महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-16, verse-3

एतावदेव पुरुषैः कार्यं हृदयतोषणम् ।
नयेन विधिदृष्टेन यदुपक्रमते परान् ॥३॥

3. etāvadeva puruṣaiḥ kāryaṁ hṛdayatoṣaṇam ,
nayena vidhidṛṣṭena yadupakramate parān.

3. etāvat eva puruṣaiḥ kāryam hṛdayatoṣaṇam
nayena vidhidṛṣṭena yat upakramate parān

3. This much alone is the action (kāryam) for men that brings satisfaction to the heart: when one assails enemies (parān) with a policy (naya) that is in accordance with the law (vidhidṛṣṭena).

Words meanings summery:

• एतावत् (etāvat) - so much, this much, to this extent

• एव (eva) - only, just, indeed

• पुरुषैः (puruṣaiḥ) - by men, by persons

• कार्यम् (kāryam) - duty, action, what is to be done

• हृदयतोषणम् (hṛdayatoṣaṇam) - pleasing to the heart, satisfaction of the heart

• नयेन (nayena) - by policy, by prudence, by right conduct

• विधिदृष्टेन (vidhidṛṣṭena) - seen by law, prescribed by rule, sanctioned by sacred law

• यत् (yat) - which, that

• उपक्रमते (upakramate) - assails, attacks, approaches, begins, undertakes

• परान् (parān) - in a military context, 'enemies' (others, enemies)

Words meanings and morphology

एतावत् (etāvat) - so much, this much, to this extent

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etāvat

etāvat - so much, this much, so far, to this extent

Note: Qualifies kāryam.

एव (eva) - only, just, indeed

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizes 'this much'.

पुरुषैः (puruṣaiḥ) - by men, by persons

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of puruṣa

puruṣa - man, person, human being, spirit, the supreme cosmic person (puruṣa)

Note: Agent of kāryam (to be done).

कार्यम् (kāryam) - duty, action, what is to be done

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kārya

kārya - to be done, duty, business, action, effect

Gerundive (future passive participle)

from root kṛ

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Acts as a noun, meaning 'a thing to be done' or 'duty'.

हृदयतोषणम् (hṛdayatoṣaṇam) - pleasing to the heart, satisfaction of the heart

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of hṛdayatoṣaṇa

hṛdayatoṣaṇa - pleasing to the heart, heart's satisfaction

from hṛdaya (heart) and toṣaṇa (pleasing)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (hṛdaya+toṣaṇa)

• hṛdaya – heart, mind, soul
  noun (neuter)
• toṣaṇa – pleasing, satisfying, gratification
  noun (neuter)
  verbal noun
  from root tuṣ
  Root: tuṣ (class 4)

Note: Appositive to kāryam.

नयेन (nayena) - by policy, by prudence, by right conduct

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of naya

naya - policy, conduct, leading, prudence, political wisdom

from root nī

Root: nī (class 1)

Note: Instrumental of means, how the action is performed.

विधिदृष्टेन (vidhidṛṣṭena) - seen by law, prescribed by rule, sanctioned by sacred law

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of vidhidṛṣṭa

vidhidṛṣṭa - seen by rule/law, prescribed by sacred injunction

Past Passive Participle

compound of vidhi (rule) and dṛṣṭa (seen)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (vidhi+dṛṣṭa)

• vidhi – rule, injunction, ordinance, method, sacred law
  noun (masculine)
  from root dhā with prefix vi
  Prefix: vi
  Root: dhā (class 3)
• dṛṣṭa – seen, observed, known
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  from root dṛś
  Root: dṛś (class 1)

Note: Agrees with nayena.

यत् (yat) - which, that

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of yad

yad - which, what, that (relative pronoun)

Note: Refers to kāryam or hṛdayatoṣaṇam.

उपक्रमते (upakramate) - assails, attacks, approaches, begins, undertakes

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of upakram

present middle

root kram with upasarga upa, 3rd singular present middle

Prefix: upa

Root: kram (class 1)

Note: With 'parān', means 'to assail' or 'to attack'.

परान् (parān) - in a military context, 'enemies' (others, enemies)

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of para

para - other, another, supreme, enemy

Note: Object of upakramate.