महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-2, chapter-61, verse-20

चत्वार्याहुर्नरश्रेष्ठा व्यसनानि महीक्षिताम् ।
मृगयां पानमक्षांश्च ग्राम्ये चैवातिसक्तताम् ॥२०॥

20. catvāryāhurnaraśreṣṭhā vyasanāni mahīkṣitām ,
mṛgayāṁ pānamakṣāṁśca grāmye caivātisaktatām.

20. catvāri āhuḥ naraśreṣṭhāḥ vyasanāni mahīkṣitām
mṛgayām pānam akṣān ca grāmye ca eva atisaktatām

20. The most excellent among men (naraśreṣṭhāḥ) declare that there are four vices (vyasanāni) for rulers (mahīkṣitām): hunting, drinking, dice (gambling), and excessive attachment to sensual pleasures.

Words meanings summery:

• चत्वारि (catvāri) - four

• आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they declare

• नरश्रेष्ठाः (naraśreṣṭhāḥ) - The wise, learned, or respected individuals who make such declarations. (best of men, most excellent among men)

• व्यसनानि (vyasanāni) - Referring to moral flaws or detrimental habits of rulers. (vices, misfortunes, calamities, evils)

• महीक्षिताम् (mahīkṣitām) - of kings, of rulers, of earth-protectors

• मृगयाम् (mṛgayām) - hunting, the chase

• पानम् (pānam) - Specifically, excessive consumption of alcohol. (drinking (intoxicants), drink)

• अक्षान् (akṣān) - Referring to the game of dice and the vice of gambling associated with it. (dice, gambling)

• च (ca) - and

• ग्राम्ये (grāmye) - Here, referring to sexual or worldly pleasures, often implying vulgar or base indulgence. (rural, pertaining to village, coarse, sensual)

• च (ca) - and

• एव (eva) - Emphasizes the nature of the attachment. (indeed, only, certainly)

• अतिसक्तताम् (atisaktatām) - Overindulgence in 'grāmya' (sensual/worldly) matters. (excessive attachment, overindulgence)

Words meanings and morphology

चत्वारि (catvāri) - four

(numeral)

Note: Agrees with 'vyasanāni'.

आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they declare

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, perfect (liṭ) of brū

Perfect tense

Third person plural, perfect active. (It can also be present, but in Puranic/Epic Sanskrit, forms like āhuḥ are often used with a present meaning).

Root: brū (class 2)

Note: Refers to generalized wise speakers.

नरश्रेष्ठाः (naraśreṣṭhāḥ) - The wise, learned, or respected individuals who make such declarations. (best of men, most excellent among men)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of naraśreṣṭha

naraśreṣṭha - best among men, chief of men, prince

Compound of 'nara' (man) and 'śreṣṭha' (best).

Compound type : tatpurusha (nara+śreṣṭha)

• nara – man, human, person
  noun (masculine)
• śreṣṭha – best, most excellent, chief
  adjective (masculine)
  Superlative of 'praśasya' (praise-worthy).

Note: Subject of 'āhuḥ'.

व्यसनानि (vyasanāni) - Referring to moral flaws or detrimental habits of rulers. (vices, misfortunes, calamities, evils)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, plural of vyasana

vyasana - vice, misfortune, calamity, evil, addiction

From 'vi' + root 'as' (to throw) + 'ana' suffix; literally 'throwing away'.

Prefix: vi

Root: as (class 4)

Note: Object of the implied verb 'to be' or 'to exist'.

महीक्षिताम् (mahīkṣitām) - of kings, of rulers, of earth-protectors

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of mahīkṣit

mahīkṣit - king, ruler, lord of the earth

Compound of 'mahī' (earth) + root 'kṣi' (to rule, to dwell) + agentive suffix.

Compound type : tatpurusha (mahī+kṣit)

• mahī – earth, ground
  noun (feminine)
• kṣit – ruler, dweller, inhabitant
  noun (masculine)
  From root kṣi (to rule or dwell) with suffix -t.
  Root: kṣi (class 2)

Note: Indicates possession or relation for the vices.

मृगयाम् (mṛgayām) - hunting, the chase

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of mṛgayā

mṛgayā - hunting, the chase, pursuit of wild animals

From root 'mṛg' (to hunt) + 'aya' + 'ā'.

Root: mṛg (class 10)

Note: Listed as one of the four vices.

पानम् (pānam) - Specifically, excessive consumption of alcohol. (drinking (intoxicants), drink)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of pāna

pāna - drinking, drink, beverage

From root 'pā' (to drink) + 'ana' suffix.

Root: pā (class 1)

Note: Listed as one of the four vices.

अक्षान् (akṣān) - Referring to the game of dice and the vice of gambling associated with it. (dice, gambling)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of akṣa

akṣa - die (for gambling), dice; axis; eye; seed

Note: Listed as one of the four vices.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

Note: Connects 'akṣān' with the following vice.

ग्राम्ये (grāmye) - Here, referring to sexual or worldly pleasures, often implying vulgar or base indulgence. (rural, pertaining to village, coarse, sensual)

(adjective)

Locative, neuter, singular of grāmya

grāmya - relating to a village, rustic, vulgar, common, sensual

Derived from 'grāma' (village).

Note: Acts adverbially, or qualifies 'atisaktatā' (excessive attachment *to* sensual things).

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

Note: Links 'grāmye' with 'atisaktatām'.

एव (eva) - Emphasizes the nature of the attachment. (indeed, only, certainly)

(indeclinable)

Emphatic particle.

Note: Used for emphasis.

अतिसक्तताम् (atisaktatām) - Overindulgence in 'grāmya' (sensual/worldly) matters. (excessive attachment, overindulgence)

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of atisaktatā

atisaktatā - excessive attachment, overindulgence, strong addiction

Compound of 'ati' (excessive) + 'sakta' (attached) + 'tā' (nominal suffix).

Compound type : tatpurusha (ati+saktatā)

• ati – over, beyond, excessive
  indeclinable
  Prefix indicating excess.
• saktatā – attachment, devotion, addiction
  noun (feminine)
  Derived from root sañj (to cling) via past participle 'sakta' and suffix '-tā'.
  Root: sañj (class 1)

Note: Listed as the fourth vice.