महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-44, verse-3

शीलवृत्ते समाज्ञाय विद्यां योनिं च कर्म च ।
अद्भिरेव प्रदातव्या कन्या गुणवते वरे ।
ब्राह्मणानां सतामेष धर्मो नित्यं युधिष्ठिर ॥३॥

3. śīlavṛtte samājñāya vidyāṁ yoniṁ ca karma ca ,
adbhireva pradātavyā kanyā guṇavate vare ,
brāhmaṇānāṁ satāmeṣa dharmo nityaṁ yudhiṣṭhira.

3. śīlavṛtte samājñāya vidyām yonim ca
karma ca | adbhiḥ eva pradātavyā
kanyā guṇavate vare | brāhmaṇānām
satām eṣaḥ dharmaḥ nityam yudhiṣṭhira

3. he yudhiṣṭhira,
śīlavṛtte vidyām yonim ca karma ca samājñāya,
guṇavate vare adbhiḥ eva kanyā pradātavyā eṣaḥ satām brāhmaṇānām nityam dharmaḥ (asti)

3. Having thoroughly ascertained the character and conduct, as well as the knowledge, lineage, and occupation (of the prospective groom), a daughter should be given, along with water (as a ritual offering), only to a groom who possesses good qualities. This, O Yudhishthira, is the eternal (dharma) for virtuous brahmins.

Words meanings summery:

• शीलवृत्ते (śīlavṛtte) - the moral character and behavior (of the groom) (character and conduct, moral behavior)

• समाज्ञाय (samājñāya) - having thoroughly investigated and understood (having fully known, having thoroughly ascertained)

• विद्याम् (vidyām) - (his) education or learning (knowledge, learning)

• योनिम् (yonim) - (his) lineage or family origin (source, origin, womb, lineage)

• च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

• कर्म (karma) - (his) occupation, profession, or general conduct (action, deed, work, ritual action)

• च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

• अद्भिः (adbhiḥ) - with water (referring to the ritual pouring of water during the marriage ceremony) (by waters, with waters)

• एव (eva) - indeed, only (only, just, indeed, precisely)

• प्रदातव्या (pradātavyā) - must be given (to be given, should be given)

• कन्या (kanyā) - a daughter (for marriage) (daughter, girl, maiden)

• गुणवते (guṇavate) - to a groom endowed with good qualities (to one possessing qualities, to a virtuous person)

• वरे (vare) - to the groom (to the groom, to the chosen one, to the best)

• ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of brahmins (the priestly class) (of brahmins)

• सताम् (satām) - of the virtuous and noble (brahmins) (of the good, of the virtuous, of the noble)

• एषः (eṣaḥ) - this (rule/dharma) (this, this one)

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - this duty, this principle (regarding marriage) (duty, righteousness, law, virtue)

• नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly (eternally, always, constantly)

• युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhishthira

Words meanings and morphology

शीलवृत्ते (śīlavṛtte) - the moral character and behavior (of the groom) (character and conduct, moral behavior)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, dual of śīlavṛtta

śīlavṛtta - character and conduct, good behavior, moral disposition

Compound type : dvandva (śīla+vṛtta)

• śīla – character, disposition, nature, habit
  noun (neuter)
  Root: śīl (class 1)
• vṛtta – conduct, behavior, course of action
  noun (neuter)
  past passive participle (of vṛt)
  Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Here, the dual accusative agrees with the implied object of samājñāya.

समाज्ञाय (samājñāya) - having thoroughly investigated and understood (having fully known, having thoroughly ascertained)

(indeclinable)

absolutive (gerund)

From sam- + ā- + root jñā (to know).

Prefixes: sam+ā

Root: jñā (class 9)

विद्याम् (vidyām) - (his) education or learning (knowledge, learning)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of vidyā

vidyā - knowledge, learning, science, doctrine

From root vid (to know).

Root: vid (class 2)

योनिम् (yonim) - (his) lineage or family origin (source, origin, womb, lineage)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of yoni

yoni - womb, place of birth, origin, lineage, family

च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

(indeclinable)

कर्म (karma) - (his) occupation, profession, or general conduct (action, deed, work, ritual action)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of karman

karman - action, deed, work, fate, ritual action, occupation

From root kṛ (to do).

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: The nominative and accusative singular neuter forms are identical (karma). The word 'karma' is used here in the sense of 'occupation' or 'activity'.

च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

(indeclinable)

अद्भिः (adbhiḥ) - with water (referring to the ritual pouring of water during the marriage ceremony) (by waters, with waters)

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, plural of ap

ap - water

Irregular feminine noun.

Note: Refers to the ritual pouring of water (udakakriyā) symbolizing the giving away of the bride.

एव (eva) - indeed, only (only, just, indeed, precisely)

(indeclinable)

प्रदातव्या (pradātavyā) - must be given (to be given, should be given)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of pradātavya

pradātavya - to be given, fit to be given, ought to be given

gerundive (future passive participle)

From pra- + root dā (to give) + tavya (gerundive suffix).

Prefix: pra

Root: dā (class 3)

Note: Expresses obligation.

कन्या (kanyā) - a daughter (for marriage) (daughter, girl, maiden)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of kanyā

kanyā - girl, maiden, daughter, virgin

गुणवते (guṇavate) - to a groom endowed with good qualities (to one possessing qualities, to a virtuous person)

(adjective)

Dative, masculine, singular of guṇavat

guṇavat - possessing good qualities, virtuous, meritorious, qualified

From guṇa (quality) + mat/vat (possessive suffix).

Note: Agrees with 'vare'.

वरे (vare) - to the groom (to the groom, to the chosen one, to the best)

(noun)

Dative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - groom, suitor, excellent, best, boon

From root vṛ (to choose).

Root: vṛ (class 5)

ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of brahmins (the priestly class) (of brahmins)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a brahmin (member of the priestly class)

From brahman (Vedic text/prayer/priest).

सताम् (satām) - of the virtuous and noble (brahmins) (of the good, of the virtuous, of the noble)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sat

sat - being, existing, good, virtuous, noble

present active participle

From root as (to be).

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Also functions as a noun meaning 'the good/virtuous ones'.

एषः (eṣaḥ) - this (rule/dharma) (this, this one)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of etad

etad - this, this one

Note: Refers to the rule just stated.

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - this duty, this principle (regarding marriage) (duty, righteousness, law, virtue)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - duty, righteousness, law, virtue, intrinsic nature

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: The word 'dharma' is used here in the sense of 'duty' or 'sacred law'.

नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly (eternally, always, constantly)

(indeclinable)

Often used adverbially.

Note: Used adverbially.

युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhishthira

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of yudhiṣṭhira

yudhiṣṭhira - steadfast in battle, Yudhishthira

Compound type : aluk tatpuruṣa (yudhi+sthira)

• yudhi – in battle
  indeclinable
  Locative singular of yudh (battle) used as a prefix.
  Root: yudh (class 4)
• sthira – firm, steady, stable
  adjective (masculine)
  Root: sthā (class 1)