महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-233, verse-9

राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्य धीमतः ।
क्रमेण मृदुना युद्धमुपक्रामन्त भारत ॥९॥

9. rājñastu vacanaṁ śrutvā dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ ,
krameṇa mṛdunā yuddhamupakrāmanta bhārata.

9. rājñaḥ tu vacanam śrutvā dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ
krameṇa mṛdunā yuddham upakrāmantam bhārata

9. O Bhārata, upon hearing the words of the wise King of Righteousness (Dharmarāja), they gradually initiated the battle gently.

Words meanings summery:

• राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king

• तु (tu) - but, indeed, however

• वचनम् (vacanam) - word, speech, saying

• श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard, after hearing

• धर्मराजस्य (dharmarājasya) - of Yudhiṣṭhira, the King of Righteousness (dharma) (of the King of Righteousness (dharma))

• धीमतः (dhīmataḥ) - referring to Dharmarāja (of the wise, intelligent)

• क्रमेण (krameṇa) - gradually, in sequence, step by step

• मृदुना (mṛdunā) - gently, softly, mildly, by soft means

• युद्धम् (yuddham) - battle, fight, war

• उपक्रामन्तम् (upakrāmantam) - referring to the act of initiating the battle (commencing, initiating, approaching)

• भारत (bhārata) - Refers to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (the listener in the Mahābhārata narration) or a general address. (O Bhārata, O descendant of Bharata)

Words meanings and morphology

राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler

Note: External visarga sandhi undone (rājñas in sandhi).

तु (tu) - but, indeed, however

(indeclinable)

वचनम् (vacanam) - word, speech, saying

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of vacana

vacana - word, speech, saying

Derived from root vac (to speak).

Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Object of śrutvā.

श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard, after hearing

(indeclinable)

gerund (absolutive)

Formed from root śru + suffix tvā.

Root: śru (class 5)

धर्मराजस्य (dharmarājasya) - of Yudhiṣṭhira, the King of Righteousness (dharma) (of the King of Righteousness (dharma))

(proper noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dharmarāja

dharmarāja - King of Righteousness (dharma), a name for Yudhiṣṭhira

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+rāja)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty (dharma)
  noun (masculine)
  From root dhṛ (to uphold, support).
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• rāja – king, ruler
  noun (masculine)

धीमतः (dhīmataḥ) - referring to Dharmarāja (of the wise, intelligent)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dhīmat

dhīmat - wise, intelligent, endowed with understanding

Derived from dhī (intellect) + matup suffix.

Note: Qualifies dharmarājasya.

क्रमेण (krameṇa) - gradually, in sequence, step by step

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of krama

krama - step, sequence, order, manner

From root kram (to step, go).

Root: kram (class 1)

मृदुना (mṛdunā) - gently, softly, mildly, by soft means

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of mṛdu

mṛdu - soft, tender, gentle, mild

Note: Qualifies the manner of commencing the battle.

युद्धम् (yuddham) - battle, fight, war

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of yuddha

yuddha - battle, fight, war

Past Passive Participle (originally, but commonly used as a noun)

From root yudh (to fight).

Root: yudh (class 4)

Note: Object of upakrāmantam.

उपक्रामन्तम् (upakrāmantam) - referring to the act of initiating the battle (commencing, initiating, approaching)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of upakrāmat

upakrāmat - commencing, initiating, approaching

Present Active Participle

Formed from root kram (to step, go) with prefix upa.

Prefix: upa

Root: kram (class 1)

भारत (bhārata) - Refers to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (the listener in the Mahābhārata narration) or a general address. (O Bhārata, O descendant of Bharata)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of bhārata

bhārata - descendant of Bharata, an Indian, an epithet often used for figures like Arjuna, Yudhiṣṭhira, or Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

From Bharata with aṇ suffix.