महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-2, verse-39

यथा ह्यामिषमाकाशे पक्षिभिः श्वापदैर्भुवि ।
भक्ष्यते सलिले मत्स्यैस्तथा सर्वेण वित्तवान् ॥३९॥

39. yathā hyāmiṣamākāśe pakṣibhiḥ śvāpadairbhuvi ,
bhakṣyate salile matsyaistathā sarveṇa vittavān.

39. yathā hi āmiṣam ākāśe pakṣibhiḥ śvāpadaiḥ bhuvi
bhakṣyate salile matsyaiḥ tathā sarveṇa vittavān

39. Indeed, just as prey is consumed by birds in the sky, by beasts of prey on land, and by fish in the water, so too is a wealthy person (figuratively) devoured by everyone.

Words meanings summery:

• यथा (yathā) - just as, as, in which way

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely, because

• आमिषम् (āmiṣam) - flesh, prey, meat

• आकाशे (ākāśe) - in the sky, in space, in the ether

• पक्षिभिः (pakṣibhiḥ) - by birds

• श्वापदैः (śvāpadaiḥ) - by carnivorous animals, by beasts of prey

• भुवि (bhuvi) - on earth, on the ground

• भक्ष्यते (bhakṣyate) - is eaten, is devoured

• सलिले (salile) - in water

• मत्स्यैः (matsyaiḥ) - by fish

• तथा (tathā) - similarly, so, thus

• सर्वेण (sarveṇa) - by all, by everyone

• वित्तवान् (vittavān) - a wealthy person, one possessing wealth

Words meanings and morphology

यथा (yathā) - just as, as, in which way

(indeclinable)

हि (hi) - indeed, surely, because

(indeclinable)

आमिषम् (āmiṣam) - flesh, prey, meat

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of āmiṣa

āmiṣa - meat, flesh, prey

Note: Can also be accusative singular. Here, it is the grammatical subject in a passive construction.

आकाशे (ākāśe) - in the sky, in space, in the ether

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of ākāśa

ākāśa - sky, space, ether

Root: kāś (class 1)

पक्षिभिः (pakṣibhiḥ) - by birds

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of pakṣin

pakṣin - bird, winged creature

Derived with the suffix `-in` meaning 'possessing' (pakṣa - wing).

श्वापदैः (śvāpadaiḥ) - by carnivorous animals, by beasts of prey

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of śvāpada

śvāpada - carnivorous animal, beast of prey

Generally understood as a compound of `śvan` (dog) and `pada` (foot), referring to animals with paws like a dog, hence predators.

Compound type : tatpurusha (śvan+pada)

• śvan – dog
  noun (masculine)
• pada – foot, step
  noun (neuter)
  Root: pad (class 4)

भुवि (bhuvi) - on earth, on the ground

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of bhū

bhū - earth, ground, land

भक्ष्यते (bhakṣyate) - is eaten, is devoured

(verb)

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

Passive form of the root `bhakṣ` (to eat).

Root: bhakṣ (class 1)

सलिले (salile) - in water

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of salila

salila - water

मत्स्यैः (matsyaiḥ) - by fish

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of matsya

matsya - fish

Root: mad (class 4)

तथा (tathā) - similarly, so, thus

(indeclinable)

सर्वेण (sarveṇa) - by all, by everyone

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of sarva

sarva - all, every, whole

Note: Used substantively to mean 'by everyone'.

वित्तवान् (vittavān) - a wealthy person, one possessing wealth

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vittavat

vittavat - possessing wealth, wealthy, rich

Derived with the suffix `-vat` meaning 'possessing' (vitta - wealth).

Note: Used substantively as 'a wealthy person'.