महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-18, chapter-2, verse-16

अग्रतो देवदूतस्तु ययौ राजा च पृष्ठतः ।
पन्थानमशुभं दुर्गं सेवितं पापकर्मभिः ॥१६॥

16. agrato devadūtastu yayau rājā ca pṛṣṭhataḥ ,
panthānamaśubhaṁ durgaṁ sevitaṁ pāpakarmabhiḥ.

16. agrataḥ devadūtaḥ tu yayau rājā ca pṛṣṭhataḥ
panthānam aśubham durgam sevitam pāpakarmabhiḥ

16. tu devadūtaḥ agrataḥ yayau ca rājā pṛṣṭhataḥ
aśubham durgam panthānam pāpakarmabhiḥ sevitam

16. The divine messenger, however, went ahead, while the king followed behind, traversing an inauspicious and difficult path, frequented by those who committed sinful acts (karma).

Words meanings summery:

• अग्रतः (agrataḥ) - ahead (in front, ahead)

• देवदूतः (devadūtaḥ) - the divine messenger (divine messenger, messenger of the gods)

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

• ययौ (yayau) - went (past tense) (he went, went)

• राजा (rājā) - the king (Yudhishthira) (king)

• च (ca) - while, and (and, also)

• पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ) - behind (from behind, behind)

• पन्थानम् (panthānam) - the path (path, road)

• अशुभम् (aśubham) - inauspicious (inauspicious, unlucky, evil)

• दुर्गम् (durgam) - difficult (to traverse) (difficult to pass, inaccessible, stronghold)

• सेवितम् (sevitam) - frequented (frequented, served, resorted to)

• पापकर्मभिः (pāpakarmabhiḥ) - by those who committed sinful acts (by those of sinful deeds, by evil-doers)

Words meanings and morphology

अग्रतः (agrataḥ) - ahead (in front, ahead)

(indeclinable)

from agra (front) + -tas suffix indicating direction or position

देवदूतः (devadūtaḥ) - the divine messenger (divine messenger, messenger of the gods)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of devadūta

devadūta - divine messenger, messenger of the gods

Compound type : tatpurusha (deva+dūta)

• deva – god, divine being
  noun (masculine)
  Root: div (class 4)
• dūta – messenger, envoy
  noun (masculine)
  from root dū (to go, move) or dū (to burn)
  Root: dū (class 1)

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

(indeclinable)

ययौ (yayau) - went (past tense) (he went, went)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of gam

Root: gam (class 1)

राजा (rājā) - the king (Yudhishthira) (king)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler

Root: rāj (class 1)

च (ca) - while, and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ) - behind (from behind, behind)

(indeclinable)

from pṛṣṭha (back) + -tas suffix indicating direction or position

पन्थानम् (panthānam) - the path (path, road)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of pathin

pathin - path, road, way

अशुभम् (aśubham) - inauspicious (inauspicious, unlucky, evil)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of aśubha

aśubha - inauspicious, unlucky, evil, bad

nañ-tatpuruṣa compound of a (not) + śubha (auspicious)

Compound type : nañ-tatpurusha (a+śubha)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
  negative particle
• śubha – auspicious, fortunate, beautiful
  adjective
  Root: śubh (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'panthānam'.

दुर्गम् (durgam) - difficult (to traverse) (difficult to pass, inaccessible, stronghold)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of durga

durga - difficult to pass, inaccessible, stronghold

from dus (badly, difficult) + ga (going)

Compound type : karmadharaya (dus+ga)

• dus – bad, difficult (prefix)
  indeclinable
  prefix indicating difficulty or badness
• ga – going, moving
  adjective
  from root gam (to go)
  Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'panthānam'.

सेवितम् (sevitam) - frequented (frequented, served, resorted to)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of sevita

sevita - frequented, served, resorted to, honored

Past Passive Participle

from root sev (to serve, frequent)

Root: sev (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'panthānam'.

पापकर्मभिः (pāpakarmabhiḥ) - by those who committed sinful acts (by those of sinful deeds, by evil-doers)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of pāpakarma

pāpakarma - one whose deeds are evil, evil-doer

Compound type : bahuvrihi (pāpa+karma)

• pāpa – sin, evil, wicked
  noun (neuter)
• karma – action, deed, work, ritual (karma)
  noun (neuter)
  from root kṛ (to do, make)
  Root: kṛ (class 8)