महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-28, verse-18

नीलस्य राज्ञः पूर्वेषामुपनीतश्च सोऽभवत् ।
तदा ब्राह्मणरूपेण चरमाणो यदृच्छया ॥१८॥

18. nīlasya rājñaḥ pūrveṣāmupanītaśca so'bhavat ,
tadā brāhmaṇarūpeṇa caramāṇo yadṛcchayā.

18. nīlasya rājñaḥ pūrveṣām upanītaḥ ca saḥ abhavat
tadā brāhmaṇarūpeṇa caramāṇaḥ yadṛcchayā

18. And he (Agni) was then brought before the ancestors of King Nīla. At that time, he was wandering about freely in the form of a brahmin.

Words meanings summery:

• नीलस्य (nīlasya) - of Nīla

• राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king

• पूर्वेषाम् (pūrveṣām) - of the former ones, of the ancestors

• उपनीतः (upanītaḥ) - brought near, presented, subjected

• च (ca) - and, also

• सः (saḥ) - he, that

• अभवत् (abhavat) - became, was

• तदा (tadā) - then, at that time

• ब्राह्मणरूपेण (brāhmaṇarūpeṇa) - in the form of a brahmin

• चरमाणः (caramāṇaḥ) - wandering, moving about

• यदृच्छया (yadṛcchayā) - by chance, voluntarily, as he pleased

Words meanings and morphology

नीलस्य (nīlasya) - of Nīla

(proper noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of nīla

nīla - Nīla (name of a king, meaning blue)

Note: Qualifies 'rājñaḥ'.

राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler

Root: rāj (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'pūrveṣām'.

पूर्वेषाम् (pūrveṣām) - of the former ones, of the ancestors

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of pūrva

pūrva - former, ancient, eastern, first

Note: Refers to the ancestors of King Nīla.

उपनीतः (upanītaḥ) - brought near, presented, subjected

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of upanīta

upanīta - brought near, presented, initiated, subjected

Past Passive Participle

Past Passive Participle of upa-√nī (to lead towards, bring near)

Prefix: upa

Root: nī (class 1)

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects to the previous idea of Agni being apprehended.

सः (saḥ) - he, that

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Demonstrative pronoun, masculine nominative singular

Note: Refers to Agni.

अभवत् (abhavat) - became, was

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past (luṅ) of bhū

Aorist

3rd person singular Aorist active (luṅ)

Root: bhū (class 1)

तदा (tadā) - then, at that time

(indeclinable)

From tad (that) + dā suffix

ब्राह्मणरूपेण (brāhmaṇarūpeṇa) - in the form of a brahmin

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of brāhmaṇarūpa

brāhmaṇarūpa - in the form of a brahmin, having the form of a brahmin

Compound meaning 'brahmin form', used adverbially

Compound type : tatpurusha (brāhmaṇa+rūpa)

• brāhmaṇa – brahmin, priestly class
  noun (masculine)
• rūpa – form, appearance, shape
  noun (neuter)

चरमाणः (caramāṇaḥ) - wandering, moving about

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of caramāṇa

caramāṇa - wandering, moving, behaving

Present Middle Participle

Present Middle Participle of √car (to move, wander)

Root: car (class 1)

Note: Agrees with 'saḥ'.

यदृच्छया (yadṛcchayā) - by chance, voluntarily, as he pleased

(indeclinable)

From yat (what) + ṛcchā (wish, will)

Root: ṛcch

Note: Adverbial usage.