महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-30, verse-1

पितर ऊचुः ।
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
श्रुत्वा च तत्तथा कार्यं भवता द्विजसत्तम ॥१॥

1. pitara ūcuḥ ,
atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam ,
śrutvā ca tattathā kāryaṁ bhavatā dvijasattama.

1. pitaraḥ ūcuḥ atra api udāharanti imam itihāsam purātanam
śrutvā ca tat tathā kāryam bhavatā dvijasattama

1. The ancestors said: 'Here, they also cite this ancient narrative (itihāsa). And having heard that, O best among brahmins (dvija), it should be done by you accordingly.'

Words meanings summery:

• पितरः (pitaraḥ) - the fathers, ancestors

• ऊचुः (ūcuḥ) - they said, they spoke

• अत्र (atra) - here, in this place, in this matter

• अपि (api) - also, even, too

• उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite, they relate, they narrate

• इमम् (imam) - this

• इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - historical account, narrative, legend

• पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient, old, primeval

• श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard

• च (ca) - and, also

• तत् (tat) - that (neuter)

• तथा (tathā) - thus, accordingly, in that manner

• कार्यम् (kāryam) - to be done, proper to do, duty

• भवता (bhavatā) - by you (honorific)

• द्विजसत्तम (dvijasattama) - O best among the twice-born!, O best among brahmins!

Words meanings and morphology

पितरः (pitaraḥ) - the fathers, ancestors

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of pitṛ

pitṛ - father, ancestor

Note: Subject of 'ūcuḥ'.

ऊचुः (ūcuḥ) - they said, they spoke

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, perfect past (lit) of vac

perfect 3rd plural

Root 'vac' (2nd class), perfect tense.

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Verb for 'pitaraḥ'.

अत्र (atra) - here, in this place, in this matter

(indeclinable)

Locative sense of 'idam'.

अपि (api) - also, even, too

(indeclinable)

Preposition or particle.

उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite, they relate, they narrate

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of udāhṛ

present 3rd plural

Root 'hṛ' (1st class 'harati') with prefixes 'ud' and 'ā'.

Prefixes: ud+ā

Root: hṛ (class 1)

Note: Subject is implied 'people' or 'traditions'.

इमम् (imam) - this

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Qualifies 'itihāsam'.

इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - historical account, narrative, legend

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of itihāsa

itihāsa - history, legend, tradition, narrative (literally 'thus it was')

Compound of 'iti' (thus) + 'ha' (particle of ascertainment) + 'āsa' (was, from 'as').

Compound type : avyayībhāva (iti+ha+āsa)

• iti – thus
  indeclinable
• ha – indeed, surely (particle)
  indeclinable
• āsa – was
  verb
  perfect 3rd singular
  From root 'as' (to be).
  Root: as (class 2)

पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient, old, primeval

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of purātana

purātana - ancient, old, former

From 'purā' (formerly) with suffix '-tana'.

श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard

(indeclinable)

absolutive (gerund)

Root 'śru' (5th class 'śṛṇoti').

Root: śru (class 5)

Note: Agent is 'bhavatā'.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

Note: Connects clauses.

तत् (tat) - that (neuter)

(pronoun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, it

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Object of 'śrutvā'.

तथा (tathā) - thus, accordingly, in that manner

(indeclinable)

Adverb of manner.

Note: Refers to how the action should be performed.

कार्यम् (kāryam) - to be done, proper to do, duty

(participle)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kārya

kārya - to be done, suitable to be done, duty, action

gerundive (future passive participle)

From root 'kṛ' (to do, make). Neuter nominative/accusative singular.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Predicate, implying 'it is to be done'.

भवता (bhavatā) - by you (honorific)

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of bhavat

bhavat - your honor, you (honorific pronoun), being, existing

present active participle from bhū

From root 'bhū' (to be, become). Used as an honorific pronoun. Instrumental singular.

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Agent of the action 'kāryam'.

द्विजसत्तम (dvijasattama) - O best among the twice-born!, O best among brahmins!

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of dvijasattama

dvijasattama - best among the twice-born (brahmins, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, but commonly brahmins), most excellent brahmin

Compound of 'dvija' (twice-born) and 'sattama' (superlative of 'sat', best).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dvija+sattama)

• dvija – twice-born (a brahmin, kṣatriya, or vaiśya; also a bird, a tooth)
  noun (masculine)
  Compound 'dvi' (twice) + 'ja' (born).
  Root: jan (class 4)
• sattama – best, most excellent
  adjective (masculine)
  Superlative suffix 'tama' added to 'sat' (good).

Note: Addresses Rāma.