महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-83, verse-9

कस्माच्च पावनं श्रेष्ठं भूमेर्गोभ्यश्च काञ्चनम् ।
परमं दक्षिणार्थे च तद्ब्रवीहि पितामह ॥९॥

9. kasmācca pāvanaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ bhūmergobhyaśca kāñcanam ,
paramaṁ dakṣiṇārthe ca tadbravīhi pitāmaha.

9. kasmāt ca pāvanam śreṣṭham bhūmeḥ gobhyaḥ ca
kāñcanam paramam dakṣiṇārthe ca tat bravīhi pitāmaha

9. And why is gold the best purifier for the earth and superior to cows? And why is it considered supreme for the purpose of a ritual offering (dakṣiṇā)? Please explain that to me, O Pitamaha.

Words meanings summery:

• कस्मात् (kasmāt) - why (from what, why, for what reason)

• च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

• पावनम् (pāvanam) - purifier (purifier, purifying, sacred, holy)

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

• भूमेः (bhūmeḥ) - for the earth (of the earth, from the earth)

• गोभ्यः (gobhyaḥ) - than cows (to/for cows, from/than cows)

• च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

• काञ्चनम् (kāñcanam) - gold (gold, golden)

• परमम् (paramam) - supreme (supreme, highest, most excellent)

• दक्षिणार्थे (dakṣiṇārthe) - for the purpose of a ritual offering (dakṣiṇā) (for the sake of an offering, in the matter of a ritual fee)

• च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

• तत् (tat) - that (referring to the explanation) (that, it)

• ब्रवीहि (bravīhi) - please explain, tell (tell, say, speak)

• पितामह (pitāmaha) - O Grandfather (addressing Bhishma) (grandfather, great father, Brahma)

Words meanings and morphology

कस्मात् (kasmāt) - why (from what, why, for what reason)

(pronoun)

Ablative, singular of kim

kim - what, which, why

Note: Used as an interrogative adverb meaning "why"

च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

(indeclinable)

पावनम् (pāvanam) - purifier (purifier, purifying, sacred, holy)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pāvana

pāvana - purifying, pure, purifier, sacred

From root "pū" (to purify) + ana suffix

Root: pū (class 1)

Note: Predicate nominative for kāñcanam (gold)

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

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, most excellent, supreme, chief

Superlative form of 'praśasya' (praiseworthy) or 'śrī' (prosperity/excellence)

Note: Agrees with "pāvanam" and "kāñcanam"

भूमेः (bhūmeḥ) - for the earth (of the earth, from the earth)

(noun)

Genitive, feminine, singular of bhūmi

bhūmi - earth, ground, land

Note: In context "purifier for the earth"

गोभ्यः (gobhyaḥ) - than cows (to/for cows, from/than cows)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine/feminine, plural of go

go - cow, ox, cattle, ray of light

Note: Used in comparison with "śreṣṭham" - better than cows

च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

(indeclinable)

काञ्चनम् (kāñcanam) - gold (gold, golden)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kāñcana

kāñcana - gold, golden, relating to gold

From "kāñcī" (a kind of metal) or related to "kañca" (lustre)

Note: Subject of the implied verb 'is'

परमम् (paramam) - supreme (supreme, highest, most excellent)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of parama

parama - supreme, highest, ultimate, principal

Superlative form

Note: Predicate adjective for kāñcanam

दक्षिणार्थे (dakṣiṇārthe) - for the purpose of a ritual offering (dakṣiṇā) (for the sake of an offering, in the matter of a ritual fee)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of dakṣiṇārtha

dakṣiṇārtha - purpose of a ritual fee (dakṣiṇā), for an offering

Compound of dakṣiṇā (ritual fee) and artha (purpose/meaning)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dakṣiṇā+artha)

• dakṣiṇā – ritual fee, gift, right side
  noun (feminine)
• artha – purpose, meaning, wealth, object
  noun (masculine)

Note: Denotes purpose

च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

(indeclinable)

तत् (tat) - that (referring to the explanation) (that, it)

(pronoun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, it, he, she

Note: Object of "bravīhi"

ब्रवीहि (bravīhi) - please explain, tell (tell, say, speak)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of brū

Imperative active

Root brū, 2nd class verb, irregular forms

Root: brū (class 2)

Note: Addressed to Pitamaha

पितामह (pitāmaha) - O Grandfather (addressing Bhishma) (grandfather, great father, Brahma)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of pitāmaha

pitāmaha - grandfather, great father, a title for Brahma

Compound of pitṛ (father) and mahat (great) (though often treated as a single word)

Note: Refers to Bhishma as the grandfather figure