महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-15, chapter-16, verse-19

मन्दा मृदुषु कौरव्यास्तीक्ष्णेष्वाशीविषोपमाः ।
वीर्यवन्तो महात्मानः पौराणां च हिते रताः ॥१९॥

19. mandā mṛduṣu kauravyāstīkṣṇeṣvāśīviṣopamāḥ ,
vīryavanto mahātmānaḥ paurāṇāṁ ca hite ratāḥ.

19. mandāḥ mṛduṣu kauravyāḥ tīkṣṇeṣu āśīviṣopamāḥ
vīryavantaḥ mahātmānaḥ paurāṇām ca hite ratāḥ

19. kauravyāḥ mṛduṣu mandāḥ tīkṣṇeṣu āśīviṣopamāḥ
vīryavantaḥ mahātmānaḥ ca paurāṇām hite ratāḥ

19. The Kauravas are mild towards the gentle but like venomous serpents towards the harsh. They are valorous, great-souled, and devoted to the welfare of the citizens.

Words meanings summery:

• मन्दाः (mandāḥ) - mild, gentle (slow, dull, gentle, mild)

• मृदुषु (mṛduṣu) - towards the gentle (among the soft, towards the gentle)

• कौरव्याः (kauravyāḥ) - the Kauravas (referring to the Pandavas) (the Kauravas, descendants of Kuru (here, the Pandavas))

• तीक्ष्णेषु (tīkṣṇeṣu) - towards the harsh, towards the fierce (among the sharp, towards the harsh, in sharp things)

• आशीविषोपमाः (āśīviṣopamāḥ) - like venomous serpents

• वीर्यवन्तः (vīryavantaḥ) - valorous (valorous, powerful, heroic)

• महात्मानः (mahātmānaḥ) - great-souled, magnanimous (great-souled, magnanimous, noble-minded)

• पौराणाम् (paurāṇām) - of the citizens (of the citizens, of the townspeople)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• हिते (hite) - for the welfare (in welfare, for benefit, in what is beneficial)

• रताः (ratāḥ) - devoted, engaged (engaged, devoted, attached)

Words meanings and morphology

मन्दाः (mandāḥ) - mild, gentle (slow, dull, gentle, mild)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of manda

manda - slow, dull, gentle, mild, weak

Note: Refers to the Kauravyas/Pandavas.

मृदुषु (mṛduṣu) - towards the gentle (among the soft, towards the gentle)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, plural of mṛdu

mṛdu - soft, gentle, mild, tender

Note: Describes the persons towards whom the Kauravyas are gentle.

कौरव्याः (kauravyāḥ) - the Kauravas (referring to the Pandavas) (the Kauravas, descendants of Kuru (here, the Pandavas))

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of kauravya

kauravya - a descendant of Kuru; belonging to the Kurus (referring to both Kauravas and Pandavas, but often the Pandavas in this context)

Patronymic from Kuru.

Note: Subject of the sentence.

तीक्ष्णेषु (tīkṣṇeṣu) - towards the harsh, towards the fierce (among the sharp, towards the harsh, in sharp things)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, plural of tīkṣṇa

tīkṣṇa - sharp, fierce, harsh, keen, pungent

Note: Describes the persons towards whom the Kauravyas are fierce.

आशीविषोपमाः (āśīviṣopamāḥ) - like venomous serpents

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of āśīviṣopama

āśīviṣopama - resembling a venomous serpent, like a snake whose fangs are in its head

Compound type : tatpurusha (āśīviṣa+upama)

• āśīviṣa – venomous serpent (lit. one whose poison is in its fangs/mouth)
  noun (masculine)
• upama – like, similar to, resembling
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Predicate adjective for 'kauravyāḥ'.

वीर्यवन्तः (vīryavantaḥ) - valorous (valorous, powerful, heroic)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vīryavat

vīryavat - possessing valor, powerful, heroic, energetic

Possessive suffix -vat.

Note: Another predicate adjective for 'kauravyāḥ'.

महात्मानः (mahātmānaḥ) - great-souled, magnanimous (great-souled, magnanimous, noble-minded)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of mahātman

mahātman - great-souled, magnanimous, noble, a great person

Compound type : bahuvrihi (mahat+ātman)

• mahat – great, large, vast
  adjective (masculine)
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence
  noun (masculine)

Note: Another predicate adjective for 'kauravyāḥ'.

पौराणाम् (paurāṇām) - of the citizens (of the citizens, of the townspeople)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of paura

paura - citizen, town-dweller, urban

From pur (city).

Note: Connected with 'hite'.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects 'vīryavantaḥ'/'mahātmānaḥ' with 'hite ratāḥ'.

हिते (hite) - for the welfare (in welfare, for benefit, in what is beneficial)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of hita

hita - beneficial, salutary, welfare, good

Past Passive Participle

From √dhā 'to place', but often acts as a noun meaning 'welfare, good'.

Root: dhā (class 3)

Note: Locative indicates purpose or sphere.

रताः (ratāḥ) - devoted, engaged (engaged, devoted, attached)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of rata

rata - engaged, devoted, attached to, fond of

Past Passive Participle

From root √ram 'to delight, to be pleased, to rest'.

Root: ram (class 1)

Note: Predicate adjective for 'kauravyāḥ'.