महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-48, verse-47

ज्यायांसमपि शीलेन विहीनं नैव पूजयेत् ।
अपि शूद्रं तु सद्वृत्तं धर्मज्ञमभिपूजयेत् ॥४७॥

47. jyāyāṁsamapi śīlena vihīnaṁ naiva pūjayet ,
api śūdraṁ tu sadvṛttaṁ dharmajñamabhipūjayet.

47. jyāyāṃsam api śīlena vihīnam na eva pūjayet
api śūdram tu sadvṛttam dharmajñam abhipūjayet

47. śīlena vihīnam jyāyāṃsam api naiva pūjayet tu
sadvṛttam dharmajñam śūdram api abhipūjayet

47. One should certainly not honor even a superior person who is devoid of good character (śīla). But one should respectfully honor even a śūdra if he possesses good conduct and is knowledgeable in natural law (dharma).

Words meanings summery:

• ज्यायांसम् (jyāyāṁsam) - superior, elder

• अपि (api) - even, also

• शीलेन (śīlena) - by character, by conduct (śīla)

• विहीनम् (vihīnam) - devoid of, destitute of, without

• नैव (naiva) - certainly not, never

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet) - one should honor

• अपि (api) - even

• शूद्रम् (śūdram) - a śūdra (member of the fourth social class)

• तु (tu) - but, on the other hand

• सद्वृत्तम् (sadvṛttam) - of good conduct

• धर्मज्ञम् (dharmajñam) - knowing natural law (dharma), righteous

• अभिपूजयेत् (abhipūjayet) - one should respectfully honor

Words meanings and morphology

ज्यायांसम् (jyāyāṁsam) - superior, elder

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of jyāyas

jyāyas - superior, elder, older, greater, better

Comparative form of vṛddha (old) or mahā (great)

Note: Object of pūjayet.

अपि (api) - even, also

(indeclinable)

शीलेन (śīlena) - by character, by conduct (śīla)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of śīla

śīla - character, conduct, nature, habit, morality, virtue

Root: śī (class 2)

Note: Indicates the means or quality of being 'devoid of'.

विहीनम् (vihīnam) - devoid of, destitute of, without

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of vihīna

vihīna - devoid of, destitute of, without, excluded from

past passive participle

From vi- + √hā (to abandon, quit)

Prefix: vi

Root: hā (class 3)

Note: Modifies jyāyāṃsam.

नैव (naiva) - certainly not, never

(indeclinable)

Combination of na (not) and eva (only, indeed)

Note: Sandhi of na + eva.

पूजयेत् (pūjayet) - one should honor

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhi-liṅ) of pūj

optative active

3rd person singular optative active (vidhi-liṅ)

Root: pūj (class 10)

Note: Null subject implied (one).

अपि (api) - even

(indeclinable)

शूद्रम् (śūdram) - a śūdra (member of the fourth social class)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of śūdra

śūdra - a member of the fourth (lowest) social class (varṇa) in ancient India

Note: Object of abhipūjayet.

तु (tu) - but, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

सद्वृत्तम् (sadvṛttam) - of good conduct

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of sadvṛtta

sadvṛtta - of good conduct, virtuous, well-behaved

From sat- (good) + vṛtta (conduct)

Compound type : karmadhāraya (sat+vṛtta)

• sat – good, virtuous, existent, real
  adjective (neuter)
  present active participle
  From root as (to be, exist)
  Root: as (class 2)
• vṛtta – conduct, behavior, occurrence
  noun (neuter)
  Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Modifies śūdram.

धर्मज्ञम् (dharmajñam) - knowing natural law (dharma), righteous

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharmajña

dharmajña - knowing (dharma), righteous, conversant with law and duty

From dharma (natural law, duty) + jña (knowing)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+jña)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• jña – knowing, acquainted with
  adjective (masculine)
  From root jñā (to know)
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Modifies śūdram.

अभिपूजयेत् (abhipūjayet) - one should respectfully honor

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhi-liṅ) of abhipūj

optative active

3rd person singular optative active (vidhi-liṅ). From abhi- + √pūj (to honor)

Prefix: abhi

Root: pūj (class 10)

Note: Null subject implied (one).