महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-200, verse-53

ब्राह्मण उवाच ।
इन्द्रियाणि तु यान्याहुः कानि तानि यतव्रत ।
निग्रहश्च कथं कार्यो निग्रहस्य च किं फलम् ॥५३॥

53. brāhmaṇa uvāca ,
indriyāṇi tu yānyāhuḥ kāni tāni yatavrata ,
nigrahaśca kathaṁ kāryo nigrahasya ca kiṁ phalam.

53. brāhmaṇaḥ uvāca indriyāṇi tu yāni āhuḥ kāni tāni yatavrata
nigrahaḥ ca kathaṃ kāryaḥ nigrahasya ca kim phalam

53. The Brahmin said, "O ascetic (yatavrata), what exactly are these sense organs (indriyāṇi) that are spoken of? How should their restraint (nigraha) be practiced, and what is the fruit of such restraint?"

Words meanings summery:

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin, one belonging to the priestly class

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• इन्द्रियाणि (indriyāṇi) - sense organs, faculties of sense

• तु (tu) - Emphasizes a shift or a question. (but, indeed, however, on the other hand)

• यानि (yāni) - which (plural, neuter)

• आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they speak

• कानि (kāni) - what (plural, neuter)

• तानि (tāni) - Refers back to 'indriyāṇi'. (those (plural, neuter))

• यतव्रत (yatavrata) - An address to the Dharma-vyādha, who is known for his righteous conduct and self-control. (O one with controlled vows, O ascetic, O disciplined one)

• निग्रहः (nigrahaḥ) - Refers to the restraint of the sense organs. (restraint, control, suppression)

• च (ca) - and

• कथं (kathaṁ) - how, in what manner

• कार्यः (kāryaḥ) - Refers to how the restraint (nigraha) should be performed. (should be done, ought to be performed, to be done)

• निग्रहस्य (nigrahasya) - Refers to the fruit *of* restraint. (of restraint, of control)

• च (ca) - and

• किम् (kim) - What *is* the fruit? (what (neuter singular))

• फलम् (phalam) - The beneficial outcome of restraint. (fruit, result, consequence)

Words meanings and morphology

ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin, one belonging to the priestly class

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, a priest, one born of the Brahmin class

Derived from brahman (sacred knowledge/power) + aṇa (suffix forming agent nouns or adjectives)

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

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

Perfect Active Indicative

Third person singular, Perfect tense, Parasmaipada, from root vac.

Root: vac (class 2)

इन्द्रियाणि (indriyāṇi) - sense organs, faculties of sense

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of indriya

indriya - sense organ, faculty of sense, power, virility

From Indra + -iya (indicating belonging to or pertaining to Indra). In philosophy, it refers to the organs by which the soul perceives and acts.

Note: Also accusative plural possible, but nominative makes more sense here (subject of 'are spoken of').

तु (tu) - Emphasizes a shift or a question. (but, indeed, however, on the other hand)

(indeclinable)

Particle.

यानि (yāni) - which (plural, neuter)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of yat

yat - which, what, that (relative pronoun)

Relative pronoun, neuter gender, nominative/accusative plural.

Note: Also accusative plural.

आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they speak

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (Lat) of ah

Present Active Indicative

Third person plural, Present tense, Parasmaipada, from root ah (defective verb, often uses forms of vac).

Root: ah (class 2)

Note: From root AH.

कानि (kāni) - what (plural, neuter)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of kim

kim - what, which, who (interrogative pronoun/adjective)

Interrogative pronoun, neuter gender, nominative plural.

Note: Also accusative plural.

तानि (tāni) - Refers back to 'indriyāṇi'. (those (plural, neuter))

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, plural of tad

tad - that, those (demonstrative pronoun)

Demonstrative pronoun, neuter gender, nominative plural.

यतव्रत (yatavrata) - An address to the Dharma-vyādha, who is known for his righteous conduct and self-control. (O one with controlled vows, O ascetic, O disciplined one)

(adjective)

Vocative, masculine, singular of yatavrata

yatavrata - one whose vows are controlled, disciplined, ascetic

Bahuvrihi compound. yata (controlled) + vrata (vow/observance).

Compound type : bahuvrihi (yata+vrata)

• yata – controlled, restrained
  Past Passive Participle (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root yam (to restrain, control) with kta suffix.
  Root: yam (class 1)
• vrata – vow, sacred observance, religious practice, rule
  noun (neuter)

निग्रहः (nigrahaḥ) - Refers to the restraint of the sense organs. (restraint, control, suppression)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of nigraha

nigraha - restraint, control, suppression, subjugation

From ni (prefix) + graha (taking, seizing).

Prefix: ni

Root: grah (class 9)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

कथं (kathaṁ) - how, in what manner

(indeclinable)

Interrogative adverb.

Note: Often written with an anusvara, kathaṃ.

कार्यः (kāryaḥ) - Refers to how the restraint (nigraha) should be performed. (should be done, ought to be performed, to be done)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kārya

kārya - to be done, to be performed, duty, action, purpose

Gerundive

Gerundive from root kṛ (to do, make) with suffix -ya. Expresses obligation or suitability.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Used predicatively, 'should be done'.

निग्रहस्य (nigrahasya) - Refers to the fruit *of* restraint. (of restraint, of control)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of nigraha

nigraha - restraint, control, suppression, subjugation

From ni (prefix) + graha (taking, seizing).

Prefix: ni

Root: grah (class 9)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Conjunction.

किम् (kim) - What *is* the fruit? (what (neuter singular))

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kim

kim - what, which, who (interrogative pronoun/adjective)

Interrogative pronoun, neuter gender, nominative/accusative singular.

फलम् (phalam) - The beneficial outcome of restraint. (fruit, result, consequence)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of phala

phala - fruit, result, consequence, reward, benefit

Note: Also accusative singular.