महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-35, verse-3

कश्चिद्ब्राह्मणमासीनमाचार्यं संशितव्रतम् ।
शिष्यः पप्रच्छ मेधावी किं स्विच्छ्रेयः परंतप ॥३॥

3. kaścidbrāhmaṇamāsīnamācāryaṁ saṁśitavratam ,
śiṣyaḥ papraccha medhāvī kiṁ svicchreyaḥ paraṁtapa.

3. kaścid brāhmaṇam āsīnam ācāryam saṃśitavratam |
śiṣyaḥ papraccha medhāvī kim svid śreyaḥ paraṃtapa

3. A certain intelligent disciple approached a Brahmin who was seated, a teacher (ācārya) of strict vows, and asked: 'O vanquisher of foes (paraṃtapa), what truly is the supreme good?'

Words meanings summery:

• कश्चिद् (kaścid) - a certain (some, a certain, someone)

• ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - a Brahmin (a Brahmin, related to (brahman))

• आसीनम् (āsīnam) - who was seated (seated, sitting)

• आचार्यम् (ācāryam) - his teacher (ācārya) (a teacher, preceptor)

• संशितव्रतम् (saṁśitavratam) - of strict vows (one whose vows are firm, of strict vows)

• शिष्यः (śiṣyaḥ) - a disciple (disciple, student)

• पप्रच्छ (papraccha) - asked (asked, inquired)

• मेधावी (medhāvī) - intelligent (intelligent, wise, sagacious)

• किम् (kim) - what (what? which?)

• स्विद् (svid) - truly, indeed (indeed, pray, perhaps)

• श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - the supreme good (the good, beneficial, better, auspicious)

• परंतप (paraṁtapa) - O vanquisher of foes (paraṃtapa) (O tormentor of enemies, O vanquisher of foes)

Words meanings and morphology

कश्चिद् (kaścid) - a certain (some, a certain, someone)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kaścid

kaścid - someone, something, a certain, any

Note: Refers to the disciple.

ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - a Brahmin (a Brahmin, related to (brahman))

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, a member of the priestly class; related to brahman

Note: Object of `papraccha`.

आसीनम् (āsīnam) - who was seated (seated, sitting)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of āsīna

āsīna - seated, sitting

past passive participle (often used as active)

From √ās (to sit) with suffix -āna.

Root: ās (class 2)

Note: Agrees with `brāhmaṇam`.

आचार्यम् (ācāryam) - his teacher (ācārya) (a teacher, preceptor)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of ācārya

ācārya - teacher, preceptor, spiritual guide

From ā-√car (to practice, to follow).

Prefix: ā

Root: car (class 1)

Note: In apposition to `brāhmaṇam`.

संशितव्रतम् (saṁśitavratam) - of strict vows (one whose vows are firm, of strict vows)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of saṃśitavrata

saṁśitavrata - one whose vows are firm, of strict vows

Compound type : bahuvrihi (saṃśita+vrata)

• saṃśita – sharpened, firm, strict, resolute
  adjective (masculine)
  past passive participle
  From √śo (to sharpen, to whet) with upasarga sam.
  Prefix: sam
  Root: śo (class 4)
• vrata – vow, sacred observance, religious practice
  noun (neuter)

Note: Agrees with `brāhmaṇam`.

शिष्यः (śiṣyaḥ) - a disciple (disciple, student)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śiṣya

śiṣya - disciple, student, pupil

gerundive

From √śās (to teach) with suffix -ya. Lit. 'one to be taught'.

Root: śās (class 2)

Note: Subject of `papraccha`.

पप्रच्छ (papraccha) - asked (asked, inquired)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (liṭ) of prach

perfect active third person singular

From √prach (to ask). Reduplicated perfect form.

Root: prach (class 6)

मेधावी (medhāvī) - intelligent (intelligent, wise, sagacious)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of medhāvin

medhāvin - intelligent, wise, sagacious, possessing wisdom

From medhā (intellect) + -vin suffix.

Note: Agrees with `śiṣyaḥ`.

किम् (kim) - what (what? which?)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kim

kim - what? which? why?

Note: Interrogative pronoun, subject of implied 'is'.

स्विद् (svid) - truly, indeed (indeed, pray, perhaps)

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic or interrogative particle.

श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - the supreme good (the good, beneficial, better, auspicious)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śreyas

śreyas - better, more excellent, supreme good, bliss, prosperity

Comparative form of śrī (prosperity, excellence).

Note: Used substantively as the supreme good.

परंतप (paraṁtapa) - O vanquisher of foes (paraṃtapa) (O tormentor of enemies, O vanquisher of foes)

(adjective)

Vocative, masculine, singular of paraṃtapa

paraṁtapa - tormenting enemies, vanquisher of foes

Compound: parā (enemies) + tapa (scorching/tormenting).

Compound type : tatpurusha (para+tapa)

• para – other, enemy, supreme
  noun (masculine)
• tapa – heat, torment, asceticism, one who torments
  noun (masculine)
  From √tap (to heat, to torment).
  Root: tap (class 1)

Note: Addressed to the Brahmin/teacher.