महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-4, chapter-20, verse-28

वदतां वर्णधर्मांश्च ब्राह्मणानां हि मे श्रुतम् ।
क्षत्रियस्य सदा धर्मो नान्यः शत्रुनिबर्हणात् ॥२८॥

28. vadatāṁ varṇadharmāṁśca brāhmaṇānāṁ hi me śrutam ,
kṣatriyasya sadā dharmo nānyaḥ śatrunibarhaṇāt.

28. vadatām varṇadharmān ca brāhmaṇānām hi me śrutam |
kṣatriyasya sadā dharmaḥ na anyaḥ śatrunibarhaṇāt

28. Indeed, I have heard from the Brahmins speaking of the duties (dharma) of the social classes (varṇa). For a Kṣatriya, the constant natural law (dharma) is none other than the destruction of enemies.

Words meanings summery:

• वदताम् (vadatām) - from the Brahmins who speak (of those speaking, of the speakers)

• वर्णधर्मान् (varṇadharmān) - the duties (dharma) pertaining to the social classes (varṇa) (the duties of the social classes, the natural laws of the varṇas)

• च (ca) - and, also

• ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - from the Brahmins (of the Brahmins)

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

• मे (me) - by me (I have heard) (by me, to me, my)

• श्रुतम् (śrutam) - it has been heard (by me) (heard, listened)

• क्षत्रियस्य (kṣatriyasya) - for a Kṣatriya (of a Kṣatriya, for a Kṣatriya)

• सदा (sadā) - constant, always (always, constantly, forever)

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the inherent duty (dharma) (natural law, constitution, duty)

• न (na) - not, no

• अन्यः (anyaḥ) - none other (other, another)

• शत्रुनिबर्हणात् (śatrunibarhaṇāt) - than the destruction of enemies (than the destruction of enemies, from the destruction of enemies)

Words meanings and morphology

वदताम् (vadatām) - from the Brahmins who speak (of those speaking, of the speakers)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of vadat

vadat - speaking, saying, uttering

Present Active Participle (śatṛ affix).

From root 'vad' (to speak) + active voice participle suffix.

Root: vad (class 1)

वर्णधर्मान् (varṇadharmān) - the duties (dharma) pertaining to the social classes (varṇa) (the duties of the social classes, the natural laws of the varṇas)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of varṇadharma

varṇadharma - duties or natural laws (dharma) prescribed for the different social classes (varṇa)

Compound type : tatpurusha (varṇa+dharma)

• varṇa – color, social class, caste, complexion, syllable
  noun (masculine)
  Root: vṛ (class 5)
• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, custom
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Object of the verb implied by 'vadatām' (speaking about).

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - from the Brahmins (of the Brahmins)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, belonging to Brahman, relating to the Vedas

Derived from 'brahman' + suffix 'aṇ'.

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

(indeclinable)

मे (me) - by me (I have heard) (by me, to me, my)

(pronoun)

singular of asmad

asmad - I, we

Enclitic form of the 1st person singular pronoun.

श्रुतम् (śrutam) - it has been heard (by me) (heard, listened)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śruta

śruta - heard, listened, revealed (as in śruti)

Past Passive Participle

From root 'śru' (to hear) + suffix '-ta'.

Root: śru (class 5)

क्षत्रियस्य (kṣatriyasya) - for a Kṣatriya (of a Kṣatriya, for a Kṣatriya)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of kṣatriya

kṣatriya - a member of the warrior/ruling class, relating to the Kṣatriya class

Derived from 'kṣatra' (rule, power).

सदा (sadā) - constant, always (always, constantly, forever)

(indeclinable)

Adverb of time.

Note: Functions as an adverb modifying 'dharmaḥ' or its implication.

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the inherent duty (dharma) (natural law, constitution, duty)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, custom

From root 'dhṛ' (to uphold, sustain) + suffix '-man'.

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

अन्यः (anyaḥ) - none other (other, another)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of anya

anya - other, another, different

शत्रुनिबर्हणात् (śatrunibarhaṇāt) - than the destruction of enemies (than the destruction of enemies, from the destruction of enemies)

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of śatrunibarhaṇa

śatrunibarhaṇa - destruction of enemies, killing of foes

Action noun

From 'ni' (down) + 'barhaṇa' (killing), combined with 'śatru' (enemy).

Compound type : tatpurusha (śatru+nibarhaṇa)

• śatru – enemy, foe, rival
  noun (masculine)
• nibarhaṇa – killing, slaughter, destruction, suppression
  noun (neuter)
  Action noun
  From root 'bṛh' (to kill, destroy) with prefix 'ni'.
  Prefix: ni
  Root: bṛh (class 6)