महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-197, verse-39

दुर्ज्ञेयः शाश्वतो धर्मः स तु सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः ।
श्रुतिप्रमाणो धर्मः स्यादिति वृद्धानुशासनम् ॥३९॥

39. durjñeyaḥ śāśvato dharmaḥ sa tu satye pratiṣṭhitaḥ ,
śrutipramāṇo dharmaḥ syāditi vṛddhānuśāsanam.

39. durjñeyaḥ śāśvataḥ dharmaḥ saḥ tu satye pratiṣṭhitaḥ
śrutipramāṇaḥ dharmaḥ syāt iti vṛddhānuśāsanam

39. The eternal natural law (dharma) is difficult to comprehend. But it is established in truth. The natural law (dharma) should be based on the authority of scripture (śruti) — this is the teaching of the elders.

Words meanings summery:

• दुर्ज्ञेयः (durjñeyaḥ) - difficult to know, hard to comprehend

• शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ) - eternal, perpetual

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law (dharma), constitution, duty

• सः (saḥ) - he, that

• तु (tu) - indeed, but, however

• सत्ये (satye) - in truth

• प्रतिष्ठितः (pratiṣṭhitaḥ) - established, based, fixed

• श्रुतिप्रमाणः (śrutipramāṇaḥ) - having scripture (śruti) as authority, based on scripture

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law (dharma), constitution, duty

• स्यात् (syāt) - should be, might be

• इति (iti) - thus, so (marks direct quotation or statement)

• वृद्धानुशासनम् (vṛddhānuśāsanam) - the teaching of the elders

Words meanings and morphology

दुर्ज्ञेयः (durjñeyaḥ) - difficult to know, hard to comprehend

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of durjñeya

durjñeya - difficult to know, incomprehensible

Gerundive/Future Passive Participle

From root jñā (to know) with prefix dur-

Prefix: dur

Root: jñā (class 9)

शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ) - eternal, perpetual

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śāśvata

śāśvata - eternal, perpetual, constant

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law (dharma), constitution, duty

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

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

सः (saḥ) - he, that

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

तु (tu) - indeed, but, however

(indeclinable)

सत्ये (satye) - in truth

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of satya

satya - truth, real, true

प्रतिष्ठितः (pratiṣṭhitaḥ) - established, based, fixed

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of pratiṣṭhita

pratiṣṭhita - established, situated, fixed

Past Passive Participle

From root sthā (to stand) with prefix prati-

Prefix: prati

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Functions as a predicate adjective here.

श्रुतिप्रमाणः (śrutipramāṇaḥ) - having scripture (śruti) as authority, based on scripture

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śrutipramāṇa

śrutipramāṇa - having scripture as authority, proof from Veda

Compound of śruti (revealed scripture) and pramāṇa (authority, proof)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (śruti+pramāṇa)

• śruti – hearing, Vedic revelation, scripture
  noun (feminine)
  From root śru (to hear)
  Root: śru (class 5)
• pramāṇa – authority, proof, measure
  noun (neuter)
  From root mā (to measure) with prefix pra-
  Prefix: pra
  Root: mā (class 3)

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law (dharma), constitution, duty

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

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

स्यात् (syāt) - should be, might be

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of as

From root as (class 2)

Root: as (class 2)

इति (iti) - thus, so (marks direct quotation or statement)

(indeclinable)

वृद्धानुशासनम् (vṛddhānuśāsanam) - the teaching of the elders

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of vṛddhānuśāsana

vṛddhānuśāsana - teaching of the elders

Compound of vṛddha (elder) and anuśāsana (instruction)

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (vṛddha+anuśāsana)

• vṛddha – old, aged, wise, elder
  noun (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root vṛdh (to grow)
  Root: vṛdh (class 1)
• anuśāsana – instruction, teaching
  noun (neuter)
  From root śās (to command) with prefix anu-
  Prefix: anu
  Root: śās (class 2)