महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-197, verse-40

बहुधा दृश्यते धर्मः सूक्ष्म एव द्विजोत्तम ।
भवानपि च धर्मज्ञः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः ।
न तु तत्त्वेन भगवन्धर्मान्वेत्सीति मे मतिः ॥४०॥

40. bahudhā dṛśyate dharmaḥ sūkṣma eva dvijottama ,
bhavānapi ca dharmajñaḥ svādhyāyanirataḥ śuciḥ ,
na tu tattvena bhagavandharmānvetsīti me matiḥ.

40. bahudhā dṛśyate dharmaḥ sūkṣmaḥ eva
dvijottama bhavān api ca dharmajnaḥ
svādhyāyanirataḥ śuciḥ na tu tattvena
bhagavan dharmān vetsi iti me matiḥ

40. The natural law (dharma) is seen in many ways, and indeed, it is subtle, O best of twice-born ones (dvijottama)! You, sir, are also a knower of natural law (dharma), devoted to self-study (svādhyāya) and pure. However, O venerable one (bhagavan), it is my opinion that you do not truly know the various natural laws (dharma) in their essence.

Words meanings summery:

• बहुधा (bahudhā) - in many ways, manifoldly

• दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen, appears

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

• सूक्ष्मः (sūkṣmaḥ) - subtle, minute, delicate

• एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

• द्विजोत्तम (dvijottama) - O best of twice-born ones (dvija)

• भवान् (bhavān) - you (respectful address)

• अपि (api) - also, even, too

• च (ca) - and

• धर्मज्ञः (dharmajñaḥ) - knower of natural law (dharma)

• स्वाध्यायनिरतः (svādhyāyanirataḥ) - devoted to self-study (svādhyāya)

• शुचिः (śuciḥ) - pure, clean

• न (na) - not

• तु (tu) - indeed, but, however

• तत्त्वेन (tattvena) - in essence, truly, according to the truth

• भगवन् (bhagavan) - O venerable one (bhagavan), glorious one

• धर्मान् (dharmān) - the natural laws (dharma) (plural)

• वेत्सि (vetsi) - you know

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

• मे (me) - my, to me, of me

• मतिः (matiḥ) - opinion, thought, mind

Words meanings and morphology

बहुधा (bahudhā) - in many ways, manifoldly

(indeclinable)

From bahu (many) with suffix -dhā

दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen, appears

(verb)

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

From root dṛś (class 1), passive voice

Root: dṛś (class 1)

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

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

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

सूक्ष्मः (sūkṣmaḥ) - subtle, minute, delicate

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sūkṣma

sūkṣma - subtle, minute, fine, delicate

एव (eva) - indeed, only, just

(indeclinable)

द्विजोत्तम (dvijottama) - O best of twice-born ones (dvija)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of dvijottama

dvijottama - best among the twice-born

Compound of dvija (twice-born) and uttama (best)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dvija+uttama)

• dvija – twice-born (brahmin, kṣatriya, vaiśya; also bird, tooth)
  noun (masculine)
  Compound of dvi (two) and ja (born)
  Root: jan (class 4)
• uttama – best, highest
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Synonym of dvijasattama.

भवान् (bhavān) - you (respectful address)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhavat

bhavat - your honor, you (polite)

Present Active Participle

From root bhū (to be), used as a pronoun

Root: bhū (class 1)

अपि (api) - also, even, too

(indeclinable)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

धर्मज्ञः (dharmajñaḥ) - knower of natural law (dharma)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharmajña

dharmajña - knower of dharma, righteous

Compound of dharma (natural law) and jña (knower)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+jña)

• dharma – natural law, duty
  noun (masculine)
• jña – knowing, knoewr
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent Noun/Adjective
  From root jñā (to know)
  Root: jñā (class 9)

स्वाध्यायनिरतः (svādhyāyanirataḥ) - devoted to self-study (svādhyāya)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of svādhyāyanirata

svādhyāyanirata - devoted to self-study

Compound of svādhyāya (self-study) and nirata (devoted)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (svādhyāya+nirata)

• svādhyāya – self-study, recitation of sacred texts
  noun (masculine)
  Compound of sva (self) and adhyāya (study)
• nirata – devoted, absorbed, engaged in
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root ram (to delight) with prefix ni-
  Prefix: ni
  Root: ram (class 1)

शुचिः (śuciḥ) - pure, clean

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śuci

śuci - pure, clean, bright

न (na) - not

(indeclinable)

तु (tu) - indeed, but, however

(indeclinable)

तत्त्वेन (tattvena) - in essence, truly, according to the truth

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of tattva

tattva - truth, reality, essence, principle

भगवन् (bhagavan) - O venerable one (bhagavan), glorious one

(adjective)

Vocative, masculine, singular of bhagavat

bhagavat - venerable, glorious, divine, lord

Possessive suffix -vat from bhaga (fortune, excellence)

धर्मान् (dharmān) - the natural laws (dharma) (plural)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of dharma

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

Note: The speaker implies that there are many subtle aspects or types of dharma.

वेत्सि (vetsi) - you know

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of vid

From root vid (class 2), present tense

Root: vid (class 2)

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

(indeclinable)

मे (me) - my, to me, of me

(pronoun)

Genitive, singular of mad

mad - I, me

Note: Often functions as dative 'to me' or genitive 'my'.

मतिः (matiḥ) - opinion, thought, mind

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of mati

mati - mind, thought, opinion, understanding

From root man (to think)

Root: man (class 4)