महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-149, verse-26

न हि धर्ममविज्ञाय वृद्धाननुपसेव्य च ।
धर्मो वै वेदितुं शक्यो बृहस्पतिसमैरपि ॥२६॥

26. na hi dharmamavijñāya vṛddhānanupasevya ca ,
dharmo vai vedituṁ śakyo bṛhaspatisamairapi.

26. na hi dharmam avijñāya vṛddhān anupasevya ca
dharmaḥ vai veditum śakyaḥ bṛhaspatisamaiḥ api

26. Indeed, the constitution (dharma) cannot be understood without comprehending its principles and without respectfully serving the elders, not even by those who are equal to Brihaspati (the preceptor of the gods).

Words meanings summery:

• न (na) - not (not, no)

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

• धर्मम् (dharmam) - the principles of natural law (constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness)

• अविज्ञाय (avijñāya) - without understanding (without knowing, having not known, not having understood)

• वृद्धान् (vṛddhān) - revered elders, wise persons (elders, old ones, grown up)

• अनुपसेव्य (anupasevya) - without respectfully serving (without serving, having not served, without attending upon)

• च (ca) - and (and, also)

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the principles of natural law (constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness)

• वै (vai) - indeed, surely (indeed, truly, surely, certainly)

• वेदितुम् (veditum) - to be known, to be understood (to know, to understand)

• शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - possible (to be known) (possible, capable of, able to be done)

• बृहस्पतिसमैः (bṛhaspatisamaiḥ) - by those as wise and learned as Brihaspati (by those equal to Brihaspati)

• अपि (api) - even (even, also, too)

Words meanings and morphology

न (na) - not (not, no)

(indeclinable)

Note: Negation particle.

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

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

धर्मम् (dharmam) - the principles of natural law (constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness, virtue

Note: Object of 'avijñāya'.

अविज्ञाय (avijñāya) - without understanding (without knowing, having not known, not having understood)

(indeclinable)

absolutive

prefix 'a' indicates negation

Prefix: vi

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Indeclinable past participle (absolutive) with negating prefix 'a-'. Hence, 'without knowing'.

वृद्धान् (vṛddhān) - revered elders, wise persons (elders, old ones, grown up)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of vṛddha

vṛddha - old, aged, grown, wise, elder

Past Passive Participle

from root vṛdh (to grow)

Root: vṛdh (class 1)

Note: Object of 'anupasevya'.

अनुपसेव्य (anupasevya) - without respectfully serving (without serving, having not served, without attending upon)

(indeclinable)

absolutive

derived from root sev with upasargas anu and upa. Prefix 'a' indicates negation.

Prefixes: anu+upa

Root: sev (class 1)

Note: Indeclinable past participle (absolutive) with negating prefix 'a-'. Hence, 'without serving'.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the principles of natural law (constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - constitution, natural law, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness, virtue

Note: Subject of the sentence.

वै (vai) - indeed, surely (indeed, truly, surely, certainly)

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphatic particle.

वेदितुम् (veditum) - to be known, to be understood (to know, to understand)

(verb)

infinitive (tumun) of vid

infinitive

Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Used with 'śakyaḥ' (possible to be known).

शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - possible (to be known) (possible, capable of, able to be done)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śakya

śakya - possible, capable of, able to be done/known

Gerundive/Future Passive Participle

derived from root śak

Root: śak (class 5)

Note: Agrees with 'dharmaḥ'.

बृहस्पतिसमैः (bṛhaspatisamaiḥ) - by those as wise and learned as Brihaspati (by those equal to Brihaspati)

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of bṛhaspatisama

bṛhaspatisama - equal to Brihaspati

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (bṛhaspati+sama)

• bṛhaspati – Brihaspati (preceptor of the gods)
  proper noun (masculine)
• sama – equal, like, same
  adjective

Note: Used with 'api'.

अपि (api) - even (even, also, too)

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizes 'bṛhaspatisamaiḥ'.