महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-154, verse-56

ततः संहृत्य मुष्टिं तु पञ्चशीर्षमिवोरगम् ।
वेगेनाभ्यहनद्भीमो राक्षसस्य शिरोधराम् ॥५६॥

56. tataḥ saṁhṛtya muṣṭiṁ tu pañcaśīrṣamivoragam ,
vegenābhyahanadbhīmo rākṣasasya śirodharām.

56. tataḥ saṃhṛtya muṣṭim tu pañcaśīrṣam iva uragam
vegena abhyahanat bhīmaḥ rākṣasasya śirodharām

56. Then, Bhīma drew back his fist, which was like a five-headed serpent, and swiftly struck the demon's neck.

Words meanings summery:

• ततः (tataḥ) - sequence of events (then, from there, thereafter)

• संहृत्य (saṁhṛtya) - having drawn back the fist (having drawn back, having collected, having restrained)

• मुष्टिम् (muṣṭim) - fist

• तु (tu) - serves as an emphatic or contrasting particle. (indeed, but, on the other hand)

• पञ्चशीर्षम् (pañcaśīrṣam) - describing the fist by analogy (five-headed)

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• उरगम् (uragam) - serpent, snake

• वेगेन (vegena) - with speed, with force, swiftly

• अभ्यहनत् (abhyahanat) - he struck, he hit

• भीमः (bhīmaḥ) - Bhīma (proper noun)

• राक्षसस्य (rākṣasasya) - of the demon Hiḍimba (of the demon)

• शिरोधराम् (śirodharām) - neck

Words meanings and morphology

ततः (tataḥ) - sequence of events (then, from there, thereafter)

(indeclinable)

Derived from 'tad' with the ablative suffix '-tas'.

संहृत्य (saṁhṛtya) - having drawn back the fist (having drawn back, having collected, having restrained)

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (gerund)

Formed with prefix 'sam-' and root 'hṛ' (to carry, to seize), followed by '-ya' suffix.

Prefix: sam

Root: hṛ (class 1)

मुष्टिम् (muṣṭim) - fist

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of muṣṭi

muṣṭi - fist, clenched hand

Note: Object of 'saṃhṛtya'.

तु (tu) - serves as an emphatic or contrasting particle. (indeed, but, on the other hand)

(indeclinable)

पञ्चशीर्षम् (pañcaśīrṣam) - describing the fist by analogy (five-headed)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of pañcaśīrṣa

pañcaśīrṣa - five-headed

Compound of pañca (five) and śīrṣa (head).

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (pañcan+śīrṣa)

• pañcan – five
  numeral
• śīrṣa – head, top
  noun (neuter)

Note: Used with 'iva' to form a simile, agreeing with 'uragam'.

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

उरगम् (uragam) - serpent, snake

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of uraga

uraga - serpent, snake (literally 'moving on the breast/belly')

Derived from 'uras' (breast, belly) and root 'gam' (to go). Literally 'that which goes on its chest/belly'.

Root: gam (class 1)

Note: Compared to the fist.

वेगेन (vegena) - with speed, with force, swiftly

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of vega

vega - speed, force, impetus, rush

From root 'vij' (to tremble) or 'vij' (to move rapidly).

Note: Functions adverbially.

अभ्यहनत् (abhyahanat) - he struck, he hit

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, imperfect (laṅ) of abhi-han

Imperfect (laṅ), 3rd person singular

Formed with prefix 'abhi-' and root 'han' (to strike, to kill). The imperfect augment 'a-' combines with 'abhi-' to form 'abhyā-' before the root, but here the 'a-' is from the root's imperfect form 'ahanat'. So abhi + ahanat -> abhyahanat.

Prefix: abhi

Root: han (class 2)

भीमः (bhīmaḥ) - Bhīma (proper noun)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhīma

bhīma - dreadful, terrible; name of one of the Pāṇḍavas

From root 'bhī' (to fear).

Root: bhī (class 3)

राक्षसस्य (rākṣasasya) - of the demon Hiḍimba (of the demon)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of rākṣasa

rākṣasa - demon, evil spirit, pertaining to rākṣasas

From 'rakṣas' (a harmful being) + suffix '-a'.

Note: Possessive, refers to the demon's neck.

शिरोधराम् (śirodharām) - neck

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of śirodharā

śirodharā - neck (literally 'head-holder')

Compound of śiras (head) and dhara (holding, bearing).

Compound type : upapada tatpuruṣa (śiras+dhara)

• śiras – head, top
  noun (neuter)
• dhara – holding, bearing, supporting
  adjective (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to hold)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)