महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-53, verse-15

अधर्मे वर्तमानानां सर्वेषामहमप्युत ।
धर्मस्य सेतुं बध्नामि चलिते चलिते युगे ।
तास्ता योनीः प्रविश्याहं प्रजानां हितकाम्यया ॥१५॥

15. adharme vartamānānāṁ sarveṣāmahamapyuta ,
dharmasya setuṁ badhnāmi calite calite yuge ,
tāstā yonīḥ praviśyāhaṁ prajānāṁ hitakāmyayā.

15. adharme vartamānānām sarveṣām aham
api uta dharmasya setum badhnāmi
calite calite yuge tāstāḥ yonīḥ
praviśya aham prajānām hitakāmyayā

15. Indeed, for all those who are engaged in unrighteousness (adharma), I establish the boundary of natural law (dharma) in every passing age. Entering into those various species, I do this out of a desire for the welfare of all beings.

Words meanings summery:

• अधर्मे (adharme) - in unrighteousness, in injustice, in lawlessness

• वर्तमानानाम् (vartamānānām) - of those who are engaged (in unrighteousness) (of those who are existing, of those who are present, of those who are acting)

• सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all, of everyone

• अहम् (aham) - I

• अपि (api) - indeed, even (even, also, too, indeed)

• उत (uta) - indeed, emphasizing the previous 'api' (indeed, moreover, or)

• धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of natural law (dharma) (of righteousness, of natural law, of duty)

• सेतुम् (setum) - the boundary (of natural law) (a bridge, a dam, a boundary, a limitation)

• बध्नामि (badhnāmi) - I establish, I build (a boundary) (I bind, I tie, I establish, I build)

• चलिते (calite) - in the passing (age) (having moved, when moved, in the agitated, in the passing)

• चलिते (calite) - in the passing (age) (having moved, when moved, in the agitated, in the passing)

• युगे (yuge) - in an age (yuga) (in an age, in an era, in a (yuga))

• तास्ताः (tāstāḥ) - those various (species) (those various, those several)

• योनीः (yonīḥ) - species, forms of birth (wombs, origins, births, species, sources)

• प्रविश्य (praviśya) - by entering (into) (having entered, by entering)

• अहम् (aham) - I

• प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of all beings/creatures (of creatures, of beings, of progeny, of subjects)

• हितकाम्यया (hitakāmyayā) - out of a desire for the welfare (with the desire for welfare, for the sake of well-being)

Words meanings and morphology

अधर्मे (adharme) - in unrighteousness, in injustice, in lawlessness

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of adharma

adharma - unrighteousness, injustice, wrong, violation of natural law (dharma)

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+dharma)

• a – not, non
  indeclinable
• dharma – natural law, constitution, righteousness, duty
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

वर्तमानानाम् (vartamānānām) - of those who are engaged (in unrighteousness) (of those who are existing, of those who are present, of those who are acting)

(participle)

Genitive, masculine, plural of vartamāna

vartamāna - existing, present, current, acting, being, abiding

present active participle

Derived from root 'vṛt' with the śānac suffix.

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: The middle voice ending implies agency in the context of action.

सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all, of everyone

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sarva

sarva - all, every, whole, complete

Note: Agrees with 'vartamānānām'.

अहम् (aham) - I

(pronoun)

Nominative, singular of asmad

asmad - I, we

अपि (api) - indeed, even (even, also, too, indeed)

(indeclinable)

उत (uta) - indeed, emphasizing the previous 'api' (indeed, moreover, or)

(indeclinable)

Note: Often used with api to intensify the meaning 'even indeed'.

धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of natural law (dharma) (of righteousness, of natural law, of duty)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, righteousness, duty, virtue

From root 'dhṛ' (to hold, sustain) + man suffix.

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

सेतुम् (setum) - the boundary (of natural law) (a bridge, a dam, a boundary, a limitation)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of setu

setu - bridge, dam, bank, boundary, limit, landmark

Root: si (class 5)

Note: Object of 'badhnāmi'.

बध्नामि (badhnāmi) - I establish, I build (a boundary) (I bind, I tie, I establish, I build)

(verb)

1st person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of bandh

present active indicative

Root 'bandh' (9th class)

Root: bandh (class 9)

Note: The 'nā' infix is characteristic of 9th class verbs.

चलिते (calite) - in the passing (age) (having moved, when moved, in the agitated, in the passing)

(participle)

Locative, neuter, singular of calita

calita - moved, agitated, unsteady, passed away, gone

past passive participle

Derived from root 'cal' with the kta suffix.

Root: cal (class 1)

Note: Repetition ('calite calite') implies 'in every passing'.

चलिते (calite) - in the passing (age) (having moved, when moved, in the agitated, in the passing)

(participle)

Locative, neuter, singular of calita

calita - moved, agitated, unsteady, passed away, gone

past passive participle

Derived from root 'cal' with the kta suffix.

Root: cal (class 1)

Note: Repetition ('calite calite') implies 'in every passing'.

युगे (yuge) - in an age (yuga) (in an age, in an era, in a (yuga))

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of yuga

yuga - age, era, epoch, a pair, yoke

Root: yuj (class 7)

Note: Qualified by 'calite calite'.

तास्ताः (tāstāḥ) - those various (species) (those various, those several)

(pronoun)

Accusative, feminine, plural of tāstā

tāstā - those several, those respective

Reduplicated form of 'tā' (feminine plural of 'tad'), implying 'various' or 'respective'.

Note: Acts as an adjective for 'yonīḥ'.

योनीः (yonīḥ) - species, forms of birth (wombs, origins, births, species, sources)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, plural of yoni

yoni - womb, place of birth, origin, source, species, race, family

From root 'yu' (to join) + ni suffix or 'jan' (to be born).

Root: jan (class 4)

Note: Object of 'praviśya'.

प्रविश्य (praviśya) - by entering (into) (having entered, by entering)

(indeclinable)

absolutive/gerund

From prefix 'pra' + root 'viś' + lyap suffix.

Prefix: pra

Root: viś (class 6)

Note: Modifies the main action of binding/establishing.

अहम् (aham) - I

(pronoun)

Nominative, singular of asmad

asmad - I, we

Note: Repeats for emphasis, or serves as the subject for both 'badhnāmi' and the implied action of 'praviśya'.

प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of all beings/creatures (of creatures, of beings, of progeny, of subjects)

(noun)

Genitive, feminine, plural of prajā

prajā - progeny, offspring, creatures, subjects, people

From prefix 'pra' + root 'jan' (to be born).

Prefix: pra

Root: jan (class 4)

Note: Connects with 'hitakāmyayā'.

हितकाम्यया (hitakāmyayā) - out of a desire for the welfare (with the desire for welfare, for the sake of well-being)

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of hitakāmyā

hitakāmyā - desire for welfare, well-wishing

From 'hita' (welfare) + 'kāmyā' (desire).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (hita+kāmyā)

• hita – beneficial, welfare, good, suitable
  participle (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root 'dhā' + kta suffix (with vocalic change)
  Root: dhā (class 3)
• kāmyā – desire, longing
  noun (feminine)
  From root 'kam' + ya suffix (as a nominalization)
  Root: kam (class 1)

Note: Expresses the reason or means.