭum) - to touch

(verb)

Infinitive

Infinitive form of root spṛś

Root: spṛś (class 6)

अपि (api) - even

(indeclinable)

असमर्थः (asamarthaḥ) - incapable

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of asamartha

asamartha - incapable

Compound type : tatpurusha (a+samartha)

• a – not
  indeclinable
• samartha – capable
  adjective (masculine)
  Derived from root arth with upasarga sam
  Prefix: sam
  Root: arth (class 10)

Note: Qualifies 'adharmaḥ'.

हि (hi) - indeed

(indeclinable)

ज्वलन्तम् (jvalantam) - blazing

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of jvalant

jvalant - blazing

Present Active Participle

Derived from root jval (to blaze, burn)

Root: jval (class 1)

इव (iva) - just as (like)

(indeclinable)

Note: Used for comparison.

पावकम् (pāvakam) - a blazing fire (fire)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of pāvaka

pāvaka - fire

Derived from root pū (to purify)

Root: pū (class 1)

अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness (adharma) (unrighteousness)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of adharma

adharma - unrighteousness

Compound of 'a' (negation) and 'dharma'

Compound type : tatpurusha (a+dharma)

• a – not
  indeclinable
• dharma – natural law
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Subject of the implied verb (is unable to touch).

सततः (satataḥ) - even if constant (constant)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of satata

satata - constant

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root tat (to extend, spread) with upasarga sa

Prefix: sa

Root: tat (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'adharmaḥ'.

धर्मम् (dharmam) - the natural law (dharma) (natural law)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Object of spraṣṭum

कालेन (kālena) - by time

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of kāla

kāla - time

Note: Agent of parirakṣitam

परिरक्षितम् (parirakṣitam) - which is well-protected (well-guarded)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of parirakṣita

parirakṣita - well-guarded

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root rakṣ (to protect) with upasarga pari

Prefix: pari

Root: rakṣ (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'dharmam'.