महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-18, chapter-5, verse-43

इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं महार्थं वेदसंमितम् ।
श्रावयेद्यस्तु वर्णांस्त्रीन्कृत्वा ब्राह्मणमग्रतः ॥४३॥

43. itihāsamimaṁ puṇyaṁ mahārthaṁ vedasaṁmitam ,
śrāvayedyastu varṇāṁstrīnkṛtvā brāhmaṇamagrataḥ.

43. itihāsam imam puṇyam mahārtham vedasaṁmitam
śrāvayet yaḥ tu varṇān trīn kṛtvā brāhmaṇam agrataḥ

43. And whoever recites this sacred history (itihāsa), which is of great significance and comparable to the Vedic texts, to the three social classes, having placed a brahmin at the forefront...

Words meanings summery:

• इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - this epic history (the Mahābhārata) (history, legend, epic)

• इमम् (imam) - this (epic) (this)

• पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - sacred, conferring merit (sacred, meritorious, holy)

• महार्थम् (mahārtham) - highly significant in its content (of great meaning, highly significant)

• वेदसंमितम् (vedasaṁmitam) - having the authority and value of Vedic texts (equivalent to the Vedas, approved by the Vedas)

• श्रावयेत् (śrāvayet) - should narrate or make others listen to (the epic) (should cause to hear, should recite)

• यः (yaḥ) - whoever (the person who recites) (who, whoever)

• तु (tu) - and (connecting this sentence to the previous context) (but, and, indeed)

• वर्णान् (varṇān) - the social classes of society (social classes, colors)

• त्रीन् (trīn) - the three (classes) (three)

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having placed, putting (a brahmin) (having done, having made, having placed)

• ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - a member of the priestly class (a Brahmin)

• अग्रतः (agrataḥ) - at the forefront, in precedence (in front, before, first)

Words meanings and morphology

इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - this epic history (the Mahābhārata) (history, legend, epic)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of itihāsa

itihāsa - history, legend, epic, tradition

From 'iti ha āsa' (thus it was).

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Object of 'śrāvayet'.

इमम् (imam) - this (epic) (this)

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

Demonstrative pronoun.

Note: Agrees with 'itihāsam'.

पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - sacred, conferring merit (sacred, meritorious, holy)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of puṇya

puṇya - sacred, pure, meritorious, virtuous, good

From '√puṇ' (to collect, purify).

Root: puṇ

Note: Agrees with 'itihāsam'.

महार्थम् (mahārtham) - highly significant in its content (of great meaning, highly significant)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of mahārtha

mahārtha - of great meaning, very important, highly significant, rich in meaning

Compound of 'mahā' (great) + 'artha' (meaning, purpose).

Compound type : karmadhāraya (mahā+artha)

• mahā – great, large, mighty
  adjective
• artha – meaning, purpose, wealth, object
  noun (masculine)

Note: Agrees with 'itihāsam'.

वेदसंमितम् (vedasaṁmitam) - having the authority and value of Vedic texts (equivalent to the Vedas, approved by the Vedas)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of vedasaṁmita

vedasaṁmita - equivalent to the Veda, corresponding to the Veda, approved by the Veda

Compound of 'veda' (Vedic texts) + 'saṁmita' (measured, equal to).

Compound type : tatpurusha (veda+saṁmita)

• veda – Vedic texts, sacred knowledge
  noun (masculine)
  From '√vid' (to know).
  Root: vid (class 2)
• saṁmita – measured, equal, comparable, approved
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  From 'sam' (with) + '√mā' (to measure) + 'kta' (pp. suffix).
  Prefix: sam
  Root: mā (class 2)

Note: Agrees with 'itihāsam'.

श्रावयेत् (śrāvayet) - should narrate or make others listen to (the epic) (should cause to hear, should recite)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhi-liṅ) of śru

Causative optative

From '√śru' (to hear) in the causative stem 'śrāvaya', optative 3rd person singular 'śrāvayet'.

Root: śru (class 5)

Note: Main verb of the sentence.

यः (yaḥ) - whoever (the person who recites) (who, whoever)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what

Relative pronoun.

Note: Subject of 'śrāvayet'.

तु (tu) - and (connecting this sentence to the previous context) (but, and, indeed)

(indeclinable)

Conjunction/particle.

Note: Connects the statement about the merit of recitation.

वर्णान् (varṇān) - the social classes of society (social classes, colors)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of varṇa

varṇa - color, caste, social class, letter, sound

From '√vṛ' (to cover, choose).

Root: vṛ (class 5)

Note: Object of 'śrāvayet'.

त्रीन् (trīn) - the three (classes) (three)

(numeral)

Note: Qualifies 'varṇān'.

कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having placed, putting (a brahmin) (having done, having made, having placed)

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (gerund)

From '√kṛ' (to do, make) + 'ktvā' (absolutive suffix).

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Modifies the action of 'śrāvayet'.

ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - a member of the priestly class (a Brahmin)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin (member of the priestly class), related to Brahman

From 'brahman' (Vedic text, supreme reality, priestly class) + 'aṇ' suffix.

Note: Object of 'kṛtvā'.

अग्रतः (agrataḥ) - at the forefront, in precedence (in front, before, first)

(indeclinable)

From 'agra' + 'tasil' (directional suffix).

Note: Modifies 'kṛtvā'.