महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-70, verse-29

न त्वेवासां दानमात्रं प्रशस्तं पात्रं कालो गोविशेषो विधिश्च ।
ज्ञात्वा देया विप्र गवान्तरं हि दुःखं ज्ञातुं पावकादित्यभूतम् ॥२९॥

29. na tvevāsāṁ dānamātraṁ praśastaṁ; pātraṁ kālo goviśeṣo vidhiśca ,
jñātvā deyā vipra gavāntaraṁ hi; duḥkhaṁ jñātuṁ pāvakādityabhūtam.

29. na tu eva āsām dānamātram praśastam
pātram kālaḥ goviśeṣaḥ vidhiḥ
ca | jñātvā deyā vipra gavāntaram
hi duḥkham jñātum pāvakādityabhūtam

29. However, for these (cows), not merely the act of giving is esteemed; the worthy recipient, the opportune time, the specific quality of the cow, and the proper procedure are also important. O Brahmin, having understood these, cows should be given, for it is indeed difficult to ascertain the exact nature of cows, which are essentially like fire and the sun.

Words meanings summery:

• न (na) - not (not, no)

• तु (tu) - However (but, however, on the other hand)

• एव (eva) - merely (certainly, indeed, only)

• आसाम् (āsām) - for these (cows) (of these)

• दानमात्रम् (dānamātram) - merely the act of giving (mere giving, just the act of giving)

• प्रशस्तम् (praśastam) - esteemed (praised, recommended, excellent, esteemed)

• पात्रम् (pātram) - the worthy recipient (recipient, worthy person, vessel, container)

• कालः (kālaḥ) - the opportune time (time, season)

• गोविशेषः (goviśeṣaḥ) - the specific quality of the cow (specific type of cow, excellence of cows)

• विधिः (vidhiḥ) - the proper procedure (rule, procedure, ordinance)

• च (ca) - and also (and, also)

• ज्ञात्वा (jñātvā) - having understood these (having known, having understood)

• देया (deyā) - should be given (should be given, to be given)

• विप्र (vipra) - O Brahmin (O Brahmin, wise person)

• गवान्तरम् (gavāntaram) - the exact nature of cows (their merits/differences) (difference in cows, the nature/distinction of cows)

• हि (hi) - indeed (indeed, surely, because)

• दुःखम् (duḥkham) - difficult (difficult, painful, sorrowful)

• ज्ञातुम् (jñātum) - to ascertain (to know, to understand)

• पावकादित्यभूतम् (pāvakādityabhūtam) - which are essentially like fire and the sun (having the nature of fire and sun)

Words meanings and morphology

न (na) - not (not, no)

(indeclinable)

Negative particle

Note: Negates `praśastam`.

तु (tu) - However (but, however, on the other hand)

(indeclinable)

Particle

Note: Introduces a contrast.

एव (eva) - merely (certainly, indeed, only)

(indeclinable)

Emphatic particle, often translated as "only" or "just" when qualifying a noun

Note: Emphasizes `dānamātram`.

आसाम् (āsām) - for these (cows) (of these)

(pronoun)

Genitive, feminine, plural of idam

idam - this, these

Feminine plural genitive of idam

Note: Pertains to what is being given.

दानमात्रम् (dānamātram) - merely the act of giving (mere giving, just the act of giving)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of dānamātra

dānamātra - mere giving, only giving

Compound of dāna (giving) and mātra (mere, only, measure)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dāna+mātra)

• dāna – giving, donation, gift
  noun (neuter)
  From root √dā (to give)
  Root: dā (class 3)
• mātra – measure, quantity, mere, only
  noun (neuter)
  Often used as a suffix to mean "mere" or "only"

Note: Subject of `praśastam`.

प्रशस्तम् (praśastam) - esteemed (praised, recommended, excellent, esteemed)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of praśasta

praśasta - praised, recommended, excellent, esteemed

Past Passive Participle

From pra-√śaṃs (to praise)

Prefix: pra

Root: śaṃs (class 1)

Note: Predicate adjective.

पात्रम् (pātram) - the worthy recipient (recipient, worthy person, vessel, container)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pātra

pātra - recipient, worthy person, vessel, container

From root √pā (to drink, protect), or √pātra (to hold)

Note: One of the factors to be considered.

कालः (kālaḥ) - the opportune time (time, season)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kāla

kāla - time, season, proper time

Note: One of the factors to be considered.

गोविशेषः (goviśeṣaḥ) - the specific quality of the cow (specific type of cow, excellence of cows)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of goviśeṣa

goviśeṣa - specific type of cow, particular cow, excellence of cows

Compound of go (cow) and viśeṣa (distinction, specific quality)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (go+viśeṣa)

• go – cow, ox, cattle
  noun (masculine)
• viśeṣa – distinction, specific quality, particularity, difference
  noun (masculine)
  From vi-√śiṣ (to distinguish)
  Prefix: vi
  Root: śiṣ (class 7)

Note: One of the factors to be considered.

विधिः (vidhiḥ) - the proper procedure (rule, procedure, ordinance)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vidhi

vidhi - rule, procedure, ordinance, method, sacred precept

From vi-√dhā (to arrange, ordain)

Prefix: vi

Root: dhā (class 3)

Note: One of the factors to be considered.

च (ca) - and also (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Conjunction

ज्ञात्वा (jñātvā) - having understood these (having known, having understood)

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (gerund)

Formed from root √jñā

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Connects to the main verb `deyā`.

देया (deyā) - should be given (should be given, to be given)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of deya

deya - to be given, should be given

Gerundive

From root √dā (to give)

Root: dā (class 3)

Note: Predicate of an implied "cows".

विप्र (vipra) - O Brahmin (O Brahmin, wise person)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of vipra

vipra - Brahmin, a sage, a wise person

Note: Term of address.

गवान्तरम् (gavāntaram) - the exact nature of cows (their merits/differences) (difference in cows, the nature/distinction of cows)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of gavāntara

gavāntara - difference in cows, inner nature of cows, another cow

Compound of go (cow) and antara (difference, interior)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (go+antara)

• go – cow, ox, cattle
  noun (masculine)
• antara – difference, distinction, interior, another
  noun (neuter)

Note: Object of `jñātum`.

हि (hi) - indeed (indeed, surely, because)

(indeclinable)

Particle

दुःखम् (duḥkham) - difficult (difficult, painful, sorrowful)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of duḥkha

duḥkha - difficult, painful, sorrow, misery

Compound of dus (bad) + kha (axle-hole), indicating discomfort

Note: Predicate of an implied 'it is'.

ज्ञातुम् (jñātum) - to ascertain (to know, to understand)

(indeclinable)

Infinitive

Infinitive form of root √jñā

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Works with `duḥkham`.

पावकादित्यभूतम् (pāvakādityabhūtam) - which are essentially like fire and the sun (having the nature of fire and sun)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pāvakādityabhūta

pāvakādityabhūta - having the nature or essence of fire and the sun

Bahuvrihi compound: "that which has fire and sun as its bhūta (nature/element)". Composed of pāvaka (fire), āditya (sun), and bhūta (nature/essence/element)

Compound type : bahuvrihi (pāvaka+āditya+bhūta)

• pāvaka – fire, purifying, pure
  noun (masculine)
  From root √pū (to purify)
  Root: pū (class 1)
• āditya – the sun, son of Aditi, a god
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from Aditi
• bhūta – nature, essence, element, being
  noun (neuter)
  From root √bhū (to be), often refers to "that which has become" or "nature/element"
  Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Agrees with `gavāntaram` (implicitly, as it describes the nature being difficult to know).