महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-53, verse-17

यदा गन्धर्वयोनौ तु वर्तामि भृगुनन्दन ।
तदा गन्धर्ववच्चेष्टाः सर्वाश्चेष्टामि भार्गव ॥१७॥

17. yadā gandharvayonau tu vartāmi bhṛgunandana ,
tadā gandharvavacceṣṭāḥ sarvāśceṣṭāmi bhārgava.

17. yadā gandharvayonau tu vartāmi bhṛgunandana tadā
gandharvavat ceṣṭāḥ sarvāḥ ca ceṣṭāmi bhārgava

17. And when I exist in a Gandharva species, O descendant of Bhrigu, then I perform all actions like a Gandharva, O Bhargava.

Words meanings summery:

• यदा (yadā) - when, at what time

• गन्धर्वयोनौ (gandharvayonau) - in a Gandharva species (in a Gandharva species, in a Gandharva origin)

• तु (tu) - but, indeed, however, on the other hand

• वर्तामि (vartāmi) - I exist, I am present (I am, I exist, I behave, I turn)

• भृगुनन्दन (bhṛgunandana) - O descendant of Bhrigu (O delight of Bhrigu, O son of Bhrigu)

• तदा (tadā) - then, at that time

• गन्धर्ववत् (gandharvavat) - like a Gandharva (like a Gandharva, in the manner of Gandharvas)

• चेष्टाः (ceṣṭāḥ) - actions, activities (actions, movements, efforts)

• सर्वाः (sarvāḥ) - all (all, every, whole)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• चेष्टामि (ceṣṭāmi) - I perform (actions) (I act, I move, I attempt, I exert myself)

• भार्गव (bhārgava) - O Bhargava (descendant of Bhrigu) (O descendant of Bhrigu, O related to Bhrigu)

Words meanings and morphology

यदा (yadā) - when, at what time

(indeclinable)

From pronoun 'yad'.

गन्धर्वयोनौ (gandharvayonau) - in a Gandharva species (in a Gandharva species, in a Gandharva origin)

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of gandharvayoni

gandharvayoni - Gandharva species, birth among Gandharvas

Compound of 'gandharva' and 'yoni'.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (gandharva+yoni)

• gandharva – celestial musician, Gandharva (a class of demigods)
  proper noun (masculine)
• yoni – womb, place of birth, origin, species
  noun (feminine)
  Root: jan (class 4)

तु (tu) - but, indeed, however, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects with the previous verse, contrasting the 'deva' and 'gandharva' forms.

वर्तामि (vartāmi) - I exist, I am present (I am, I exist, I behave, I turn)

(verb)

1st person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of vṛt

present active indicative

Root 'vṛt' (1st class, Ātmanepada)

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Verb for 'aham' (implied).

भृगुनन्दन (bhṛgunandana) - O descendant of Bhrigu (O delight of Bhrigu, O son of Bhrigu)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of bhṛgunandana

bhṛgunandana - delight of Bhrigu, son of Bhrigu, descendant of Bhrigu

Compound 'Bhrigu' + 'nandana' (delight, son).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (bhṛgu+nandana)

• bhṛgu – name of an ancient sage
  proper noun (masculine)
• nandana – delight, son, child
  noun (masculine)
  From root 'nand'
  Root: nand (class 1)

Note: Address to the listener.

तदा (tadā) - then, at that time

(indeclinable)

From pronoun 'tad'.

Note: Correlates with 'yadā'.

गन्धर्ववत् (gandharvavat) - like a Gandharva (like a Gandharva, in the manner of Gandharvas)

(indeclinable)

From 'gandharva' + vat suffix (like).

Note: Modifies 'ceṣṭāmi'.

चेष्टाः (ceṣṭāḥ) - actions, activities (actions, movements, efforts)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, plural of ceṣṭā

ceṣṭā - action, movement, gesture, effort, exertion

From root 'ceṣṭ' + a suffix.

Root: ceṣṭ (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'sarvāḥ'.

सर्वाः (sarvāḥ) - all (all, every, whole)

(pronoun)

Accusative, feminine, plural of sarva

sarva - all, every, whole, complete

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects with the preceding and implies 'and I act (thus)'.

चेष्टामि (ceṣṭāmi) - I perform (actions) (I act, I move, I attempt, I exert myself)

(verb)

1st person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of ceṣṭ

present active indicative

Root 'ceṣṭ' (1st class, Ātmanepada)

Root: ceṣṭ (class 1)

Note: The verb 'to act' with 'ceṣṭāḥ' (actions) as its object implies 'perform actions'.

भार्गव (bhārgava) - O Bhargava (descendant of Bhrigu) (O descendant of Bhrigu, O related to Bhrigu)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of bhārgava

bhārgava - descendant of Bhrigu, relating to Bhrigu, a name for Śukra

Patronymic from 'Bhrigu'.

Note: Repeated address.