महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-15, chapter-9, verse-18

पुरुषैरलमर्थज्ञैर्विदितैः कुलशीलतः ।
आत्मा च रक्ष्यः सततं भोजनादिषु भारत ॥१८॥

18. puruṣairalamarthajñairviditaiḥ kulaśīlataḥ ,
ātmā ca rakṣyaḥ satataṁ bhojanādiṣu bhārata.

18. puruṣaiḥ alam arthajñaiḥ viditaiḥ kulaśīlataḥ
ātmā ca rakṣyaḥ satatam bhojanādiṣu bhārata

18. bhārata ātmā ca satatam puruṣaiḥ alam arthajñaiḥ
kulaśīlataḥ viditaiḥ bhojanādiṣu rakṣyaḥ

18. And your own self (ātman) should always be protected, O Bhārata, by men who are competent, well-versed in affairs, and known for their family background and character, especially during meals and other activities.

Words meanings summery:

• पुरुषैः (puruṣaiḥ) - by men (by men, by persons, by servants)

• अलम् (alam) - competent (modifying the ability of the men) (enough, sufficient, adequate, capable, competent)

• अर्थज्ञैः (arthajñaiḥ) - by those well-versed in affairs (by those who know the meaning/purpose/affairs, by experts)

• विदितैः (viditaiḥ) - by those known (for their character) (by those who are known, understood, recognized)

• कुलशीलतः (kulaśīlataḥ) - for their family background and character (from (one's) family and character; by means of family and character)

• आत्मा (ātmā) - your own self (ātman) (self, soul, spirit, essence (ātman))

• च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

• रक्ष्यः (rakṣyaḥ) - should be protected (should be protected, guarded)

• सततम् (satatam) - always (constantly, perpetually, always)

• भोजनादिषु (bhojanādiṣu) - especially during meals and other activities (among meals and so on, during eating and other things)

• भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata (addressing Yudhiṣṭhira or Dhṛtarāṣṭra) (O descendant of Bharata, O Bhārata)

Words meanings and morphology

पुरुषैः (puruṣaiḥ) - by men (by men, by persons, by servants)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of puruṣa

puruṣa - man, person, human being, spirit, soul (puruṣa)

Note: Agent in passive construction for 'rakṣyaḥ'.

अलम् (alam) - competent (modifying the ability of the men) (enough, sufficient, adequate, capable, competent)

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb modifying 'arthajñaiḥ' and 'viditaiḥ'.

अर्थज्ञैः (arthajñaiḥ) - by those well-versed in affairs (by those who know the meaning/purpose/affairs, by experts)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of arthajña

arthajña - knowing the meaning/purpose, acquainted with affairs, expert

Compound of 'artha' (meaning, purpose, affair) + 'jña' (knower).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (artha+jña)

• artha – meaning, purpose, object, affair, wealth, advantage
  noun (masculine)
• jña – knowing, knower, wise
  adjective (masculine)
  From root 'jñā' (to know).
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Agrees with 'puruṣaiḥ'.

विदितैः (viditaiḥ) - by those known (for their character) (by those who are known, understood, recognized)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of vidita

vidita - known, understood, recognized, perceived

Past Passive Participle

From root 'vid' (to know, perceive) with suffix -ta.

Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Agrees with 'puruṣaiḥ'.

कुलशीलतः (kulaśīlataḥ) - for their family background and character (from (one's) family and character; by means of family and character)

(indeclinable)

Compound of 'kula' (family) and 'śīla' (character). The suffix -taḥ indicates ablative meaning 'from' or an adverbial 'by means of'.

Compound type : dvandva (kula+śīla)

• kula – family, lineage, race, community
  noun (neuter)
• śīla – character, conduct, habit, nature, morality
  noun (neuter)

Note: Used adverbially here to qualify 'viditaiḥ'.

आत्मा (ātmā) - your own self (ātman) (self, soul, spirit, essence (ātman))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - self, soul, spirit, essence, ego, mind (ātman)

Root: an (class 2)

Note: Subject of the passive verb 'rakṣyaḥ'.

च (ca) - and (and, also, moreover)

(indeclinable)

रक्ष्यः (rakṣyaḥ) - should be protected (should be protected, guarded)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rakṣya

rakṣya - to be protected, guarded, preserved

Gerundive / Future Passive Participle

From root 'rakṣ' (to protect) with suffix -ya (or -ṇya).

Root: rakṣ (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'ātmā'.

सततम् (satatam) - always (constantly, perpetually, always)

(indeclinable)

From 'sa-' (with) + 'tata' (spread, extended). Adverbial form.

Prefix: sa

Root: tan (class 8)

Note: Adverb modifying 'rakṣyaḥ'.

भोजनादिषु (bhojanādiṣu) - especially during meals and other activities (among meals and so on, during eating and other things)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of bhojanādi

bhojanādi - eating and other things, beginning with food

Compound of 'bhojana' (eating) and 'ādi' (beginning, etc.).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa or dvandva (bhojana+ādi)

• bhojana – eating, food, meal
  noun (neuter)
  Verbal noun
  From root 'bhuj' (to eat, enjoy) with suffix -ana.
  Root: bhuj (class 7)
• ādi – beginning, and so on, etc.
  noun (masculine)

Note: Refers to times/situations.

भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata (addressing Yudhiṣṭhira or Dhṛtarāṣṭra) (O descendant of Bharata, O Bhārata)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of bhārata

bhārata - a descendant of Bharata; related to Bharata; India

Derivative from 'bharata'. Used as a vocative.