महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-27, verse-50

स्वायंभुवं यथा स्थानं सर्वेषां श्रेष्ठमुच्यते ।
स्नातानां सरितां श्रेष्ठा गङ्गा तद्वदिहोच्यते ॥५०॥

50. svāyaṁbhuvaṁ yathā sthānaṁ sarveṣāṁ śreṣṭhamucyate ,
snātānāṁ saritāṁ śreṣṭhā gaṅgā tadvadihocyate.

50. svāyaṃbhuvam yathā sthānam sarveṣām śreṣṭham ucyate
snātānām saritām śreṣṭhā gaṅgā tadvat iha ucyate

50. yathā svāyaṃbhuvam sthānam sarveṣām śreṣṭham ucyate
tadvat iha snātānām saritām gaṅgā śreṣṭhā ucyate

50. Just as the self-existent abode (svāyaṃbhuva sthāna) is declared the supreme among all places, similarly, in this world, the Gaṅgā is called the best among rivers for those who have bathed.

Words meanings summery:

• स्वायंभुवम् (svāyaṁbhuvam) - self-existent (referring to Brahmā's abode) (relating to Svayambhū (Brahmā), self-existent, primordial)

• यथा (yathā) - just as (just as, as, in what manner)

• स्थानम् (sthānam) - abode (place, abode, position, state)

• सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all (places/beings implied) (of all)

• श्रेष्ठम् (śreṣṭham) - supreme (best, most excellent, supreme)

• उच्यते (ucyate) - is declared (is said, is called, is declared)

• स्नातानाम् (snātānām) - of those who have bathed (in rivers) (of those who have bathed, of purified ones)

• सरिताम् (saritām) - of rivers (of rivers, of streams)

• श्रेष्ठा (śreṣṭhā) - best (best, most excellent, supreme)

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā) - the Gaṅgā (the river Ganga)

• तद्वत् (tadvat) - similarly (similarly, like that, in that manner)

• इह (iha) - in this world (here, in this world, at this time)

• उच्यते (ucyate) - is called (is said, is called, is declared)

Words meanings and morphology

स्वायंभुवम् (svāyaṁbhuvam) - self-existent (referring to Brahmā's abode) (relating to Svayambhū (Brahmā), self-existent, primordial)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of svāyaṃbhuva

svāyaṁbhuva - self-existent, born of oneself, relating to Svayambhū (Brahmā)

Derived from `svayambhū` (self-existent, a name for Brahmā).

यथा (yathā) - just as (just as, as, in what manner)

(indeclinable)

स्थानम् (sthānam) - abode (place, abode, position, state)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of sthāna

sthāna - place, stand, position, abode, state, site

Derived from root `sthā` (to stand).

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: In a passive construction, the object often takes nominative case.

सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all (places/beings implied) (of all)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sarva

sarva - all, every, whole, entire

Note: Refers to all places.

श्रेष्ठम् (śreṣṭham) - supreme (best, most excellent, supreme)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, chief, most excellent, supreme

Superlative of `praśasya` (praiseworthy).

उच्यते (ucyate) - is declared (is said, is called, is declared)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of vac

Present Tense

Passive voice, third person singular. Root `vac` takes `uc` in passive forms.

Root: vac (class 2)

स्नातानाम् (snātānām) - of those who have bathed (in rivers) (of those who have bathed, of purified ones)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of snāta

snāta - bathed, purified by bathing, learned

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root `snā` (to bathe) with suffix `kta` (P.P.P.).

Root: snā (class 2)

Note: Agrees with `saritām` implicitly referring to 'those who have bathed in rivers'.

सरिताम् (saritām) - of rivers (of rivers, of streams)

(noun)

Genitive, feminine, plural of sarit

sarit - river, stream

Derived from root `sṛ` (to flow, move).

Root: sṛ (class 1)

श्रेष्ठा (śreṣṭhā) - best (best, most excellent, supreme)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, chief, most excellent, supreme

Superlative of `praśasya` (praiseworthy).

गङ्गा (gaṅgā) - the Gaṅgā (the river Ganga)

(proper noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of gaṅgā

gaṅgā - the river Ganga (personified as a goddess)

तद्वत् (tadvat) - similarly (similarly, like that, in that manner)

(indeclinable)

Derived from `tad` (that) with `vat` suffix.

इह (iha) - in this world (here, in this world, at this time)

(indeclinable)

उच्यते (ucyate) - is called (is said, is called, is declared)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of vac

Present Tense

Passive voice, third person singular. Root `vac` takes `uc` in passive forms.

Root: vac (class 2)

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