महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-134, verse-10

अष्टावक्र उवाच ।
चतुष्टयं ब्राह्मणानां निकेतं चत्वारो युक्ता यज्ञमिमं वहन्ति ।
दिशश्चतस्रश्चतुरश्च वर्णाश्चतुष्पदा गौरपि शश्वदुक्ता ॥१०॥

10. aṣṭāvakra uvāca ,
catuṣṭayaṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ niketaṁ; catvāro yuktā yajñamimaṁ vahanti ,
diśaścatasraścaturaśca varṇā;ścatuṣpadā gaurapi śaśvaduktā.

10. aṣṭāvakra uvāca catuṣṭayam brāhmaṇānām
niketam catvāraḥ yuktāḥ yajñam imam
vahanti diśaḥ catasraḥ caturaḥ ca
varṇāḥ catuṣpadā gauḥ api śaśvat uktā

10. Aṣṭāvakra said: There is a fourfold abode for the Brahmins. Four engaged (priests) carry out this ritual (yajña). There are four directions and four social classes (varṇāḥ), and a four-footed cow is always mentioned.

Words meanings summery:

• अष्टावक्र (aṣṭāvakra) - Aṣṭāvakra (name of a sage)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• चतुष्टयम् (catuṣṭayam) - a quartet, a group of four, fourfold

• ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of Brahmins, belonging to Brahmins

• निकेतम् (niketam) - residence, abode, house

• चत्वारः (catvāraḥ) - four priests (four)

• युक्ताः (yuktāḥ) - engaged (in ritual duties) (joined, engaged, connected, endowed)

• यज्ञम् (yajñam) - ritual, sacrifice

• इमम् (imam) - this

• वहन्ति (vahanti) - they carry out, they perform (they carry, they bear, they perform)

• दिशः (diśaḥ) - directions

• चतस्रः (catasraḥ) - four

• चतुरः (caturaḥ) - four

• च (ca) - and

• वर्णाः (varṇāḥ) - social classes (colors, social classes, castes)

• चतुष्पदा (catuṣpadā) - four-footed, quadruped

• गौः (gauḥ) - cow (cow, ox, bull; earth; ray of light)

• अपि (api) - also, even, too

• शश्वत् (śaśvat) - always, constantly, perpetually

• उक्ता (uktā) - mentioned (said, spoken, mentioned)

Words meanings and morphology

अष्टावक्र (aṣṭāvakra) - Aṣṭāvakra (name of a sage)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of aṣṭāvakra

aṣṭāvakra - A sage, son of Kahoda. Literally 'eight-bends' (referring to his physical deformity).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (aṣṭan+vakra)

• aṣṭan – eight
  numeral
• vakra – bent, crooked
  adjective
  Root: vaṅk (class 1)

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of vac

Perfect active

Irregular perfect formation from root vac.

Root: vac (class 2)

चतुष्टयम् (catuṣṭayam) - a quartet, a group of four, fourfold

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of catuṣṭaya

catuṣṭaya - a group of four, a quartet, fourfold

Derived from 'catur' (four) + 'ṭaya' suffix indicating a group.

Note: Functions as a nominative subject, qualifying 'niketam'.

ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of Brahmins, belonging to Brahmins

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, one belonging to the priestly class; related to brahman

निकेतम् (niketam) - residence, abode, house

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of niketa

niketa - residence, abode, dwelling, house, home

From ni-kī (to dwell)

Prefix: ni

Root: kī

Note: Here neuter nominative singular, forming a phrase with 'catuṣṭayam'.

चत्वारः (catvāraḥ) - four priests (four)

(numeral)

Note: Refers to the four main priests in a yajña.

युक्ताः (yuktāḥ) - engaged (in ritual duties) (joined, engaged, connected, endowed)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of yukta

yukta - joined, yoked, engaged, connected, associated; proper, fit; attentive; possessed of (yoga)

Past Passive Participle

From root yuj (to join, connect) with past passive participle suffix -ta.

Root: yuj (class 7)

Note: Functions as an adjective describing the 'catvāraḥ'.

यज्ञम् (yajñam) - ritual, sacrifice

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of yajña

yajña - sacrifice, ritual, worship, oblation

From root yaj (to sacrifice, worship).

Root: yaj (class 1)

Note: Object of 'vahanti'.

इमम् (imam) - this

(pronoun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one

Masculine accusative singular form of the demonstrative pronoun 'idam'.

Note: Agrees with 'yajñam'.

वहन्ति (vahanti) - they carry out, they perform (they carry, they bear, they perform)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of vah

Present active

3rd person plural, present indicative active.

Root: vah (class 1)

Note: Subject is 'catvāraḥ yuktāḥ'.

दिशः (diśaḥ) - directions

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, plural of diś

diś - direction, quarter, point of the compass

चतस्रः (catasraḥ) - four

(numeral)

Note: Agrees with 'diśaḥ'.

चतुरः (caturaḥ) - four

(numeral)

Note: Agrees with 'varṇāḥ'.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

वर्णाः (varṇāḥ) - social classes (colors, social classes, castes)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of varṇa

varṇa - color, tint; outer appearance; social class, caste; sound, letter

Root: vṛ (class 9)

Note: The four varṇas are Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, Śūdra.

चतुष्पदा (catuṣpadā) - four-footed, quadruped

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of catuṣpada

catuṣpada - four-footed, quadruped

Compound.

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (catur+pad)

• catur – four
  numeral
• pad – foot, leg
  noun (feminine)

Note: Agrees with 'gauḥ'.

गौः (gauḥ) - cow (cow, ox, bull; earth; ray of light)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of go

go - cow, ox, bull; earth; ray of light; sense organ; water

Root: gam (class 1)

अपि (api) - also, even, too

(indeclinable)

Particle.

शश्वत् (śaśvat) - always, constantly, perpetually

(indeclinable)

Adverbial use.

Note: Modifies 'uktā'.

उक्ता (uktā) - mentioned (said, spoken, mentioned)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of ukta

ukta - said, spoken, mentioned, named

Past Passive Participle

From root vac (to speak) with past passive participle suffix -ta. Feminine nominative singular.

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Agrees with 'gauḥ'. Functions as the predicate.