महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-177, verse-18

सर्प उवाच ।
चातुर्वर्ण्यं प्रमाणं च सत्यं च ब्रह्म चैव ह ।
शूद्रेष्वपि च सत्यं च दानमक्रोध एव च ।
आनृशंस्यमहिंसा च घृणा चैव युधिष्ठिर ॥१८॥

18. sarpa uvāca ,
cāturvarṇyaṁ pramāṇaṁ ca satyaṁ ca brahma caiva ha ,
śūdreṣvapi ca satyaṁ ca dānamakrodha eva ca ,
ānṛśaṁsyamahiṁsā ca ghṛṇā caiva yudhiṣṭhira.

18. sarpa uvāca cāturvarṇyam pramāṇam ca
satyam ca brahma ca eva ha śūdreṣu api ca
satyam ca dānam akrodhaḥ eva ca ānṛśaṃsyam
ahiṃsā ca ghṛṇā ca eva yudhiṣṭhira

18. The serpent said, "O Yudhiṣṭhira, the system of four social classes (cāturvarṇya), scriptural authority (pramāṇa), truth, and indeed (brahman) are (important). However, truth, charity (dāna), and indeed freedom from anger, compassion, non-violence (ahiṃsā), and kindness are found even among Śūdras."

Words meanings summery:

• सर्प (sarpa) - Addressing Nahuṣa. (O serpent)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• चातुर्वर्ण्यम् (cāturvarṇyam) - The traditional fourfold division of society (Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, Śūdra), referred to as (cāturvarṇya). (the system of four social classes)

• प्रमाणम् (pramāṇam) - A source of valid knowledge or authority, often referring to scriptural texts (pramāṇa). (proof, authority, measure, standard)

• च (ca) - and, also

• सत्यम् (satyam) - The quality of being truthful. (truth, reality)

• च (ca) - and, also

• ब्रह्म (brahma) - In this context, likely referring to the Vedas or Vedic knowledge as a source of authority, alongside social order and truth (brahman). (the Absolute (brahman); sacred word, Veda)

• च (ca) - and, also

• एव (eva) - An emphasizing particle, used here with 'ha' to stress the preceding points. (indeed, truly, just, only)

• ह (ha) - Emphasizing the preceding statements, used alongside 'eva'. (indeed, verily, surely (an emphatic particle))

• शूद्रेषु (śūdreṣu) - Indicates that even members of the lowest social class can possess these virtues. (among Śūdras, in Śūdras)

• अपि (api) - Emphasizes that these qualities are found *even* among Śūdras. (even, also, too)

• च (ca) - and, also

• सत्यम् (satyam) - The quality of being truthful. (truth, reality)

• च (ca) - and, also

• दानम् (dānam) - The act of giving or benevolence (dāna). (giving, charity, gift)

• अक्रोधः (akrodhaḥ) - The virtue of being free from anger. (non-anger, freedom from wrath)

• एव (eva) - An emphasizing particle. (indeed, truly, just, only)

• च (ca) - and, also

• आनृशंस्यम् (ānṛśaṁsyam) - The quality of not being cruel or harmful to others. (compassion, kindness, absence of cruelty)

• अहिंसा (ahiṁsā) - The ethical principle of not causing harm to any living being (ahiṃsā). (non-violence, non-harming)

• च (ca) - and, also

• घृणा (ghṛṇā) - The feeling of benevolence and sympathy. (compassion, kindness, pity)

• च (ca) - and, also

• एव (eva) - An emphasizing particle. (indeed, truly, just, only)

• युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Addressing Yudhiṣṭhira. (O Yudhiṣṭhira)

Words meanings and morphology

सर्प (sarpa) - Addressing Nahuṣa. (O serpent)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of sarpa

sarpa - serpent, snake

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

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

perfect tense

Root vac, perfect active 3rd person singular

Root: vac (class 2)

चातुर्वर्ण्यम् (cāturvarṇyam) - The traditional fourfold division of society (Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, Śūdra), referred to as (cāturvarṇya). (the system of four social classes)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of cāturvarṇya

cāturvarṇya - the four classes, the fourfold division of society

Compound type : tatpurusha (catur+varṇa)

• catur – four
  numeral
• varṇa – color, class, social order
  noun (masculine)

Note: Also accusative singular. Here nominative.

