महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-45, verse-18

अत्र गाथा यमोद्गीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः ।
धर्मज्ञा धर्मशास्त्रेषु निबद्धा धर्मसेतुषु ॥१८॥

18. atra gāthā yamodgītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ ,
dharmajñā dharmaśāstreṣu nibaddhā dharmasetuṣu.

18. atra gāthāḥ yama-udgītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ |
dharma-jñāḥ dharma-śāstreṣu nibaddhāḥ dharma-setuṣu

18. atra purāvidaḥ yama-udgītāḥ gāthāḥ kīrtayanti
dharma-jñāḥ nibaddhāḥ dharma-śāstreṣu dharma-setuṣu

18. Here, experts in ancient traditions recount the verses proclaimed by Yama. These verses, familiar to those who understand (dharma), are compiled in the sacred law texts (dharmaśāstra) which serve as the foundations of (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

• अत्र (atra) - here, in this matter

• गाथाः (gāthāḥ) - verses, songs, stanzas

• यम-उद्गीताः (yama-udgītāḥ) - sung by Yama, proclaimed by Yama

• कीर्तयन्ति (kīrtayanti) - they recount, they praise, they celebrate

• पुराविदः (purāvidaḥ) - those who know ancient lore, historians, experts in ancient traditions

• धर्म-ज्ञाः (dharma-jñāḥ) - those who know (dharma), experts in (dharma)

• धर्म-शास्त्रेषु (dharma-śāstreṣu) - in the sacred law texts (dharmaśāstra), in the treatises on duty

• निबद्धाः (nibaddhāḥ) - bound, fastened, composed, recorded, compiled

• धर्म-सेतुषु (dharma-setuṣu) - which serve as the foundations of (dharma) (in the bridges/boundaries of (dharma), in the foundations of (dharma))

Words meanings and morphology

अत्र (atra) - here, in this matter

(indeclinable)

From pronominal stem a- (this) + suffix -tra (locative adverb)

गाथाः (gāthāḥ) - verses, songs, stanzas

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, plural of gāthā

gāthā - verse, song, stanza, metrical legend

From root gai (to sing)

Root: gai (class 1)

यम-उद्गीताः (yama-udgītāḥ) - sung by Yama, proclaimed by Yama

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of yama-udgīta

yama-udgīta - sung or proclaimed by Yama

Compound type : Tatpurusha (yama+udgīta)

• yama – Yama (the god of death and justice)
  proper noun (masculine)
• udgīta – sung, chanted, proclaimed, celebrated
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root gai (to sing) with prefix ud- (up, out)
  Prefix: ud
  Root: gai (class 1)

कीर्तयन्ति (kīrtayanti) - they recount, they praise, they celebrate

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present indicative (laṭ) of kīrt

Root: kṛt (class 10)

पुराविदः (purāvidaḥ) - those who know ancient lore, historians, experts in ancient traditions

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of purāvid

purāvid - knowing ancient events or traditions, an antiquarian, historian

Compound type : Tatpurusha (purā+vid)

• purā – formerly, anciently, in olden times
  indeclinable
• vid – knowing, conversant with, knower
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent noun
  From root vid (to know)
  Root: vid (class 2)

धर्म-ज्ञाः (dharma-jñāḥ) - those who know (dharma), experts in (dharma)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dharma-jña

dharma-jña - knowing (dharma), expert in law or duty, righteous

Compound type : Tatpurusha (dharma+jña)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, intrinsic nature
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to uphold, to support)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• jña – knowing, understanding, knower
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent noun
  From root jñā (to know)
  Root: jñā (class 9)

धर्म-शास्त्रेषु (dharma-śāstreṣu) - in the sacred law texts (dharmaśāstra), in the treatises on duty

(noun)

Locative, neuter, plural of dharma-śāstra

dharma-śāstra - treatise on law or duty, sacred law book, jurisprudence

Compound type : Tatpurusha (dharma+śāstra)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, intrinsic nature
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to uphold, to support)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• śāstra – treatise, rule, scripture, science, instruction
  noun (neuter)
  From root śās (to command, to teach)
  Root: śās (class 2)

निबद्धाः (nibaddhāḥ) - bound, fastened, composed, recorded, compiled

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of nibaddha

nibaddha - bound, fastened, connected, composed, recorded, fixed

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root bandh (to bind) with prefix ni- (down, in)

Prefix: ni

Root: bandh (class 9)

धर्म-सेतुषु (dharma-setuṣu) - which serve as the foundations of (dharma) (in the bridges/boundaries of (dharma), in the foundations of (dharma))

(noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of dharma-setu

dharma-setu - a boundary or limit of (dharma), a bridge of (dharma), a foundation or principle of (dharma)

Compound type : Tatpurusha (dharma+setu)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, intrinsic nature
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to uphold, to support)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• setu – bridge, dam, bank, boundary, limit, foundation
  noun (masculine)
  From root si (to bind, to establish)
  Root: si (class 5)

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