महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-43, verse-28

अपां धातुरसो नित्यं जिह्वया स तु गृह्यते ।
जिह्वास्थश्च तथा सोमो रसज्ञाने विधीयते ॥२८॥

28. apāṁ dhāturaso nityaṁ jihvayā sa tu gṛhyate ,
jihvāsthaśca tathā somo rasajñāne vidhīyate.

28. apām dhātu rasaḥ nityam jihvayā saḥ tu gṛhyate
jihvāsthaḥ ca tathā somaḥ rasajñāne vidhīyate

28. apām dhātu rasaḥ nityam saḥ tu jihvayā gṛhyate
ca tathā jihvāsthaḥ somaḥ rasajñāne vidhīyate

28. The elemental taste (rasa) of water is always apprehended by the tongue. And similarly, Soma, which is located in the tongue, functions in the perception of taste.

Words meanings summery:

• अपाम् (apām) - of waters

• धातु (dhātu) - element, constituent, basic substance

• रसः (rasaḥ) - taste as a sense object (taste, essence, juice, emotion)

• नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly, perpetually

• जिह्वया (jihvayā) - by the tongue

• सः (saḥ) - that, he

• तु (tu) - but, indeed

• गृह्यते (gṛhyate) - is perceived, is apprehended

• जिह्वास्थः (jihvāsthaḥ) - situated in the tongue

• च (ca) - and

• तथा (tathā) - similarly, thus

• सोमः (somaḥ) - The divine essence or deity associated with taste. (Soma, moon, a deity)

• रसज्ञाने (rasajñāne) - in the perception/knowledge of taste

• विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is ordained, is performed, functions

Words meanings and morphology

अपाम् (apām) - of waters

(noun)

Genitive, feminine, plural of ap

ap - water, waters

genitive plural of ap

धातु (dhātu) - element, constituent, basic substance

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dhātu

dhātu - element, constituent, basic substance, root (of a verb), mineral

from dhā (to place, to hold)

Root: dhā (class 3)

Note: Qualifies 'rasaḥ'.

रसः (rasaḥ) - taste as a sense object (taste, essence, juice, emotion)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rasa

rasa - taste, essence, juice, fluid, emotion, aesthetic sentiment

Root: ras (class 1)

Note: Subject of 'gṛhyate'.

नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly, perpetually

(indeclinable)

Note: Accusative neuter singular used adverbially.

जिह्वया (jihvayā) - by the tongue

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of jihvā

jihvā - tongue, organ of taste

Note: Agent of passive verb 'gṛhyate'.

सः (saḥ) - that, he

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

nominative singular masculine of tad

Note: Refers back to 'rasaḥ'.

तु (tu) - but, indeed

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunction.

गृह्यते (gṛhyate) - is perceived, is apprehended

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of grah

present

3rd person singular present passive of root grah (to seize)

Root: grah (class 9)

जिह्वास्थः (jihvāsthaḥ) - situated in the tongue

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of jihvāstha

jihvāstha - situated in the tongue, located in the tongue

Tatpuruṣa compound: jihvā (tongue) + stha (standing/situated)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (jihvā+stha)

• jihvā – tongue
  noun (feminine)
• stha – standing, staying, situated
  adjective
  from sthā (to stand)
  Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'somaḥ'.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunction.

तथा (tathā) - similarly, thus

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb.

सोमः (somaḥ) - The divine essence or deity associated with taste. (Soma, moon, a deity)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of soma

soma - Soma (a sacred plant, its juice, or a deity), moon, nectar

Note: Subject of 'vidhīyate'.

रसज्ञाने (rasajñāne) - in the perception/knowledge of taste

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of rasajñāna

rasajñāna - perception/knowledge of taste

Tatpuruṣa compound: rasa (taste) + jñāna (knowledge)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (rasa+jñāna)

• rasa – taste, essence
  noun (masculine)
  Root: ras (class 1)
• jñāna – knowledge, perception
  noun (neuter)
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Location/context for 'vidhīyate'.

विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is ordained, is performed, functions

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of vidhā

present

3rd person singular present passive of root dhā (to place) with prefix vi

Prefix: vi

Root: dhā (class 3)