महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-1, verse-26

निरारम्भा ह्यपि वयं पुण्यशीलेषु साधुषु ।
पुण्यमेवाप्नुयामेह पापं पापोपसेवनात् ॥२६॥

26. nirārambhā hyapi vayaṁ puṇyaśīleṣu sādhuṣu ,
puṇyamevāpnuyāmeha pāpaṁ pāpopasevanāt.

26. nirārambhāḥ hi api vayam puṇyaśīleṣu sādhuṣu
puṇyam eva āpnuyām iha pāpam pāpopasevanāt

26. Even if we ourselves undertake no particular actions (nirārambhāḥ), by associating with virtuous and righteous individuals, we certainly accrue merit in this world. Conversely, sin results from associating with the wicked.

Words meanings summery:

• निरारम्भाः (nirārambhāḥ) - without initiative, inactive, undertaking no new work

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for, because

• अपि (api) - even, also, too

• वयम् (vayam) - we

• पुण्यशीलेषु (puṇyaśīleṣu) - among those of virtuous conduct, among virtuous-natured

• साधुषु (sādhuṣu) - among good people, among righteous people, among saints

• पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - merit, virtue, good deed

• एव (eva) - only, just, indeed, certainly

• आप्नुयाम् (āpnuyām) - we may obtain, we should obtain

• इह (iha) - in this world (here, in this world, now)

• पापम् (pāpam) - sin, evil, demerit, wickedness

• पापोपसेवनात् (pāpopasevanāt) - from associating with the wicked, from serving the wicked

Words meanings and morphology

निरारम्भाः (nirārambhāḥ) - without initiative, inactive, undertaking no new work

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of nirārambha

nirārambha - without beginning, inactive, undertaking no work

Compound type : bahuvrihi (nis+ārambha)

• nis – without, out
  indeclinable
• ārambha – undertaking, beginning, effort
  noun (masculine)
  Prefix: ā
  Root: rabh (class 1)

Note: Adjective modifying 'vayam'

हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for, because

(indeclinable)

अपि (api) - even, also, too

(indeclinable)

वयम् (vayam) - we

(pronoun)

Nominative, plural of asmad

asmad - I, we

पुण्यशीलेषु (puṇyaśīleṣu) - among those of virtuous conduct, among virtuous-natured

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, plural of puṇyaśīla

puṇyaśīla - of virtuous nature, of good character

Compound type : karmadhāraya (puṇya+śīla)

• puṇya – merit, virtue, good deed
  noun (neuter)
• śīla – nature, conduct, character, custom
  noun (neuter)

Note: Refers to sādhuṣu

साधुषु (sādhuṣu) - among good people, among righteous people, among saints

(noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of sādhu

sādhu - good, virtuous, righteous, saint

Root: sādh (class 5)

पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - merit, virtue, good deed

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of puṇya

puṇya - merit, virtue, good deed

Note: Object of āpnuyām

एव (eva) - only, just, indeed, certainly

(indeclinable)

आप्नुयाम् (āpnuyām) - we may obtain, we should obtain

(verb)

1st person , plural, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of āp

Optative

1st person plural

Prefix: ā

Root: āp (class 5)

इह (iha) - in this world (here, in this world, now)

(indeclinable)

पापम् (pāpam) - sin, evil, demerit, wickedness

(noun)

neuter, singular of pāpa

pāpa - sin, evil, wickedness

Note: Null verb 'is' implied.

पापोपसेवनात् (pāpopasevanāt) - from associating with the wicked, from serving the wicked

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of pāpopasevana

pāpopasevana - association with wicked persons, serving evil

Compound type : tatpurusha (pāpa+upasevana)

• pāpa – wicked, sinful, evil
  adjective (neuter)
• upasevana – attending, serving, frequenting
  noun (neuter)
  Prefix: upa
  Root: sev (class 1)

Note: Indicates the source of pāpam