प्रमाणम् (pramāṇam) - A source of valid knowledge or authority, often referring to scriptural texts (pramāṇa). (proof, authority, measure, standard)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of pramāṇa

pramāṇa - proof, authority, standard, measure

Prefix: pra

Root: mā (class 3)

Note: Also accusative singular. Here nominative.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

सत्यम् (satyam) - The quality of being truthful. (truth, reality)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of satya

satya - truth, reality, true, real

Note: Nominative singular neuter, as a subject in the list of important concepts.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

ब्रह्म (brahma) - In this context, likely referring to the Vedas or Vedic knowledge as a source of authority, alongside social order and truth (brahman). (the Absolute (brahman); sacred word, Veda)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of brahman

brahman - the Absolute, the ultimate reality, sacred word, Veda

Root: bṛh

Note: Nominative singular neuter form.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - An emphasizing particle, used here with 'ha' to stress the preceding points. (indeed, truly, just, only)

(indeclinable)

ह (ha) - Emphasizing the preceding statements, used alongside 'eva'. (indeed, verily, surely (an emphatic particle))

(indeclinable)

Note: Used for emphasis or as an expletive.

शूद्रेषु (śūdreṣu) - Indicates that even members of the lowest social class can possess these virtues. (among Śūdras, in Śūdras)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of śūdra

śūdra - a member of the fourth social class, a laborer

Note: Locative plural, indicating location 'among'.

अपि (api) - Emphasizes that these qualities are found *even* among Śūdras. (even, also, too)

(indeclinable)

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

सत्यम् (satyam) - The quality of being truthful. (truth, reality)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of satya

satya - truth, reality, true, real

Note: Nominative singular neuter, as a subject in the list of virtues.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

दानम् (dānam) - The act of giving or benevolence (dāna). (giving, charity, gift)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of dāna

dāna - gift, giving, charity

Root: dā (class 3)

Note: Nominative singular neuter, as a subject in the list of virtues.

अक्रोधः (akrodhaḥ) - The virtue of being free from anger. (non-anger, freedom from wrath)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of akrodha

akrodha - freedom from anger, non-anger

Compound type : bahuvrihi (a+krodha)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
• krodha – anger, wrath
  noun (masculine)

Note: Nominative singular masculine.

एव (eva) - An emphasizing particle. (indeed, truly, just, only)

(indeclinable)

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

आनृशंस्यम् (ānṛśaṁsyam) - The quality of not being cruel or harmful to others. (compassion, kindness, absence of cruelty)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of ānṛśaṃsya

ānṛśaṁsya - absence of cruelty, kindness, humanity

Note: Nominative singular neuter, as a subject in the list of virtues.

अहिंसा (ahiṁsā) - The ethical principle of not causing harm to any living being (ahiṃsā). (non-violence, non-harming)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of ahiṃsā

ahiṁsā - non-violence, non-harming, harmlessness

Compound type : bahuvrihi (a+hiṃsā)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
• hiṃsā – violence, injury, harming
  noun (feminine)
  Root: hiṃs (class 7)

Note: Nominative singular feminine.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

घृणा (ghṛṇā) - The feeling of benevolence and sympathy. (compassion, kindness, pity)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of ghṛṇā

ghṛṇā - compassion, pity, kindness, heat, light

Note: Nominative singular feminine, as a subject in the list of virtues.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - An emphasizing particle. (indeed, truly, just, only)

(indeclinable)

युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Addressing Yudhiṣṭhira. (O Yudhiṣṭhira)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of yudhiṣṭhira

yudhiṣṭhira - steadfast in battle; name of the eldest Pāṇḍava