महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-4, chapter-2, verse-12

सूर्यः प्रतपतां श्रेष्ठो द्विपदां ब्राह्मणो वरः ।
आशीविषश्च सर्पाणामग्निस्तेजस्विनां वरः ॥१२॥

12. sūryaḥ pratapatāṁ śreṣṭho dvipadāṁ brāhmaṇo varaḥ ,
āśīviṣaśca sarpāṇāmagnistejasvināṁ varaḥ.

12. sūryaḥ pratapatām śreṣṭhaḥ dvipadām brāhmaṇaḥ
varaḥ āśīviṣaḥ ca sarpāṇām agniḥ tejasvinām varaḥ

12. The Sun is the best among all who shine; the Brahmin is the most excellent among bipeds. Similarly, the venomous snake is the foremost among serpents, and Fire is the best among the radiant.

Words meanings summery:

• सूर्यः (sūryaḥ) - the Sun, sun god

• प्रतपताम् (pratapatām) - of those who shine, of those who scorch

• श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - best, most excellent, foremost

• द्विपदाम् (dvipadām) - among bipeds, among two-footed beings

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - Brahmin, one belonging to the priestly class

• वरः (varaḥ) - best, excellent, boon

• आशीविषः (āśīviṣaḥ) - venomous snake

• च (ca) - and

• सर्पाणाम् (sarpāṇām) - of serpents, among snakes

• अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire, fire god (Agni)

• तेजस्विनाम् (tejasvinām) - of the radiant, of the powerful

• वरः (varaḥ) - best, excellent, boon

Words meanings and morphology

सूर्यः (sūryaḥ) - the Sun, sun god

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sūrya

sūrya - the sun, sun god

Root: √sū (class 2)

प्रतपताम् (pratapatām) - of those who shine, of those who scorch

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of pratapat

pratapat - shining, scorching, burning

present active participle

Derived from root √tap with prefix pra

Prefix: pra

Root: √tap (class 1)

श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - best, most excellent, foremost

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, most excellent, foremost, superior

Superlative of praśasya (praise-worthy)

द्विपदाम् (dvipadām) - among bipeds, among two-footed beings

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of dvipada

dvipada - biped, two-footed being

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (dvi+pada)

• dvi – two
  numeral
• pada – foot, step
  noun (masculine)

ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - Brahmin, one belonging to the priestly class

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, a member of the priestly class

Derived from brahman

वरः (varaḥ) - best, excellent, boon

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - best, excellent, choice, boon

From root √vṛ (to choose)

Root: √vṛ (class 5)

आशीविषः (āśīviṣaḥ) - venomous snake

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of āśīviṣa

āśīviṣa - a venomous snake (lit. one whose breath/fanged mouth is poison)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (āśī+viṣa)

• āśī – fang, blessing, wish (here, fang or breath)
  noun (feminine)
• viṣa – poison, venom
  noun (neuter)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

सर्पाणाम् (sarpāṇām) - of serpents, among snakes

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of sarpa

sarpa - serpent, snake

From root √sṛp (to creep)

Root: √sṛp (class 1)

अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire, fire god (Agni)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of agni

agni - fire, fire god (Agni)

तेजस्विनाम् (tejasvinām) - of the radiant, of the powerful

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of tejasvin

tejasvin - radiant, brilliant, powerful, spirited

Derived from tejas (brilliance, power) with suffix -vin

वरः (varaḥ) - best, excellent, boon

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of vara

vara - best, excellent, choice, boon

From root √vṛ (to choose)

Root: √vṛ (class 5)