महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-35, verse-27

चातुर्विद्यं तथा वर्णांश्चतुरश्चाश्रमान्पृथक् ।
धर्ममेकं चतुष्पादं नित्यमाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥२७॥

27. cāturvidyaṁ tathā varṇāṁścaturaścāśramānpṛthak ,
dharmamekaṁ catuṣpādaṁ nityamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ.

27. cāturvidyam tathā varṇān ca caturaḥ ca āśramān
pṛthak dharmam ekam catuṣpādam nityam āhuḥ manīṣiṇaḥ

27. manīṣiṇaḥ cāturvidyam tathā varṇān ca caturaḥ ca
āśramān pṛthak ekam catuṣpādam nityam dharmam āhuḥ

27. The wise (manīṣin) declare that the four Vedas, as well as the four social classes (varṇa) and the four stages of life (āśrama) – each distinctly – represent the one eternal natural law (dharma), which stands firm on four pillars.

Words meanings summery:

• चातुर्विद्यम् (cāturvidyam) - the four Vedas (the system of four Vedas, four-fold knowledge)

• तथा (tathā) - as well as (thus, so, also, and)

• वर्णान् (varṇān) - social classes (varṇa) (colors, social classes, castes)

• च (ca) - and

• चतुरः (caturaḥ) - four

• च (ca) - and

• आश्रमान् (āśramān) - stages of life (āśrama) (stages of life, hermitages)

• पृथक् (pṛthak) - distinctly (separately, individually, distinct)

• धर्मम् (dharmam) - natural law (dharma) (natural law, righteousness, duty)

• एकम् (ekam) - one (one, single, unique)

• चतुष्पादम् (catuṣpādam) - which stands firm on four pillars (lit. four-footed) (four-footed, having four parts/divisions)

• नित्यम् (nityam) - eternal (eternal, constant, perpetual)

• आहुः (āhuḥ) - they declare (they say, they declare, they speak)

• मनीषिणः (manīṣiṇaḥ) - the wise (manīṣin) (wise ones, sages, intelligent people)

Words meanings and morphology

चातुर्विद्यम् (cāturvidyam) - the four Vedas (the system of four Vedas, four-fold knowledge)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of cāturvidya

cāturvidya - relating to the four Vedas, the study of the four Vedas

From catur (four) + vidyā (knowledge)

Compound type : tatpurusha (catur+vidyā)

• catur – four
  numeral
• vidyā – knowledge, learning, science
  noun (feminine)
  Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Object of 'āhuḥ'.

तथा (tathā) - as well as (thus, so, also, and)

(indeclinable)

वर्णान् (varṇān) - social classes (varṇa) (colors, social classes, castes)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of varṇa

varṇa - color, social class, caste, quality

Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: Object of 'āhuḥ'.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunctive particle.

चतुरः (caturaḥ) - four

(numeral)

Note: Qualifies 'āśramān'.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunctive particle.

आश्रमान् (āśramān) - stages of life (āśrama) (stages of life, hermitages)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of āśrama

āśrama - stage of life, hermitage, abode

From √śram (to toil, exert) with prefix ā-

Prefix: ā

Root: śram (class 4)

Note: Object of 'āhuḥ'.

पृथक् (pṛthak) - distinctly (separately, individually, distinct)

(indeclinable)

Note: Modifies the listed items (Vedas, varṇas, āśramas).

धर्मम् (dharmam) - natural law (dharma) (natural law, righteousness, duty)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, righteousness, duty

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Main object of 'āhuḥ'.

एकम् (ekam) - one (one, single, unique)

(numeral)

Note: Qualifies 'dharmam'.

चतुष्पादम् (catuṣpādam) - which stands firm on four pillars (lit. four-footed) (four-footed, having four parts/divisions)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of catuṣpāda

catuṣpāda - four-footed, having four divisions/parts

Compound type : bahuvrihi (catur+pāda)

• catur – four
  numeral
• pāda – foot, quarter, division, step
  noun (masculine)
  Root: pad (class 4)

Note: Qualifies 'dharmam'.

नित्यम् (nityam) - eternal (eternal, constant, perpetual)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of nitya

nitya - constant, eternal, perpetual

Note: Qualifies 'dharmam'.

आहुः (āhuḥ) - they declare (they say, they declare, they speak)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (liṭ) of ah

Perfect Tense (irregular form, used as present)

Irregular perfect tense form of √brū or √ah, used in present sense, third person plural, active voice.

Root: brū (class 2)

मनीषिणः (manīṣiṇaḥ) - the wise (manīṣin) (wise ones, sages, intelligent people)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of manīṣin

manīṣin - wise, intelligent, sagacious, a sage

From manīṣā (wisdom)

Note: Subject of 'āhuḥ'.