महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-33, verse-12

सस्मार च पुरावृत्तां कथां तां भरतर्षभ ।
अंशावतरणे यासौ ब्रह्मणो भवनेऽभवत् ॥१२॥

12. sasmāra ca purāvṛttāṁ kathāṁ tāṁ bharatarṣabha ,
aṁśāvataraṇe yāsau brahmaṇo bhavane'bhavat.

12. sasmāra ca purāvṛttām kathām tām bharatarṣabha
aṃśāvataraṇe yā asau brahmaṇaḥ bhavane abhavat

12. O best of Bharatas, he remembered that ancient story concerning the descent of a divine portion, which had occurred in Brahmā's abode.

Words meanings summery:

• सस्मार (sasmāra) - remembered

• च (ca) - and, also

• पुरावृत्ताम् (purāvṛttām) - (story) that happened in the past (ancient, past, old)

• कथाम् (kathām) - story, narrative, tale

• ताम् (tām) - that (story) (that, her)

• भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of Bharatas, O foremost of the Bharatas

• अंशावतरणे (aṁśāvataraṇe) - concerning the descent of a divine portion (of Viṣṇu or other deity) (in the descent of a portion, in the incarnation of a part)

• या (yā) - which (story) (which, who)

• असौ (asau) - that (story), referring to the same story as yā (that, she)

• ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ) - of Brahmā (the creator deity) (of Brahmā, of the sacred word (brahman))

• भवने (bhavane) - in the abode (of Brahmā) (in the abode, in the house, in the dwelling)

• अभवत् (abhavat) - occurred, took place (happened, occurred, was)

Words meanings and morphology

सस्मार (sasmāra) - remembered

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, Perfect (Lit) of smṛ

Perfect Active

3rd person singular, Perfect Tense, Parasmaipada of root smṛ.

Root: smṛ (class 1)

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

पुरावृत्ताम् (purāvṛttām) - (story) that happened in the past (ancient, past, old)

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of purāvṛtta

purāvṛtta - old, ancient, happened in the past

Past Passive Participle

Participle formed from vṛt (to occur) prefixed with purā (formerly). Refers to something that occurred in the past.

Compound type : karmadhāraya (purā+vṛtta)

• purā – formerly, in ancient times
  indeclinable
• vṛtta – happened, occurred, existed
  adjective
  Past Passive Participle
  Past Passive Participle of vṛt (to be, to exist, to happen)
  Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Modifies kathām.

कथाम् (kathām) - story, narrative, tale

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of kathā

kathā - story, narrative, tale

Root: kath (class 10)

Note: Object of sasmāra.

ताम् (tām) - that (story) (that, her)

(pronoun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of tad

tad - that, this

Note: Adjective pronoun modifying kathām.

भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of Bharatas, O foremost of the Bharatas

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of bharatarṣabha

bharatarṣabha - best of Bharatas, bull of the Bharatas

A compound referring to a prominent member of the Bharata lineage, typically used as an address.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (bharata+ṛṣabha)

• bharata – descendant of Bharata, a king, a clan name
  proper noun (masculine)
  Root: bhṛ (class 1)
• ṛṣabha – bull, best, chief, lord
  noun (masculine)
  Root: ṛṣabh

Note: Addressed to a listener, likely Dhṛtarāṣṭra or Arjuna.

अंशावतरणे (aṁśāvataraṇe) - concerning the descent of a divine portion (of Viṣṇu or other deity) (in the descent of a portion, in the incarnation of a part)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of aṃśāvataraṇa

aṁśāvataraṇa - descent of a portion, partial incarnation

Compound of aṃśa (portion) and avataraṇa (descent), referring to a partial incarnation of a deity.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (aṃśa+avataraṇa)

• aṃśa – portion, part, share
  noun (masculine)
  Root: aṃś (class 1)
• avataraṇa – descent, descending, incarnation
  noun (neuter)
  Action noun from ava-tṛ (to descend)
  Prefix: ava
  Root: tṛ (class 1)

या (yā) - which (story) (which, who)

(pronoun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of yad

yad - which, who, what

Note: Refers to kathām.

असौ (asau) - that (story), referring to the same story as yā (that, she)

(pronoun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of adas

adas - that, this, such

Note: Emphasizes yā.

ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ) - of Brahmā (the creator deity) (of Brahmā, of the sacred word (brahman))

(proper noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of brahman

brahman - Brahmā (the creator deity), (the Absolute) (brahman), sacred word, prayer

Here refers to the deity Brahmā. For the creator god, usually masculine stem brahman declined like rājan. For the Absolute, neuter brahman.

Root: bṛh (class 1)

Note: Possessive case for bhavane.

भवने (bhavane) - in the abode (of Brahmā) (in the abode, in the house, in the dwelling)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of bhavana

bhavana - abode, dwelling, house

From root bhū (to be) + ana suffix, indicating place of being.

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Location where the story occurred.

अभवत् (abhavat) - occurred, took place (happened, occurred, was)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, Past Imperfect (Laṅ) of bhū

Imperfect Active

3rd person singular, Imperfect Tense, Parasmaipada of root bhū.

Root: bhū (class 1)