महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-18, verse-17

यतो हि निम्नं भवति नयन्तीह ततो जलम् ।
यतश्छिद्रं ततश्चापि नयन्ते धीधना बलम् ॥१७॥

17. yato hi nimnaṁ bhavati nayantīha tato jalam ,
yataśchidraṁ tataścāpi nayante dhīdhanā balam.

17. yataḥ hi nimnam bhavati nayanti iha tataḥ jalam
yataḥ chidram tataḥ ca api nayante dhīdhanā balam

17. For indeed, people lead water to wherever there is a low-lying area. Similarly, the intelligent guide power to wherever there is a weak point.

Words meanings summery:

• यतः (yataḥ) - from where, wherever, because

• हि (hi) - indeed, for, surely

• निम्नम् (nimnam) - low-lying area, depression (low, depressed, a low place)

• भवति (bhavati) - it is, it becomes

• नयन्ति (nayanti) - people lead (they lead, they guide)

• इह (iha) - here, in this world, now

• ततः (tataḥ) - thence, from there, then

• जलम् (jalam) - water

• यतः (yataḥ) - from where, wherever, because

• छिद्रम् (chidram) - weak point, vulnerability (hole, fault, weak point, deficiency)

• ततः (tataḥ) - thence, from there, then

• च (ca) - and, also

• अपि (api) - also, even, too

• नयन्ते (nayante) - the wise guide (they lead, they guide (middle voice))

• धीधना (dhīdhanā) - rich in intellect, intelligent, wise

• बलम् (balam) - force, strength, power, army

Words meanings and morphology

यतः (yataḥ) - from where, wherever, because

(indeclinable)

ablative of yat (relative pronoun)

Note: adverbial usage.

हि (hi) - indeed, for, surely

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

निम्नम् (nimnam) - low-lying area, depression (low, depressed, a low place)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of nimna

nimna - low, deep, depressed; a low place, hollow

Note: Predicative adjective for an implied 'place'.

भवति (bhavati) - it is, it becomes

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of bhū

Root: bhū (class 1)

नयन्ति (nayanti) - people lead (they lead, they guide)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of nī

Root: nī (class 1)

Note: Agent (people) is implied.

इह (iha) - here, in this world, now

(indeclinable)

Note: Adverb of place.

ततः (tataḥ) - thence, from there, then

(indeclinable)

ablative of tad (demonstrative pronoun)

Note: adverbial usage.

जलम् (jalam) - water

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of jala

jala - water

Note: Object of `nayanti`.

यतः (yataḥ) - from where, wherever, because

(indeclinable)

ablative of yat (relative pronoun)

Note: adverbial usage.

छिद्रम् (chidram) - weak point, vulnerability (hole, fault, weak point, deficiency)

(noun)

neuter, singular of chidra

chidra - hole, opening, fault, defect, weak point

from √chid (to cut, cleave)

Root: chid (class 7)

Note: Refers to a weak point (implied 'is').

ततः (tataḥ) - thence, from there, then

(indeclinable)

ablative of tad (demonstrative pronoun)

Note: adverbial usage.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

अपि (api) - also, even, too

(indeclinable)

नयन्ते (nayante) - the wise guide (they lead, they guide (middle voice))

(verb)

3rd person , plural, middle, present (laṭ) of nī

Root: nī (class 1)

Note: Used with `dhīdhanāḥ`.

धीधना (dhīdhanā) - rich in intellect, intelligent, wise

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dhīdhana

dhīdhana - rich in intellect, wise, intelligent

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (dhī+dhana)

• dhī – thought, intellect, understanding, wisdom
  noun (feminine)
• dhana – wealth, riches, property
  noun (neuter)

Note: Agent of `nayante`.

बलम् (balam) - force, strength, power, army

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of bala

bala - force, strength, power, army, might

Note: Object of `nayante`.