महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-90, verse-21

मातापित्रोर्यश्च वश्यः श्रोत्रियो दशपूरुषः ।
ऋतुकालाभिगामी च धर्मपत्नीषु यः सदा ।
वेदविद्याव्रतस्नातो विप्रः पङ्क्तिं पुनात्युत ॥२१॥

21. mātāpitroryaśca vaśyaḥ śrotriyo daśapūruṣaḥ ,
ṛtukālābhigāmī ca dharmapatnīṣu yaḥ sadā ,
vedavidyāvratasnāto vipraḥ paṅktiṁ punātyuta.

21. mātā-pitroḥ yaḥ ca vaśyaḥ śrotriyaḥ
daśa-pūruṣaḥ ṛtu-kāla-abhigāmī ca
dharma-patnīṣu yaḥ sadā
veda-vidyā-vrata-snātaḥ vipraḥ paṅktim punāti uta

21. ca uta yaḥ mātā-pitroḥ vaśyaḥ śrotriyaḥ
daśa-pūruṣaḥ ca yaḥ sadā
dharma-patnīṣu ṛtu-kāla-abhigāmī
veda-vidyā-vrata-snātaḥ vipraḥ paṅktim punāti

21. And furthermore, a Brahmin who is obedient to his mother and father, a learned (śrotriya) one with a pure lineage spanning ten generations, who always approaches his lawful wives (dharma-patnī) during the fertile period, and who has completed his Vedic studies and sacred observances (vrata)—such a Brahmin (vipra) indeed purifies the assembly.

Words meanings summery:

• माता-पित्रोः (mātā-pitroḥ) - referring to the parents whom the person described is obedient to (of the mother and father)

• यः (yaḥ) - introducing a relative clause describing the Brahmin (who, which)

• च (ca) - connecting the qualities described (and, also)

• वश्यः (vaśyaḥ) - showing filial piety and respect towards parents (obedient, submissive, under control)

• श्रोत्रियः (śrotriyaḥ) - specifically a Brahmin who has completed Vedic study and maintains sacred fires (a learned Brahmin, one who has studied the Veda)

• दश-पूरुषः (daśa-pūruṣaḥ) - a Brahmin whose ancestry and progeny (up to ten generations) are known to be virtuous and pure, highlighting impeccable family background (one of ten generations (pūruṣa); one whose lineage is pure for ten generations)

• ऋतु-काल-अभिगामी (ṛtu-kāla-abhigāmī) - indicating adherence to the prescribed (dharma) timing for marital relations, ensuring progeny and maintaining household purity (one who approaches (his wife) during the proper season (for conception))

• च (ca) - links this quality to the preceding ones (and, also)

• धर्म-पत्नीषु (dharma-patnīṣu) - emphasizes that the prescribed conduct applies to wives married according to religious law (dharma) (among lawful wives, towards lawful wives)

• यः (yaḥ) - another relative pronoun, connecting to the preceding qualities (who, which)

• सदा (sadā) - emphasizing the consistent adherence to the prescribed conduct (always, ever, constantly)

• वेद-विद्या-व्रत-स्नातः (veda-vidyā-vrata-snātaḥ) - a Brahmin who has fulfilled his student stage duties, implying full qualification (one who has completed Vedic study and vows)

• विप्रः (vipraḥ) - the main subject of the sentence, summarizing all the described qualities (a Brahmin, a sage, inspired one)

• पङ्क्तिम् (paṅktim) - the group of guests at a ceremonial meal, which this Brahmin's presence purifies (the row, assembly, line)

• पुनाति (punāti) - the action performed by the virtuous Brahmin, elevating the spiritual status of the entire assembly (purifies, cleanses)

• उत (uta) - serves as an emphatic particle, reinforcing the statement (and, moreover, indeed)

Words meanings and morphology

माता-पित्रोः (mātā-pitroḥ) - referring to the parents whom the person described is obedient to (of the mother and father)

(noun)

Genitive, dual of mātā-pitṛ

mātā-pitṛ - mother and father, parents

Dvandva compound.

Compound type : dvandva (mātṛ+pitṛ)

• mātṛ – mother
  noun (feminine)
• pitṛ – father
  noun (masculine)

Note: Governed by `vaśyaḥ`.

यः (yaḥ) - introducing a relative clause describing the Brahmin (who, which)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what

Relative pronoun.

Note: Subject of the relative clause.

च (ca) - connecting the qualities described (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

वश्यः (vaśyaḥ) - showing filial piety and respect towards parents (obedient, submissive, under control)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vaśya

vaśya - obedient, docile, dependent, manageable

Gerundive

From root `vaś` (to command, wish, be able) or `vaś` (control).

Root: vaś (class 1)

श्रोत्रियः (śrotriyaḥ) - specifically a Brahmin who has completed Vedic study and maintains sacred fires (a learned Brahmin, one who has studied the Veda)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śrotriya

śrotriya - a Brahmin learned in the Vedas, especially one who has regularly studied a śākhā (branch of Veda)

Derived from `śrotra` (ear, learning, Veda).

