महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-44, verse-13

तथा त्रिपथगा गङ्गा नदीनामग्रजा स्मृता ।
तथा सरोदपानानां सर्वेषां सागरोऽग्रजः ॥१३॥

13. tathā tripathagā gaṅgā nadīnāmagrajā smṛtā ,
tathā sarodapānānāṁ sarveṣāṁ sāgaro'grajaḥ.

13. tathā tripathagā gaṅgā nadīnām agrajā smṛtā
tathā sarodapānānām sarveṣām sāgaraḥ agrajaḥ

13. The Gaṅgā, which flows in three paths, is considered the foremost among rivers. Similarly, the ocean is the most prominent among all lakes and reservoirs.

Words meanings summery:

• तथा (tathā) - similarly (thus, so, in that manner, similarly)

• त्रिपथगा (tripathagā) - flowing in three paths (referring to the Gaṅgā) (flowing in three paths, moving in three ways)

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā) - the sacred river Gaṅgā (the river Gaṅgā)

• नदीनाम् (nadīnām) - of all rivers (of rivers)

• अग्रजा (agrajā) - foremost (feminine form) (elder sister, foremost, chief)

• स्मृता (smṛtā) - is considered (remembered, recollected, considered, taught)

• तथा (tathā) - similarly (thus, so, in that manner, similarly)

• सरोदपानानाम् (sarodapānānām) - of all lakes and reservoirs (of lakes and wells/ponds, of all water bodies)

• सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all (of all, of everyone)

• सागरः (sāgaraḥ) - the ocean (ocean, sea)

• अग्रजः (agrajaḥ) - foremost (born first, elder, foremost, chief)

Words meanings and morphology

तथा (tathā) - similarly (thus, so, in that manner, similarly)

(indeclinable)

त्रिपथगा (tripathagā) - flowing in three paths (referring to the Gaṅgā) (flowing in three paths, moving in three ways)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of tripathaga

tripathaga - going by three paths, flowing in three streams

From tri (three) + patha (path) + ga (going/moving)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (tri+patha+ga)

• tri – three
  numeral
• patha – path, road, way
  noun (masculine)
• ga – going, moving, residing in
  adjective (masculine)
  From root gam (to go)
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Feminine form of tripathaga, agreeing with Gaṅgā.

गङ्गा (gaṅgā) - the sacred river Gaṅgā (the river Gaṅgā)

(proper noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of gaṅgā

gaṅgā - the river Gaṅgā

नदीनाम् (nadīnām) - of all rivers (of rivers)

(noun)

Genitive, feminine, plural of nadī

nadī - river

अग्रजा (agrajā) - foremost (feminine form) (elder sister, foremost, chief)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of agraja

agraja - born first, elder, foremost, chief

From agra (front, first) + ja (born)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (agra+ja)

• agra – front, top, point, first
  noun (neuter)
• ja – born, produced from
  adjective (masculine)
  From root jan (to be born)
  Root: jan (class 4)

Note: Feminine form of agraja, agreeing with Gaṅgā.

स्मृता (smṛtā) - is considered (remembered, recollected, considered, taught)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of smṛta

smṛta - remembered, thought of, known as, considered

Past Passive Participle

From root smṛ (to remember)

Root: smṛ (class 1)

Note: Feminine form, agreeing with Gaṅgā.

तथा (tathā) - similarly (thus, so, in that manner, similarly)

(indeclinable)

सरोदपानानाम् (sarodapānānām) - of all lakes and reservoirs (of lakes and wells/ponds, of all water bodies)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of sarodapāna

sarodapāna - lakes and wells/ponds/cisterns (a collective term for various water bodies)

Compound type : dvandva (saras+udapāna)

• saras – lake, pond, large pool
  noun (neuter)
• udapāna – well, cistern, reservoir, pond
  noun (neuter)
  From ud (up) + pāna (drinking)
  Prefix: ud
  Root: pā (class 1)

Note: Genitive plural of the dvandva compound 'sarodapāna'.

सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all (of all, of everyone)

(pronoun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of sarva

sarva - all, every, whole

Note: Agrees with sarodapānānām in case and number.

सागरः (sāgaraḥ) - the ocean (ocean, sea)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sāgara

sāgara - ocean, sea

Derived from sa (with) + agara (mountain - referring to mountains on shore), or simply a nominal derivative.

अग्रजः (agrajaḥ) - foremost (born first, elder, foremost, chief)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of agraja

agraja - born first, elder, foremost, chief

From agra (front, first) + ja (born)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (agra+ja)

• agra – front, top, point, first
  noun (neuter)
• ja – born, produced from
  adjective (masculine)
  From root jan (to be born)
  Root: jan (class 4)

Note: Agrees with sāgaraḥ.