महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-34, verse-17

तत्र चेद्युध्यमानानामजिह्ममनिवर्तिनाम् ।
सर्वशो हि वधः श्रेयान्प्रेत्य लोकाँल्लभेमहि ॥१७॥

17. tatra cedyudhyamānānāmajihmamanivartinām ,
sarvaśo hi vadhaḥ śreyānpretya lokāँllabhemahi.

17. tatra cet yudhyamānānām ajihmam anivartinām
sarvaśaḥ hi vadhaḥ śreyān prety lokān labhemahi

17. If we fight there, straightforwardly and without retreating, then death would certainly be better, for after dying, we would attain the celestial worlds (lokas).

Words meanings summery:

• तत्र (tatra) - in that battle, on the battlefield (there, in that place)

• चेत् (cet) - if

• युध्यमानानाम् (yudhyamānānām) - of us (Kauravas/Pandavas) fighting in this war (of those fighting, of those who are battling)

• अजिह्मम् (ajihmam) - fighting honestly and with integrity (straightforwardly, honestly, without deceit)

• अनिवर्तिनाम् (anivartinām) - of us who will not turn back from battle (of those not retreating, of those brave)

• सर्वशः (sarvaśaḥ) - under all circumstances (in every way, entirely, completely)

• हि (hi) - indeed, for, because

• वधः (vadhaḥ) - death in battle (killing, death, slaughter)

• श्रेयान् (śreyān) - more desirable or beneficial (than retreating) (better, more excellent, more auspicious)

• प्रेत्य (pretya) - in the afterlife (having died, after death, hereafter)

• लोकान् (lokān) - heavenly realms, celestial abodes (lokas) (worlds, realms)

• लभेमहि (labhemahi) - we would certainly gain the celestial worlds (we would attain, we would obtain)

Words meanings and morphology

तत्र (tatra) - in that battle, on the battlefield (there, in that place)

(indeclinable)

Derived from pronominal base 'tad' with suffix 'tra'.

चेत् (cet) - if

(indeclinable)

युध्यमानानाम् (yudhyamānānām) - of us (Kauravas/Pandavas) fighting in this war (of those fighting, of those who are battling)

(participle)

Genitive, masculine, plural of yudhyamāna

yudhyamāna - fighting, battling

Present Middle Participle

Derived from the root `yudh` (to fight) with `śānac` suffix.

Root: yudh (class 4)

Note: Refers to "us" (implied).

अजिह्मम् (ajihmam) - fighting honestly and with integrity (straightforwardly, honestly, without deceit)

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of ajihma

ajihma - not crooked, straight, honest, sincere

Negative prefix 'a-' + 'jihma' (crooked, dishonest).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+jihma)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
• jihma – crooked, oblique, deceitful, dishonest
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Functions as an adverb modifying 'yudhyamānānām'.

अनिवर्तिनाम् (anivartinām) - of us who will not turn back from battle (of those not retreating, of those brave)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of anivartin

anivartin - not turning back, steadfast, brave

Negative prefix 'a-' + 'nivartin' (one who returns). Derived from `ni-vṛt` (to turn back).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+nivartin)

• a – not, un-
  indeclinable
• nivartin – one who turns back, returning
  adjective (masculine)
  Derived from root vṛt with prefix ni and suffix -in.
  Prefix: ni
  Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Qualifies 'yudhyamānānām'.

सर्वशः (sarvaśaḥ) - under all circumstances (in every way, entirely, completely)

(indeclinable)

Derived from 'sarva' (all) with suffix 'śas'.

हि (hi) - indeed, for, because

(indeclinable)

वधः (vadhaḥ) - death in battle (killing, death, slaughter)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vadha

vadha - killing, slaying, striking, death

From root `han` (to strike, kill).

Root: han (class 2)

Note: Subject of the sentence.

श्रेयान् (śreyān) - more desirable or beneficial (than retreating) (better, more excellent, more auspicious)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreyas

śreyas - better, superior, more excellent, more auspicious, welfare, good fortune

Comparative degree of 'praśasya' (praiseworthy).

Root: śrī

Note: Qualifies `vadhaḥ`.

प्रेत्य (pretya) - in the afterlife (having died, after death, hereafter)

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (Gerund)

From `pra-i` (to go forth, die) with `lyap` suffix.

Prefix: pra

Root: i (class 2)

लोकान् (lokān) - heavenly realms, celestial abodes (lokas) (worlds, realms)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of loka

loka - world, realm, people, space (loka)

Root: lok (class 10)

Note: Object of `labhemahi`.

लभेमहि (labhemahi) - we would certainly gain the celestial worlds (we would attain, we would obtain)

(verb)

1st person , plural, middle, optative (liṅ) of labh

Optative mood, first person plural

From root `labh` (to obtain).

Root: labh (class 1)