महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-5, verse-87

कच्चिद्धर्मे त्रयीमूले पूर्वैराचरिते जनैः ।
वर्तमानस्तथा कर्तुं तस्मिन्कर्मणि वर्तसे ॥८७॥

87. kacciddharme trayīmūle pūrvairācarite janaiḥ ,
vartamānastathā kartuṁ tasminkarmaṇi vartase.

87. kaccit dharme trayīmūle pūrvaiḥ ācarite janaiḥ
vartamānaḥ tathā kartum tasmin karmaṇi vartase

87. Are you, while performing your duties (karma), upholding the (natural law) dharma that is rooted in the three Vedas and was practiced by your ancestors?

Words meanings summery:

• कच्चित् (kaccit) - is it true that (is it true that, whether, perhaps)

• धर्मे (dharme) - in the (natural law) dharma (in the natural law, in the duty, in the righteousness)

• त्रयीमूले (trayīmūle) - rooted in the three Vedas (rooted in the three Vedas, based on the three Vedas)

• पूर्वैः (pūrvaiḥ) - by the ancestors (by the former ones, by the ancestors)

• आचरिते (ācarite) - practiced (by ancestors) (practiced, observed, performed)

• जनैः (janaiḥ) - by people (ancestors) (by people, by men)

• वर्तमानः (vartamānaḥ) - while performing (your duties) (being, existing, performing)

• तथा (tathā) - in that manner (i.e., as practiced by ancestors) (thus, so, in that manner)

• कर्तुम् (kartum) - to uphold, to perform (to do, to perform)

• तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that (duty/action) (in that)

• कर्मणि (karmaṇi) - in your duties (karma) (in action, in duty, in work)

• वर्तसे (vartase) - you are engaged (in performing duties) (you are, you exist, you are engaged)

Words meanings and morphology

कच्चित् (kaccit) - is it true that (is it true that, whether, perhaps)

(indeclinable)

Note: An interrogative particle expressing hope or apprehension.

धर्मे (dharme) - in the (natural law) dharma (in the natural law, in the duty, in the righteousness)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, religious merit

From root dhṛ (to uphold, support).

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Masculine locative singular of 'dharma'.

त्रयीमूले (trayīmūle) - rooted in the three Vedas (rooted in the three Vedas, based on the three Vedas)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, singular of trayīmūla

trayīmūla - rooted in the three Vedas (Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (trayī+mūla)

• trayī – the three Vedas (Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma)
  noun (feminine)
• mūla – root, origin, foundation
  noun (neuter)

Note: Qualifies 'dharme'.

पूर्वैः (pūrvaiḥ) - by the ancestors (by the former ones, by the ancestors)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of pūrva

pūrva - former, ancient, prior

Note: Masculine instrumental plural, referring to 'janaiḥ'.

आचरिते (ācarite) - practiced (by ancestors) (practiced, observed, performed)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, singular of ācarita

ācarita - practiced, performed, observed, habitual

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root car (to move, to practice) with prefix ā-.

Prefix: ā

Root: car (class 1)

Note: Masculine locative singular of the past passive participle 'ācarita', qualifying 'dharme'.

जनैः (janaiḥ) - by people (ancestors) (by people, by men)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of jana

jana - person, man, people

Note: Masculine instrumental plural of 'jana'.

वर्तमानः (vartamānaḥ) - while performing (your duties) (being, existing, performing)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vartamāna

vartamāna - being, existing, present, moving, acting

Present Active Participle (Ātmanepada)

Derived from root vṛt (to be, to exist, to turn).

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Masculine nominative singular of the present active participle, agreeing with implied 'you'.

तथा (tathā) - in that manner (i.e., as practiced by ancestors) (thus, so, in that manner)

(indeclinable)

कर्तुम् (kartum) - to uphold, to perform (to do, to perform)

(verb)

active, infinitive (tumun) of kṛ

Infinitive

Infinitive form of root kṛ.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Infinitive of purpose.

तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that (duty/action) (in that)

(pronoun)

Locative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Note: Masculine locative singular of 'tad', qualifying 'karmaṇi'.

कर्मणि (karmaṇi) - in your duties (karma) (in action, in duty, in work)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of karman

karman - action, deed, work, duty, ritual, destiny (karma)

From root kṛ (to do).

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Neuter locative singular of 'karman'.

वर्तसे (vartase) - you are engaged (in performing duties) (you are, you exist, you are engaged)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of vṛt

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Second person singular present middle indicative of root vṛt.