महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-6, verse-4

वयं तु सत्पथं तेषां यातुमिच्छामहे प्रभो ।
न तु शक्यं तथा गन्तुं यथा तैर्नियतात्मभिः ॥४॥

4. vayaṁ tu satpathaṁ teṣāṁ yātumicchāmahe prabho ,
na tu śakyaṁ tathā gantuṁ yathā tairniyatātmabhiḥ.

4. vayam tu satpatham teṣām yātum icchāmahe prabho |
na tu śakyam tathā gantum yathā taiḥ niyatātmabhiḥ

4. But O Lord, we indeed wish to follow their righteous path. However, it is not possible for us to proceed in the same manner as those with controlled selves (ātman).

Words meanings summery:

• वयम् (vayam) - we

• तु (tu) - but, indeed (but, indeed, however, on the other hand)

• सत्पथम् (satpatham) - their righteous path (the good path, the righteous path)

• तेषाम् (teṣām) - their (referring to the previous kings/ancestors) (of them, their)

• यातुम् (yātum) - to follow, to go upon (to go, to proceed)

• इच्छामहे (icchāmahe) - we desire, we wish

• प्रभो (prabho) - O Lord (addressing a revered person) (O Lord, O master)

• न (na) - not (not, no)

• तु (tu) - however (but, indeed, however)

• शक्यम् (śakyam) - possible (possible, capable)

• तथा (tathā) - in that manner, in the same way (thus, in that manner, so)

• गन्तुम् (gantum) - to proceed, to go (to go, to proceed)

• यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as)

• तैः (taiḥ) - by those (referring to `niyatātmabhiḥ`) (by them)

• नियतात्मभिः (niyatātmabhiḥ) - by those with controlled selves (ātman) (by those with controlled selves, by self-restrained ones)

Words meanings and morphology

वयम् (vayam) - we

(pronoun)

Nominative, plural of asmad

asmad - I, we

Note: Subject of `icchāmahe`.

तु (tu) - but, indeed (but, indeed, however, on the other hand)

(indeclinable)

Conjunction/particle.

सत्पथम् (satpatham) - their righteous path (the good path, the righteous path)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of satpatha

satpatha - the path of the good, the right way, virtuous conduct

Compound.

Compound type : karmadhāraya (sat+patha)

• sat – good, existing, real, true, virtuous
  adjective (masculine)
  Present Active Participle
  From `as` (to be).
  Root: as (class 2)
• patha – path, road, way
  noun (masculine)
  From root `path` or `panth`.
  Root: path

Note: Object of `yātum icchāmahe`.

तेषाम् (teṣām) - their (referring to the previous kings/ancestors) (of them, their)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of tad

tad - that, that one

Note: Possessive, 'their path'.

यातुम् (yātum) - to follow, to go upon (to go, to proceed)

(verb)

active, infinitive (tumun) of yā

Infinitive

Root `yā` + `tumun` (infinitive suffix).

Root: yā (class 2)

Note: Complement of `icchāmahe`.

इच्छामहे (icchāmahe) - we desire, we wish

(verb)

1st person , plural, middle, present (lat) of iṣ

Present Middle

Root `iṣ` + `cha` (infix) + `mahe` (1st person plural middle ending).

Root: iṣ (class 6)

प्रभो (prabho) - O Lord (addressing a revered person) (O Lord, O master)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of prabhu

prabhu - lord, master, mighty, powerful

From `pra-bhū`.

Prefix: pra

Root: bhū (class 1)

न (na) - not (not, no)

(indeclinable)

तु (tu) - however (but, indeed, however)

(indeclinable)

शक्यम् (śakyam) - possible (possible, capable)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śakya

śakya - possible, capable, practicable

Gerundive

From root `śak` + `ya` suffix.

Root: śak (class 5)

Note: Predicate adjective for implicit subject "it", used impersonally with infinitive `gantum`.

तथा (tathā) - in that manner, in the same way (thus, in that manner, so)

(indeclinable)

From `tad` + `thāl`.

Note: Adverb modifying `gantum`.

गन्तुम् (gantum) - to proceed, to go (to go, to proceed)

(verb)

active, infinitive (tumun) of gam

Infinitive

Root `gam` + `tumun` (infinitive suffix).

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Complement of `śakyam`.

यथा (yathā) - just as (as, just as)

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces a comparison.

तैः (taiḥ) - by those (referring to `niyatātmabhiḥ`) (by them)

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of tad

tad - that, that one

Note: Agent of the implied action (by whom `gantum` is done).

नियतात्मभिः (niyatātmabhiḥ) - by those with controlled selves (ātman) (by those with controlled selves, by self-restrained ones)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of niyatātman

niyatātman - one whose self (ātman) is controlled, self-restrained

Compound.

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (niyata+ātman)

• niyata – restrained, regulated, controlled, fixed
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From `ni-yam`.
  Prefix: ni
  Root: yam (class 1)
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essential nature, mind (ātman)
  noun (masculine)
  Root: an (class 2)

Note: Refers to great individuals of the past.