महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-49, verse-3

ज्ञानं निःश्रेय इत्याहुर्वृद्धा निश्चयदर्शिनः ।
तस्माज्ज्ञानेन शुद्धेन मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः ॥३॥

3. jñānaṁ niḥśreya ityāhurvṛddhā niścayadarśinaḥ ,
tasmājjñānena śuddhena mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ.

3. jñānam niḥśreyas iti āhuḥ vṛddhāḥ niścayadarśinaḥ
tasmāt jñānena śuddhena mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

3. The elders, who possess firm discernment, declare that knowledge is the ultimate liberation (mokṣa). Therefore, by means of pure knowledge, one is freed from all transgressions.

Words meanings summery:

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge, wisdom

• निःश्रेयस् (niḥśreyas) - ultimate liberation (mokṣa) (supreme good, ultimate liberation, salvation)

• इति (iti) - thus, so, a particle marking quotation or conclusion

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

• वृद्धाः (vṛddhāḥ) - the wise elders (elders, old people, the wise)

• निश्चयदर्शिनः (niścayadarśinaḥ) - who possess firm discernment (those who see with certainty, discerning, having firm conviction)

• तस्मात् (tasmāt) - Therefore (therefore, from that, hence)

• ज्ञानेन (jñānena) - by means of knowledge (by knowledge, by wisdom)

• शुद्धेन (śuddhena) - by pure (by pure, by clean)

• मुच्यते (mucyate) - is freed (is liberated, is released, is freed)

• सर्वपातकैः (sarvapātakaiḥ) - from all transgressions (from all sins, from all transgressions)

Words meanings and morphology

ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge, wisdom

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom, spiritual knowledge

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Also accusative singular neuter. Context implies nominative.

निःश्रेयस् (niḥśreyas) - ultimate liberation (mokṣa) (supreme good, ultimate liberation, salvation)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of niḥśreyas

niḥśreyas - supreme good, ultimate bliss, liberation, salvation

From niḥ (out, away) + śreyas (better, good, bliss).

Note: Used predicatively with jñānam.

इति (iti) - thus, so, a particle marking quotation or conclusion

(indeclinable)

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

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, perfect (Lit) of ah

Irregular perfect tense form of root ah. Often linked to vac or brū.

Root: ah (class 2)

वृद्धाः (vṛddhāḥ) - the wise elders (elders, old people, the wise)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vṛddha

vṛddha - old, aged, grown, wise, experienced

Past Passive Participle

From root vṛdh (to grow).

Root: vṛdh (class 1)

निश्चयदर्शिनः (niścayadarśinaḥ) - who possess firm discernment (those who see with certainty, discerning, having firm conviction)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of niścayadarśin

niścayadarśin - one who sees with certainty, having firm conviction

Compound. niścaya (certainty) + darśin (one who sees).

Compound type : tatpurusha (niścaya+darśin)

• niścaya – certainty, conviction, firm resolve
  noun (masculine)
  From niś-√ci (to ascertain).
  Prefix: nis
  Root: ci (class 5)
• darśin – one who sees, a seer, observer
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent Noun/Adjective
  From root dṛś (to see) + suffix -in.
  Root: dṛś (class 1)

तस्मात् (tasmāt) - Therefore (therefore, from that, hence)

(indeclinable)

Note: Though derived from ablative of tad, it functions as an indeclinable adverb here.

ज्ञानेन (jñānena) - by means of knowledge (by knowledge, by wisdom)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of jñāna

jñāna - knowledge, wisdom, spiritual knowledge

Root: jñā (class 9)

शुद्धेन (śuddhena) - by pure (by pure, by clean)

(adjective)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of śuddha

śuddha - pure, clean, clear, cleansed

Past Passive Participle

From root śudh (to purify).

Root: śudh (class 4)

मुच्यते (mucyate) - is freed (is liberated, is released, is freed)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (Laṭ) of muc

Passive voice of root muc.

Root: muc (class 6)

सर्वपातकैः (sarvapātakaiḥ) - from all transgressions (from all sins, from all transgressions)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, plural of sarvapātaka

sarvapātaka - all sins, all evil deeds, all transgressions

Compound sarva (all) + pātaka (sin).

Compound type : tatpurusha (sarva+pātaka)

• sarva – all, every, whole
  adjective (masculine)
• pātaka – sin, crime, evil deed, transgression
  noun (neuter)
  From root pat (to fall) + aka suffix.
  Root: pat (class 1)

Note: Instrumental plural often denotes separation from (with mucyate).