महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-15, verse-15

अनारम्भे तु नियतो भवेदगुणनिश्चयः ।
गुणान्निःसंशयाद्राजन्नैर्गुण्यं मन्यसे कथम् ॥१५॥

15. anārambhe tu niyato bhavedaguṇaniścayaḥ ,
guṇānniḥsaṁśayādrājannairguṇyaṁ manyase katham.

15. anārambhe tu niyataḥ bhavet aguṇaniścayaḥ guṇāt
niḥsaṃśayāt rājan nairguṇyam manyase katham

15. However, in non-action, there would certainly be a definite absence of positive results. O King, when (the potential for) merits is beyond doubt, how can you consider it as leading to demerit?

Words meanings summery:

• अनारम्भे (anārambhe) - in non-commencement, in the absence of an undertaking

• तु (tu) - but, indeed, however

• नियतः (niyataḥ) - certain, fixed, definite

• भवेत् (bhavet) - would be, should be, might be

• अगुणनिश्चयः (aguṇaniścayaḥ) - a certainty of demerit, a definite lack of good qualities/results

• गुणात् (guṇāt) - from (good) qualities, from merits

• निःसंशयात् (niḥsaṁśayāt) - from undoubted, certainly, without doubt

• राजन् (rājan) - O King

• नैर्गुण्यम् (nairguṇyam) - lack of qualities, demerit, worthlessness

• मन्यसे (manyase) - you consider, you think, you believe

• कथम् (katham) - how, why

Words meanings and morphology

अनारम्भे (anārambhe) - in non-commencement, in the absence of an undertaking

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of anārambha

anārambha - non-commencement, inaction, absence of undertaking

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+ārambha)

• a – not, non-, un-
  indeclinable
• ārambha – commencement, undertaking, beginning
  noun (masculine)
  from prefix ā + root rabh (to take) + ghañ
  Prefix: ā
  Root: rabh (class 1)

तु (tu) - but, indeed, however

(indeclinable)

नियतः (niyataḥ) - certain, fixed, definite

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of niyata

niyata - certain, fixed, restrained, destined

Past Passive Participle

from prefix ni + root yam (to control, restrain) + kta

Prefix: ni

Root: yam (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'aguṇaniścayaḥ'.

भवेत् (bhavet) - would be, should be, might be

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of bhū

Root: bhū (class 1)

अगुणनिश्चयः (aguṇaniścayaḥ) - a certainty of demerit, a definite lack of good qualities/results

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of aguṇaniścaya

aguṇaniścaya - certainty of demerit, definite absence of good qualities

Compound type : karmadhāraya (aguṇa+niścaya)

• aguṇa – demerit, fault, lack of good quality/merit
  noun (masculine)
  nañ-tatpuruṣa: a (not) + guṇa (quality/merit)
• niścaya – certainty, ascertainment, conviction
  noun (masculine)
  from prefix niś + root ci (to gather) + ac
  Prefix: niś
  Root: ci (class 5)

Note: Subject of 'bhavet'.

गुणात् (guṇāt) - from (good) qualities, from merits

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of guṇa

guṇa - quality, merit, virtue, excellence

Note: Indicates origin or cause.

निःसंशयात् (niḥsaṁśayāt) - from undoubted, certainly, without doubt

(adjective)

Ablative, masculine, singular of niḥsaṃśaya

niḥsaṁśaya - without doubt, certain, undoubted

Compound type : avyayībhāva (nis+saṃśaya)

• nis – without, out of, free from
  indeclinable
• saṃśaya – doubt, uncertainty, suspicion
  noun (masculine)
  from prefix sam + root śī (to lie, rest) + ac
  Prefix: sam
  Root: śī (class 2)

Note: Modifies 'guṇāt', or functions adverbially as 'certainly'.

राजन् (rājan) - O King

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler

नैर्गुण्यम् (nairguṇyam) - lack of qualities, demerit, worthlessness

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of nairguṇya

nairguṇya - lack of good qualities, demerit, worthlessness

from nirguṇa (without qualities) + ṣyañ (abstract noun suffix)

Note: Object of 'manyase'.

मन्यसे (manyase) - you consider, you think, you believe

(verb)

2nd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of man

Root: man (class 4)

कथम् (katham) - how, why

(indeclinable)