महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-18, verse-25

ईशौ हि तौ महात्मानौ सर्वकार्यप्रवर्तने ।
धर्मार्थकामकार्याणां कार्याणामिव निग्रहे ॥२५॥

25. īśau hi tau mahātmānau sarvakāryapravartane ,
dharmārthakāmakāryāṇāṁ kāryāṇāmiva nigrahe.

25. īśau hi tau mahātmānau sarvakāryapravartane
dharmārthakāmakāryāṇām kāryāṇām iva nigrahe

25. Indeed, those two great-souled beings (mahātmānau) are capable lords in initiating all undertakings, just as they are in the restraint of actions related to natural law (dharma), material prosperity (artha), and sensual pleasure (kāma).

Words meanings summery:

• ईशौ (īśau) - the two lords, masters, rulers

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

• तौ (tau) - Refers to Kṛṣṇa and Bhīma. (those two)

• महात्मानौ (mahātmānau) - great-souled ones, great beings

• सर्वकार्यप्रवर्तने (sarvakāryapravartane) - in the initiation of all tasks, in carrying out all actions

• धर्मार्थकामकार्याणाम् (dharmārthakāmakāryāṇām) - of actions pertaining to natural law (dharma), material prosperity (artha), and sensual pleasure (kāma)

• कार्याणाम् (kāryāṇām) - of actions, of tasks, of duties

• इव (iva) - as, like, as if

• निग्रहे (nigrahe) - in the suppression, in the control, in the restraint

Words meanings and morphology

ईशौ (īśau) - the two lords, masters, rulers

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of īśa

īśa - lord, master, ruler, capable

From root 'īś' (to rule, to be master of).

Root: īś (class 2)

Note: Subject of the implied verb 'are'.

हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

तौ (tau) - Refers to Kṛṣṇa and Bhīma. (those two)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of tad

tad - that, those

Note: Refers to the two persons (Kṛṣṇa and Bhīma) mentioned previously.

महात्मानौ (mahātmānau) - great-souled ones, great beings

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of mahātman

mahātman - great-souled, noble, illustrious, great (ātman)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (mahā+ātman)

• mahā – great, large, mighty
  adjective
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, individual (ātman)
  noun (masculine)

Note: Agrees with `tau`.

सर्वकार्यप्रवर्तने (sarvakāryapravartane) - in the initiation of all tasks, in carrying out all actions

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of sarvakāryapravartana

sarvakāryapravartana - initiation of all actions, carrying out of all tasks

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sarva+kārya+pravartana)

• sarva – all, every, whole
  adjective
• kārya – task, work, action, business
  noun (neuter)
  Gerundive
  Derived from root 'kṛ' (to do) + suffix 'ya'.
  Root: kṛ (class 8)
• pravartana – initiation, commencement, activity, carrying out
  noun (neuter)
  Noun of action
  Derived from root 'vṛt' (to turn, exist) with prefix 'pra' and suffix 'ana'.
  Prefix: pra
  Root: vṛt (class 1)

धर्मार्थकामकार्याणाम् (dharmārthakāmakāryāṇām) - of actions pertaining to natural law (dharma), material prosperity (artha), and sensual pleasure (kāma)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of dharmārthakāmakārya

dharmārthakāmakārya - actions related to dharma, artha, and kāma

Compound type : dvandva-tatpuruṣa (dharma+artha+kāma+kārya)

• dharma – natural law, righteousness, duty, virtue (dharma)
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• artha – purpose, wealth, material prosperity, meaning
  noun (masculine)
• kāma – desire, sensual pleasure, love (kāma)
  noun (masculine)
  Root: kam (class 1)
• kārya – action, task, business
  noun (neuter)
  Gerundive
  Derived from root 'kṛ' (to do) + suffix 'ya'.
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Refers to the duties and activities associated with the three pursuits of human life.

कार्याणाम् (kāryāṇām) - of actions, of tasks, of duties

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of kārya

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

Gerundive (future passive participle)

Derived from root 'kṛ' (to do) + suffix 'ṇya'.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: In apposition to or specifying the broader 'dharmārthakāmakāryāṇām'.

इव (iva) - as, like, as if

(indeclinable)

निग्रहे (nigrahe) - in the suppression, in the control, in the restraint

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of nigraha

nigraha - suppression, restraint, control, punishment

Derived from root 'grah' (to seize, take) with prefix 'ni' and suffix 'a'.

Prefix: ni

Root: grah (class 9)