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).

4. אך אנו, הו אדון, רוצים ללכת בדרכם הטובה, אולם אי אפשר ללכת כפי שהלכו הם, שהיו בעלי שליטה עצמית.

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.

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