महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-268, verse-36

केशाकेश्यभवद्युद्धं रक्षसां वानरैः सह ।
नखैर्दन्तैश्च वीराणां खादतां वै परस्परम् ॥३६॥

36. keśākeśyabhavadyuddhaṁ rakṣasāṁ vānaraiḥ saha ,
nakhairdantaiśca vīrāṇāṁ khādatāṁ vai parasparam.

36. keśākeśi abhavat yuddhaṃ rakṣasāṃ vānaraiḥ saha
nakhaiḥ dantaiḥ ca vīrāṇāṃ khādatām vai parasparam

36. A hair-pulling battle occurred between the Rakshasas and the monkeys. Indeed, the heroes were biting each other mutually with their nails and teeth.

Words meanings summery:

• केशाकेशि (keśākeśi) - a fight by pulling hair

• अभवत् (abhavat) - occurred, took place, was

• युद्धं (yuddhaṁ) - battle, fight

• रक्षसां (rakṣasāṁ) - of the Rakshasas, of the demons

• वानरैः (vānaraiḥ) - by the monkeys, with the monkeys

• सह (saha) - with, together with

• नखैः (nakhaiḥ) - by nails, with claws

• दन्तैः (dantaiḥ) - by teeth, with fangs

• च (ca) - and

• वीराणां (vīrāṇāṁ) - of the Rakshasas and monkeys (heroes of their respective sides) (of the heroes, of the brave ones)

• खादताम् (khādatām) - biting, eating

• वै (vai) - indeed, surely

• परस्परम् (parasparam) - mutually, each other, reciprocally

Words meanings and morphology

केशाकेशि (keśākeśi) - a fight by pulling hair

(indeclinable)

Formed by repeating keśa and adding suffix i, denoting mutual action (karmavyatīhāra compound).

Compound type : avyayībhāva (keśa+keśa)

• keśa – hair
  noun (masculine)
• keśa – hair
  noun (masculine)

Note: Adverbial usage.

अभवत् (abhavat) - occurred, took place, was

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past imperfect (laṅ) of bhū

Imperfect Tense (Laṅ)

Augment a- + root bhū + personal ending.

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Finite verb.

युद्धं (yuddhaṁ) - battle, fight

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of yuddha

yuddha - battle, fight, war

Past Passive Participle (acting as noun)

From root yudh (to fight) + kta suffix.

Root: yudh (class 4)

Note: Subject of abhavat.

रक्षसां (rakṣasāṁ) - of the Rakshasas, of the demons

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of rakṣas

rakṣas - Rakshasa, demon, evil spirit

From root rakṣ (to protect, but here evil beings).

Root: rakṣ (class 1)

Note: Indicates possession or relation ('fight of the Rakshasas').

वानरैः (vānaraiḥ) - by the monkeys, with the monkeys

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of vānara

vānara - monkey, ape

From vana (forest).

Note: Used with saha to indicate accompaniment/participation.

सह (saha) - with, together with

(indeclinable)

Note: Governs the instrumental case (vānaraiḥ).

नखैः (nakhaiḥ) - by nails, with claws

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of nakha

nakha - nail, claw

दन्तैः (dantaiḥ) - by teeth, with fangs

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of danta

danta - tooth, tusk, fang

From root dam (to tame, but also related to daṃś to bite).

Root: dam (class 4)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Conjunction.

वीराणां (vīrāṇāṁ) - of the Rakshasas and monkeys (heroes of their respective sides) (of the heroes, of the brave ones)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of vīra

vīra - hero, brave man, warrior

Root: vīr (class 10)

Note: Qualifies khādatām.

खादताम् (khādatām) - biting, eating

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of khādat

khādat - eating, biting, devouring

Present Active Participle

From root khād (to eat, bite) with suffix -at.

Root: khād (class 1)

Note: Describes the vīrāṇāṃ.

वै (vai) - indeed, surely

(indeclinable)

परस्परम् (parasparam) - mutually, each other, reciprocally

(indeclinable)

From para (other) + apara (another).