महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-81, verse-103

अहो महर्षे धर्मज्ञ किमर्थं नृत्यते भवान् ।
हर्षस्थानं किमर्थं वा तवाद्य मुनिपुंगव ॥१०३॥

103. aho maharṣe dharmajña kimarthaṁ nṛtyate bhavān ,
harṣasthānaṁ kimarthaṁ vā tavādya munipuṁgava.

103. aho maharṣe dharmajña kim artham nṛtyate bhavān
harṣasthānam kim artham vā tava adya munipuṅgava

103. Oh, great sage (maharṣi) who understands the intrinsic nature (dharma), why are you dancing? And why is this a cause for joy for you today, O foremost among sages?

Words meanings summery:

• अहो (aho) - Oh! (oh, alas, indeed, an exclamation of wonder or pity)

• महर्षे (maharṣe) - O great sage

• धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - who understands the intrinsic nature (dharma) (knower of dharma, one who understands righteousness/law/nature)

• किम् (kim) - what (as part of 'kim artham') (what, why)

• अर्थम् (artham) - for what purpose, why (purpose, meaning, for the sake of)

• नृत्यते (nṛtyate) - are you dancing (is danced, he dances)

• भवान् (bhavān) - you (respectful, referring to the sage) (you (respectful), sir)

• हर्षस्थानम् (harṣasthānam) - a cause for joy (place of joy, cause for joy)

• किम् (kim) - what (as part of 'kim artham') (what, why)

• अर्थम् (artham) - for what purpose, why (purpose, meaning, for the sake of)

• वा (vā) - and (here implying an alternative but related question) (or, and)

• तव (tava) - for you (your, of you)

• अद्य (adya) - today (today, now)

• मुनिपुङ्गव (munipuṅgava) - O foremost among sages (O foremost among sages, O best of ascetics)

Words meanings and morphology

अहो (aho) - Oh! (oh, alas, indeed, an exclamation of wonder or pity)

(indeclinable)

महर्षे (maharṣe) - O great sage

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of maharṣi

maharṣi - great sage, eminent seer

Compound type : karmadharaya (mahā+ṛṣi)

• mahā – great, mighty
  adjective
• ṛṣi – sage, seer, inspired poet
  noun (masculine)

Note: Addressed to the dancing sage.

धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - who understands the intrinsic nature (dharma) (knower of dharma, one who understands righteousness/law/nature)

(adjective)

Vocative, masculine, singular of dharmajña

dharmajña - knower of dharma, righteous, virtuous

Compound type : tatpurusha (dharma+jña)

• dharma – righteousness, duty, law, intrinsic nature, constitution, natural law
  noun (masculine)
• jña – knowing, acquainted with, wise
  adjective (masculine)
  Derived from √jñā (to know).
  Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Epithet for the sage.

किम् (kim) - what (as part of 'kim artham') (what, why)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kim

kim - what, which, who, why

Note: Forms the interrogative phrase 'kim artham' meaning 'why'.

अर्थम् (artham) - for what purpose, why (purpose, meaning, for the sake of)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of artha

artha - purpose, meaning, wealth, object, sake

Note: Forms the interrogative phrase 'kim artham' meaning 'why'.

नृत्यते (nṛtyate) - are you dancing (is danced, he dances)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present indicative (lat) of nṛt

Root: nṛt (class 4)

Note: The middle voice ending can be used for active sense, especially with 'bhavān' for politeness.

भवान् (bhavān) - you (respectful, referring to the sage) (you (respectful), sir)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bhavat

bhavat - you (respectful), sir, being, existing

Present Active Participle (used as pronoun)

From √bhū (to be).

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Subject of 'nṛtyate'.

हर्षस्थानम् (harṣasthānam) - a cause for joy (place of joy, cause for joy)

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of harṣasthāna

harṣasthāna - place of joy, cause of joy

Compound type : tatpurusha (harṣa+sthāna)

• harṣa – joy, delight, happiness
  noun (masculine)
• sthāna – place, position, stand, cause, occasion
  noun (neuter)
  Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Predicate nominative to an implied 'idam' (this).

किम् (kim) - what (as part of 'kim artham') (what, why)

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of kim

kim - what, which, who, why

Note: Forms the interrogative phrase 'kim artham' meaning 'why'.

अर्थम् (artham) - for what purpose, why (purpose, meaning, for the sake of)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of artha

artha - purpose, meaning, wealth, object, sake

Note: Forms the interrogative phrase 'kim artham' meaning 'why'.

वा (vā) - and (here implying an alternative but related question) (or, and)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects two rhetorical questions.

तव (tava) - for you (your, of you)

(pronoun)

Genitive, singular of yuṣmad

yuṣmad - you (pronoun)

Note: Possessive pronoun for 'harṣasthānam'.

अद्य (adya) - today (today, now)

(indeclinable)

मुनिपुङ्गव (munipuṅgava) - O foremost among sages (O foremost among sages, O best of ascetics)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of munipuṅgava

munipuṅgava - foremost among sages, best of ascetics

Compound type : tatpurusha (muni+puṅgava)

• muni – sage, ascetic, silent one
  noun (masculine)
• puṅgava – bull, chief, excellent, best among
  noun (masculine)

Note: Another vocative address to the sage.