महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-34, verse-64

अर्थेन तु समोऽनर्थो यत्र लभ्येत नोदयः ।
न तत्र विपणः कार्यः खरकण्डूयितं हि तत् ॥६४॥

64. arthena tu samo'nartho yatra labhyeta nodayaḥ ,
na tatra vipaṇaḥ kāryaḥ kharakaṇḍūyitaṁ hi tat.

64. arthena tu samaḥ anarthaḥ yatra labhyeta na udayaḥ
na tatra vipaṇaḥ kāryaḥ kharakaṇḍūyitam hi tat

64. But where a disadvantage (anartha) equal to the benefit (artha) might be acquired, and there is no net gain, no transaction should be undertaken there. Indeed, that is merely like a donkey scratching itself (providing only temporary relief without true benefit).

Words meanings summery:

• अर्थेन (arthena) - by the (expected) gain/benefit (by wealth, by gain, by purpose)

• तु (tu) - but (but, indeed, however)

• समः (samaḥ) - equal (to) (equal, similar, identical)

• अनर्थः (anarthaḥ) - a disadvantage or undesired outcome (misfortune, disadvantage, evil, useless, meaningless)

• यत्र (yatra) - where, in which situation (where, in which case)

• लभ्येत (labhyeta) - might be acquired (might be obtained, should be obtained, would be obtained)

• न (na) - not, no

• उदयः (udayaḥ) - profit, net gain (rise, ascent, prosperity, profit, emergence)

• न (na) - not, no

• तत्र (tatra) - in such a situation (there, in that place, in that case)

• विपणः (vipaṇaḥ) - transaction, exchange (sale, trade, transaction, market)

• कार्यः (kāryaḥ) - should be undertaken (to be done, proper to be done, duty)

• खरकण्डूयितम् (kharakaṇḍūyitam) - unproductive or futile self-indulgence (donkey's scratching, act of scratching like a donkey)

• हि (hi) - indeed, for (indeed, surely, because)

• तत् (tat) - that (activity) (that, it)

Words meanings and morphology

अर्थेन (arthena) - by the (expected) gain/benefit (by wealth, by gain, by purpose)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of artha

artha - purpose, aim, object, wealth, meaning, prosperity, success, gain

Root: ṛ

Note: Used with 'samaḥ' (equal to).

तु (tu) - but (but, indeed, however)

(indeclinable)

समः (samaḥ) - equal (to) (equal, similar, identical)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sama

sama - equal, same, uniform, similar, common

Note: Qualifies 'anarthaḥ'.

अनर्थः (anarthaḥ) - a disadvantage or undesired outcome (misfortune, disadvantage, evil, useless, meaningless)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of anartha

anartha - misfortune, disadvantage, evil, useless, meaningless, lack of wealth/purpose

Negative compound of 'na' + 'artha'.

Compound type : nañ tatpuruṣa (na+artha)

• na – not
  indeclinable
• artha – purpose, aim, object, wealth, meaning, prosperity, success, gain
  noun (masculine)
  Root: ṛ

Note: Subject of the clause 'yatra labhyeta'.

यत्र (yatra) - where, in which situation (where, in which case)

(indeclinable)

From 'yad' (relative pronoun) + 'tra' suffix.

Note: Introduces a subordinate clause.

लभ्येत (labhyeta) - might be acquired (might be obtained, should be obtained, would be obtained)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, optative (liṅ) of labh

Root: labh (class 1)

Note: Expresses possibility or potential.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates 'udayaḥ'.

उदयः (udayaḥ) - profit, net gain (rise, ascent, prosperity, profit, emergence)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of udaya

udaya - rise, ascent, prosperity, profit, emergence, coming forth

From 'ud' + root 'i' (to go) + 'a' suffix.

Prefix: ud

Root: i (class 2)

Note: Subject of implied 'is' or 'there is'.

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

Note: Negates 'kāryaḥ'.

तत्र (tatra) - in such a situation (there, in that place, in that case)

(indeclinable)

From 'tad' (that) + 'tra' suffix.

Note: Refers back to the conditional clause introduced by 'yatra'.

विपणः (vipaṇaḥ) - transaction, exchange (sale, trade, transaction, market)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vipaṇa

vipaṇa - sale, trade, transaction, market, merchandise

From 'vi' + root 'paṇ' (to barter) + 'a' suffix.

Prefix: vi

Root: paṇ (class 1)

Note: Subject of 'kāryaḥ'.

कार्यः (kāryaḥ) - should be undertaken (to be done, proper to be done, duty)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kārya

kārya - to be done, fit to be done, duty, action, business

Gerundive

From root 'kṛ' (to do) + 'ṇyat' suffix.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Implies 'should be done'. With 'na', 'should not be done'.

खरकण्डूयितम् (kharakaṇḍūyitam) - unproductive or futile self-indulgence (donkey's scratching, act of scratching like a donkey)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kharakaṇḍūyita

kharakaṇḍūyita - the scratching of a donkey

Past Passive Participle used as a noun

Compound of 'khara' and 'kaṇḍūyita'. 'kaṇḍūyita' from root 'kaṇḍūy' (to itch/scratch).

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī tatpuruṣa (khara+kaṇḍūyita)

• khara – donkey, sharp, harsh
  noun (masculine)
• kaṇḍūyita – scratched, itching (as a noun: scratching)
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From denominative root 'kaṇḍūy' (to scratch, to itch) + 'kta' suffix.
  Root: kaṇḍūy

Note: Predicative nominative with 'tat'.

हि (hi) - indeed, for (indeed, surely, because)

(indeclinable)

तत् (tat) - that (activity) (that, it)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of tad

tad - that, it (demonstrative/anaphoric pronoun)