महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-2, verse-4

भीष्म उवाच ।
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
यथा मृत्युर्गृहस्थेन धर्ममाश्रित्य निर्जितः ॥४॥

4. bhīṣma uvāca ,
atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam ,
yathā mṛtyurgṛhasthena dharmamāśritya nirjitaḥ.

4. bhīṣmaḥ uvāca atra api udāharanti imam itihāsam purātanam
yathā mṛtyuḥ gṛhasthena dharmam āśritya nirjitaḥ

4. Bhishma said: "Regarding this, they also relate this ancient legend (itihāsa) of how death was conquered by a householder who resorted to natural law (dharma)."

Words meanings summery:

• भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• अत्र (atra) - Regarding this (matter/question). (here, in this matter, on this point)

• अपि (api) - Also in addition to other things. (also, even, too)

• उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - They (referring to wise people or tradition) relate this. (they cite, they relate, they exemplify)

• इमम् (imam) - Refers to 'this' (itihāsa) that follows. (this, this one)

• इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - An ancient legend (itihāsa) or narrative. (historical account, legend, tradition)

• पुरातनम् (purātanam) - Ancient (itihāsa). (ancient, old, primeval)

• यथा (yathā) - Of how or in what way. (how, as, in which manner)

• मृत्युः (mṛtyuḥ) - The entity of 'death' that was conquered. (death, Yama (god of death))

• गृहस्थेन (gṛhasthena) - By an individual living a householder's life. (by a householder, by one abiding in a house)

• धर्मम् (dharmam) - The principle of natural law (dharma) as a means or support. (natural law, duty, righteousness, virtue)

• आश्रित्य (āśritya) - By taking refuge in or relying upon natural law (dharma). (having resorted to, depending on, taking refuge in)

• निर्जितः (nirjitaḥ) - Conquered or defeated (death). (conquered, overcome, vanquished)

Words meanings and morphology

भीष्मः (bhīṣmaḥ) - Bhishma

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīṣma

bhīṣma - Bhishma (name of a Kuru warrior, son of Shantanu)

Root: bhī (class 3)

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of vac

Perfect Active

From root vac, perfect 3rd person singular.

Root: vac (class 2)

अत्र (atra) - Regarding this (matter/question). (here, in this matter, on this point)

(indeclinable)

Locative of idam (this) suffix tra.

अपि (api) - Also in addition to other things. (also, even, too)

(indeclinable)

उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - They (referring to wise people or tradition) relate this. (they cite, they relate, they exemplify)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of hṛ

Present Active

From root hṛ with prefixes ud and ā. Present 3rd person plural.

Prefixes: ud+ā

Root: hṛ (class 1)

इमम् (imam) - Refers to 'this' (itihāsa) that follows. (this, this one)

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Agreement with itihāsam.

इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - An ancient legend (itihāsa) or narrative. (historical account, legend, tradition)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of itihāsa

itihāsa - history, legend, traditional narrative, epic

From iti ha āsa (thus indeed it was).

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Object of udāharanti.

पुरातनम् (purātanam) - Ancient (itihāsa). (ancient, old, primeval)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of purātana

purātana - ancient, old, primeval, former

From purā (formerly) with suffix tana.

Note: Agreement with itihāsam.

यथा (yathā) - Of how or in what way. (how, as, in which manner)

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces a subordinate clause explaining the content of the itihāsa.

मृत्युः (mṛtyuḥ) - The entity of 'death' that was conquered. (death, Yama (god of death))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mṛtyu

mṛtyu - death, mortality; Yama, the god of death

From root mṛ (to die).

Root: mṛ (class 1)

Note: Subject of the passive construction nirjitaḥ.

गृहस्थेन (gṛhasthena) - By an individual living a householder's life. (by a householder, by one abiding in a house)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of gṛhastha

gṛhastha - householder, one who lives in a house; the second stage of life (āśrama)

From gṛha (house) + stha (standing, abiding).

Compound type : tatpurusha (gṛha+stha)

• gṛha – house, home, dwelling
  noun (neuter)
  Root: gṛh
• stha – standing, staying, abiding
  adjective (masculine)
  From root sthā.
  Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Agent of the passive verb nirjitaḥ.

धर्मम् (dharmam) - The principle of natural law (dharma) as a means or support. (natural law, duty, righteousness, virtue)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, religious ordinance

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Object of the gerund āśritya.

आश्रित्य (āśritya) - By taking refuge in or relying upon natural law (dharma). (having resorted to, depending on, taking refuge in)

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (Gerund)

From root śri with prefix ā.

Prefix: ā

Root: śri (class 1)

निर्जितः (nirjitaḥ) - Conquered or defeated (death). (conquered, overcome, vanquished)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of nirjita

nirjita - conquered, overcome, defeated

Past Passive Participle

From root ji with prefix nir.

Prefix: nir

Root: ji (class 1)

Note: Agreement with mṛtyuḥ.