Root: śru (class 1)

Note: Predicate nominative for the implied subject.

दश-पूरुषः (daśa-pūruṣaḥ) - a Brahmin whose ancestry and progeny (up to ten generations) are known to be virtuous and pure, highlighting impeccable family background (one of ten generations (pūruṣa); one whose lineage is pure for ten generations)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of daśa-pūruṣa

daśa-pūruṣa - relating to ten generations, one whose lineage for ten generations is pure

Compound. `daśa` (ten) + `pūruṣa` (man, generation).

Compound type : bahuvrihi (daśa+pūruṣa)

• daśa – ten
  numeral adjective
• pūruṣa – man, human being, person; generation, ancestor
  noun (masculine)
  Root: pṛ

ऋतु-काल-अभिगामी (ṛtu-kāla-abhigāmī) - indicating adherence to the prescribed (dharma) timing for marital relations, ensuring progeny and maintaining household purity (one who approaches (his wife) during the proper season (for conception))

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ṛtu-kāla-abhigāmin

ṛtu-kāla-abhigāmin - one who approaches (his wife) in due season (ṛtukāla)

Agent Noun (from abhi-gam)

Compound. `ṛtu-kāla` (proper time/season) + `abhigāmin` (approaching).

Compound type : upapada tatpuruṣa (ṛtu+kāla+abhigāmin)

• ṛtu – season, fixed time, proper time
  noun (masculine)
• kāla – time, season, proper time
  noun (masculine)
  Root: kal (class 10)
• abhigāmin – going towards, approaching; one who approaches
  adjective/noun (masculine)
  Agent Noun
  From root `gam` with prefix `abhi`.
  Prefix: abhi
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Agrees with `yaḥ`.

च (ca) - links this quality to the preceding ones (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

धर्म-पत्नीषु (dharma-patnīṣu) - emphasizes that the prescribed conduct applies to wives married according to religious law (dharma) (among lawful wives, towards lawful wives)

(noun)

Locative, feminine, plural of dharma-patnī

dharma-patnī - a lawful wife, a wife married according to (dharma)

Compound. `dharma` (sacred law, duty) + `patnī` (wife).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+patnī)

• dharma – natural law (dharma), constitution (dharma), intrinsic nature (dharma), righteousness, duty, sacred law
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to uphold, support).
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• patnī – wife, mistress, female owner
  noun (feminine)
  Feminine form of `pati` (master, husband).

Note: Indicates the domain or object of the action 'approaches'.

यः (yaḥ) - another relative pronoun, connecting to the preceding qualities (who, which)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what

Relative pronoun.

Note: Subject of the clause detailing marital conduct.

सदा (sadā) - emphasizing the consistent adherence to the prescribed conduct (always, ever, constantly)

(indeclinable)

Adverb of time.

Note: Modifies `abhigāmī`.

वेद-विद्या-व्रत-स्नातः (veda-vidyā-vrata-snātaḥ) - a Brahmin who has fulfilled his student stage duties, implying full qualification (one who has completed Vedic study and vows)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of veda-vidyā-vrata-snāta

veda-vidyā-vrata-snāta - one who has completed Vedic study and observances; bathed after Vedic study and vows

Past Passive Participle (snāta)

Compound adjective.

Compound type : bahuvrihi (veda+vidyā+vrata+snāta)

• veda – sacred knowledge, the Vedas
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from root 'vid' (to know)
  Root: vid (class 2)
• vidyā – knowledge, learning, science, study
  noun (feminine)
  Derived from root 'vid' (to know)
  Root: vid
• vrata – vow, sacred observance, religious practice, rule
  noun (neuter)
• snāta – bathed, purified, completed (of a vow or study)
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root snā (to bathe)
  Root: snā (class 2)

Note: Agrees with `vipraḥ`.

विप्रः (vipraḥ) - the main subject of the sentence, summarizing all the described qualities (a Brahmin, a sage, inspired one)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vipra

vipra - a Brahmin, a sage, an inspired poet; wise, intelligent

From root `vip` (to tremble, be agitated; to inspire).

Root: vip (class 1)

Note: Main subject of the purifying action.

पङ्क्तिम् (paṅktim) - the group of guests at a ceremonial meal, which this Brahmin's presence purifies (the row, assembly, line)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of paṅkti

paṅkti - row, line, assembly, company (especially of persons invited to a feast)

Note: Direct object of `punāti`.

पुनाति (punāti) - the action performed by the virtuous Brahmin, elevating the spiritual status of the entire assembly (purifies, cleanses)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of pū

Present Tense, Active Voice

Root `pū`, class 9.

Root: pū (class 9)

Note: The verb for the main subject `vipraḥ`.

उत (uta) - serves as an emphatic particle, reinforcing the statement (and, moreover, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Conjunction or emphatic particle.