महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-178, verse-3

युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
दानाद्वा सर्प सत्याद्वा किमतो गुरु दृश्यते ।
अहिंसाप्रिययोश्चैव गुरुलाघवमुच्यताम् ॥३॥

3. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ,
dānādvā sarpa satyādvā kimato guru dṛśyate ,
ahiṁsāpriyayoścaiva gurulāghavamucyatām.

3. yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca dānāt vā sarpa satyāt vā kim ataḥ
guru dṛśyate ahiṃsā priyayoḥ ca eva gurulāghavam ucyatām

3. Yudhiṣṭhira said: O serpent, which is considered greater, giving (dāna) or truthfulness (satya)? And please explain the relative importance (gurulāghavam) of non-violence (ahiṃsā) and pleasant speech.

Words meanings summery:

• युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - Yudhiṣṭhira, the eldest of the Pāṇḍavas, known for his adherence to dharma. (Yudhiṣṭhira)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• दानात् (dānāt) - from giving, than giving

• वा (vā) - or, alternatively

• सर्प (sarpa) - Addressing the serpent, Nahuṣa, who has taken the form of a serpent due to a curse. (O serpent, snake)

• सत्यात् (satyāt) - from truth, than truthfulness

• वा (vā) - or, alternatively

• किम् (kim) - what, which

• अतः (ataḥ) - From these (options just mentioned). (hence, from this, then)

• गुरु (guru) - more weighty, superior (heavy, important, greater)

• दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen, is considered, appears

• अहिंसा (ahiṁsā) - non-violence, non-injury (ahiṃsā)

• प्रिययोः (priyayoḥ) - Of pleasant speech, referring to the quality of pleasantness. (of pleasant things, of pleasant speech)

• च (ca) - and

• एव (eva) - indeed, certainly, only

• गुरुलाघवम् (gurulāghavam) - relative importance (heaviness and lightness), relative weight

• उच्यताम् (ucyatām) - let it be said, please explain

Words meanings and morphology

युधिष्ठिरः (yudhiṣṭhiraḥ) - Yudhiṣṭhira, the eldest of the Pāṇḍavas, known for his adherence to dharma. (Yudhiṣṭhira)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yudhiṣṭhira

yudhiṣṭhira - Yudhiṣṭhira, steady in battle

From yudhi (in battle) + sthira (firm, steady).

Compound type : aluk tatpuruṣa (yudhi+sthira)

• yudhi – in battle
  indeclinable
  Locative singular of yudh (battle)
• sthira – firm, steady
  adjective (masculine)
  From root sthā (to stand)
  Root: sthā (class 1)

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

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

perfect active, 3rd person singular

From root vac, reduplicated perfect.

Root: vac (class 2)

दानात् (dānāt) - from giving, than giving

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of dāna

dāna - giving, donation, gift (dāna)

From root dā (to give) with suffix -ana.

Root: dā (class 3)

Note: Used in comparison.

वा (vā) - or, alternatively

(indeclinable)

सर्प (sarpa) - Addressing the serpent, Nahuṣa, who has taken the form of a serpent due to a curse. (O serpent, snake)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of sarpa

sarpa - serpent, snake

From root sṛp (to creep) with suffix -a.

Root: sṛp (class 1)

सत्यात् (satyāt) - from truth, than truthfulness

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of satya

satya - truth, reality, truthfulness (satya)

From sat (being, existing) + ya suffix.

Root: as (class 2)

Note: Used in comparison.

वा (vā) - or, alternatively

(indeclinable)

किम् (kim) - what, which

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kim

kim - who, what, which

Interrogative pronoun.

अतः (ataḥ) - From these (options just mentioned). (hence, from this, then)

(indeclinable)

Ablative form of idam (this) used adverbially.

गुरु (guru) - more weighty, superior (heavy, important, greater)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of guru

guru - heavy, important, venerable, teacher (guru)

Note: Adjectival use.

दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen, is considered, appears

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (lat) of dṛś

present passive, 3rd person singular

From root dṛś, passive formation.

Root: dṛś (class 1)

अहिंसा (ahiṁsā) - non-violence, non-injury (ahiṃsā)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of ahiṃsā

ahiṁsā - non-violence, non-injury (ahiṃsā)

From a- (not) + hiṃsā (violence).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+hiṃsā)

• a – not, non-
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix
• hiṃsā – violence, injury
  noun (feminine)
  From root hiṃs (to injure)
  Root: hiṃs (class 7)

प्रिययोः (priyayoḥ) - Of pleasant speech, referring to the quality of pleasantness. (of pleasant things, of pleasant speech)

(adjective)

Genitive, neuter, dual of priya

priya - dear, beloved, pleasant, pleasing speech

From root prī (to please).

Root: prī (class 9)

Note: Here functioning as a noun in dual.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

एव (eva) - indeed, certainly, only

(indeclinable)

Emphatic particle.

गुरुलाघवम् (gurulāghavam) - relative importance (heaviness and lightness), relative weight

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of gurulāghava

gurulāghava - heaviness and lightness, importance and insignificance, relative weight

From guru (heavy) and lāghava (lightness).

Compound type : dvandva (guru+lāghava)

• guru – heavy, important
  adjective (masculine)
• lāghava – lightness, insignificance, quickness
  noun (neuter)
  From laghu (light) + aṇ suffix.

उच्यताम् (ucyatām) - let it be said, please explain

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, imperative (lot) of vac

imperative passive, 3rd person singular

From root vac, passive form in imperative.

Root: vac (class 2)