महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-16, verse-6

व्यूढानीकैरनुबलैर्नोपेयाद्बलवत्तरम् ।
इति बुद्धिमतां नीतिस्तन्ममापीह रोचते ॥६॥

6. vyūḍhānīkairanubalairnopeyādbalavattaram ,
iti buddhimatāṁ nītistanmamāpīha rocate.

6. vyūḍhānīkaiḥ anubalaiḥ na upeyāt balavattaram
iti buddhimatām nītiḥ tat mama api iha rocate

6. One should not engage with a more powerful foe, even if one has arrayed armies and auxiliary forces. This is the maxim (nīti) of the discerning, and it is also pleasing to me here.

Words meanings summery:

• व्यूढानीकैः (vyūḍhānīkaiḥ) - by one's own well-deployed main forces (by those with arrayed armies)

• अनुबलैः (anubalaiḥ) - by auxiliary forces, by reserve troops

• न (na) - not, no

• उपेयात् (upeyāt) - one should confront or engage (one should approach, one should go near)

• बलवत्तरम् (balavattaram) - a militarily superior opponent (more powerful, stronger)

• इति (iti) - this (is what is said) (thus, so, this)

• बुद्धिमताम् (buddhimatām) - of those who possess discernment and wisdom (of the intelligent, of the wise)

• नीतिः (nītiḥ) - a principle of strategy or statecraft (nīti) (policy, conduct, justice, statesmanship)

• तत् (tat) - that (principle/maxim) (that)

• मम (mama) - to me (my, of me)

• अपि (api) - also, as well (also, even)

• इह (iha) - in this context, regarding this situation (here, in this world, in this matter)

• रोचते (rocate) - it is pleasing, it appeals (to me) (it shines, it pleases, it delights)

Words meanings and morphology

व्यूढानीकैः (vyūḍhānīkaiḥ) - by one's own well-deployed main forces (by those with arrayed armies)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of vyūḍhānīka

vyūḍhānīka - having an army arrayed for battle

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (vyūḍha+anīka)

• vyūḍha – arrayed, arranged, extended, drawn up
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root 'ūh' (to push, arrange) with prefix 'vi'.
  Prefix: vi
  Root: ūh (class 1)
• anīka – army, host, troop, battle array
  noun (neuter)

Note: Qualifies an unstated agent (e.g., 'by oneself, even with...')

अनुबलैः (anubalaiḥ) - by auxiliary forces, by reserve troops

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, plural of anubala

anubala - auxiliary force, reserve, support army

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (anu+bala)

• anu – after, with, subordinate, accompanying
  indeclinable
• bala – strength, force, army, troops
  noun (neuter)

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

उपेयात् (upeyāt) - one should confront or engage (one should approach, one should go near)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (liṅ) of i

Optative mood, 3rd person singular

Root 'i', class 2, optative, parasmaipada, with prefix 'upa'.

Prefix: upa

Root: i (class 2)

Note: Implies a general instruction for 'one' (any person).

बलवत्तरम् (balavattaram) - a militarily superior opponent (more powerful, stronger)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of balavattara

balavattara - more powerful, stronger, more valiant

Comparative adjective, derived from 'balavat' (powerful) with suffix '-tara'.

Note: Refers to the 'more powerful one' (foe).

इति (iti) - this (is what is said) (thus, so, this)

(indeclinable)

Note: Marks the end of a quotation or statement.

बुद्धिमताम् (buddhimatām) - of those who possess discernment and wisdom (of the intelligent, of the wise)

(adjective)

Genitive, plural of buddhimat

buddhimat - intelligent, wise, discerning, possessing intellect

Possessive adjective from 'buddhi' (intellect) with suffix 'mat'.

Note: Used substantively: 'of the wise ones'.

नीतिः (nītiḥ) - a principle of strategy or statecraft (nīti) (policy, conduct, justice, statesmanship)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of nīti

nīti - policy, guidance, conduct, moral principle, statesmanship

Derived from root 'nī' (to lead).

Root: nī (class 1)

Note: The concept of 'policy' or 'maxim'.

तत् (tat) - that (principle/maxim) (that)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Refers back to the statement made.

मम (mama) - to me (my, of me)

(pronoun)

Genitive, singular of asmad

asmad - I, we

Note: Used here with 'rocate' to mean 'pleases me'.

अपि (api) - also, as well (also, even)

(indeclinable)

इह (iha) - in this context, regarding this situation (here, in this world, in this matter)

(indeclinable)

रोचते (rocate) - it is pleasing, it appeals (to me) (it shines, it pleases, it delights)

(verb)

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

Present tense, 3rd person singular, Atmanepada

Root 'ruc', class 1, present tense, atmanepada.

Root: ruc (class 1)