महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-14, chapter-95, verse-6

तत्राग्निकल्पा होतार आसन्सत्रे महात्मनः ।
मूलाहारा निराहाराः साश्मकुट्टा मरीचिपाः ॥६॥

6. tatrāgnikalpā hotāra āsansatre mahātmanaḥ ,
mūlāhārā nirāhārāḥ sāśmakuṭṭā marīcipāḥ.

6. tatra agnikalpāḥ hotāraḥ āsan satre mahātmanaḥ
mūlāhārāḥ nirāhārāḥ sāśmakuṭṭāḥ marīcipāḥ

6. There, in that great Vedic ritual (sattra) of the high-souled (Agastya), there were priests (hotāraḥ) whose brilliance was like fire. Among them, some lived on roots, some observed fasts (nirāhārāḥ), some crushed their sustenance with stones, and some subsisted only on sunbeams.

Words meanings summery:

• तत्र (tatra) - at that time (there, in that place, then, at that time)

• अग्निकल्पाः (agnikalpāḥ) - radiant like fire (in intensity and purity) (like fire, fiery, resembling fire)

• होतारः (hotāraḥ) - Vedic priests (Vedic priest, invoker of gods)

• आसन् (āsan) - were present (were, existed)

• सत्रे (satre) - in the great Vedic ritual (sattra) (in the Vedic ritual, in the sacrificial session, in the assembly)

• महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the high-souled (Agastya) (of the great soul, of the high-minded, of the noble one)

• मूलाहाराः (mūlāhārāḥ) - subsisting on roots (subsisting on roots, living on roots)

• निराहाराः (nirāhārāḥ) - observing fasts, without food (without food, fasting, abstaining from food)

• साश्मकुट्टाः (sāśmakuṭṭāḥ) - crushing their sustenance with stones (those who pound with stones, using stones for pounding food)

• मरीचिपाः (marīcipāḥ) - subsisting on rays of light (those who drink rays (of light), subsisting on sunbeams)

Words meanings and morphology

तत्र (tatra) - at that time (there, in that place, then, at that time)

(indeclinable)

अग्निकल्पाः (agnikalpāḥ) - radiant like fire (in intensity and purity) (like fire, fiery, resembling fire)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of agnikalpa

agnikalpa - like fire, fiery, resembling fire, as powerful as fire

Compound of Agni (fire) and Kalpa (resembling, like).

Compound type : tatpurusha (agni+kalpa)

• agni – fire, god of fire
  noun (masculine)
• kalpa – resembling, like, similar to, a cosmic age
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Refers to the priests (hotāraḥ).

होतारः (hotāraḥ) - Vedic priests (Vedic priest, invoker of gods)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of hotṛ

hotṛ - Vedic priest (who invokes deities), sacrificer, offerer

Agent noun

From root √hu (to offer, sacrifice) + tṛc suffix.

Root: hu (class 3)

Note: Subject of the sentence.

आसन् (āsan) - were present (were, existed)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, past imperfect (Laṅ) of as

Imperfect (Laṅ) 3rd plural

From root √as (2nd class Parasmaipada).

Root: as (class 2)

सत्रे (satre) - in the great Vedic ritual (sattra) (in the Vedic ritual, in the sacrificial session, in the assembly)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of sattra

sattra - a long sacrificial session, a Vedic ritual, an assembly, a charitable institution

Note: Refers to the context of Agastya's initiation.

महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the high-souled (Agastya) (of the great soul, of the high-minded, of the noble one)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of mahātman

mahātman - great soul, high-minded, noble, spiritual self (ātman)

Compound of mahā (great) and ātman (soul, self).

Compound type : karmadhāraya (mahā+ātman)

• mahā – great, large, mighty
  adjective (feminine)
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence
  noun (masculine)

Note: Qualifies Agastya, who is implied as the subject of the sattra.

मूलाहाराः (mūlāhārāḥ) - subsisting on roots (subsisting on roots, living on roots)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of mūlāhāra

mūlāhāra - subsisting on roots

Compound of mūla (root) and āhāra (food, sustenance).

Compound type : tatpurusha (mūla+āhāra)

• mūla – root, origin, foundation
  noun (neuter)
• āhāra – food, sustenance, diet
  noun (masculine)
  From ā-√hṛ (to take, collect).
  Prefix: ā
  Root: hṛ (class 1)

Note: Qualifies hotāraḥ.

निराहाराः (nirāhārāḥ) - observing fasts, without food (without food, fasting, abstaining from food)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of nirāhāra

nirāhāra - without food, fasting, abstaining from food

Compound of nis (without, negation) and āhāra (food).

Compound type : bahuvrihi (nis+āhāra)

• nis – without, out, cessation, negation
  indeclinable
• āhāra – food, sustenance, diet
  noun (masculine)
  From ā-√hṛ (to take, collect).
  Prefix: ā
  Root: hṛ (class 1)

Note: Qualifies hotāraḥ.

साश्मकुट्टाः (sāśmakuṭṭāḥ) - crushing their sustenance with stones (those who pound with stones, using stones for pounding food)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of sāśmakuṭṭa

sāśmakuṭṭa - one who pounds with stones

Compound of sa (with) + aśman (stone) + kuṭṭa (pounded/pounding).

Compound type : bahuvrihi (sa+aśman+kuṭṭa)

• sa – with, together with
  indeclinable
• aśman – stone, rock, thunderbolt
  noun (masculine)
• kuṭṭa – pounded, crushed
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  From root √kuṭṭ (10th class Parasmaipada).
  Root: kuṭṭ (class 10)

Note: Qualifies hotāraḥ.

मरीचिपाः (marīcipāḥ) - subsisting on rays of light (those who drink rays (of light), subsisting on sunbeams)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of marīcipa

marīcipa - one who drinks rays of light, subsisting on sunbeams

Compound of marīci (ray of light) and pa (drinker).

Compound type : tatpurusha (marīci+pa)

• marīci – ray of light, sunbeam, mirage
  noun (masculine)
• pa – drinker, protector, guardian
  noun (masculine)
  Agent noun
  From root √pā (to drink).
  Root: pā (class 1)

Note: Qualifies hotāraḥ.