महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-4, chapter-4, verse-22

दक्षिणं वाथ वामं वा पार्श्वमासीत पण्डितः ।
रक्षिणां ह्यात्तशस्त्राणां स्थानं पश्चाद्विधीयते ।
नित्यं विप्रतिषिद्धं तु पुरस्तादासनं महत् ॥२२॥

22. dakṣiṇaṁ vātha vāmaṁ vā pārśvamāsīta paṇḍitaḥ ,
rakṣiṇāṁ hyāttaśastrāṇāṁ sthānaṁ paścādvidhīyate ,
nityaṁ vipratiṣiddhaṁ tu purastādāsanaṁ mahat.

22. dakṣiṇam vā atha vāmam vā pārśvam āsīta
paṇḍitaḥ | rakṣiṇām hi āttaśastrāṇām
sthānam paścāt vidhīyate | nityam
vipratiṣiddham tu purastāt āsanam mahat

22. A wise person should sit on either the right or the left side (of the king). Indeed, the position for armed guards is ordained to be behind (the king). However, a prominent seat in front is always prohibited.

Words meanings summery:

• दक्षिणम् (dakṣiṇam) - right, on the right side

• वा (vā) - or

• अथ (atha) - then, or, now, moreover

• वामम् (vāmam) - left, on the left side

• वा (vā) - or

• पार्श्वम् (pārśvam) - side

• आसीत (āsīta) - he should sit

• पण्डितः (paṇḍitaḥ) - a wise person, scholar

• रक्षिणाम् (rakṣiṇām) - of the guards, of the protectors

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

• आत्तशस्त्राणाम् (āttaśastrāṇām) - of those who have taken up weapons, armed

• स्थानम् (sthānam) - place, position

• पश्चात् (paścāt) - behind, afterwards, in the west

• विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed, is ordered, is made

• नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly

• विप्रतिषिद्धम् (vipratiṣiddham) - forbidden, prohibited

• तु (tu) - but, however, on the other hand

• पुरस्तात् (purastāt) - in front, before

• आसनम् (āsanam) - seat, sitting

• महत् (mahat) - great, prominent

Words meanings and morphology

दक्षिणम् (dakṣiṇam) - right, on the right side

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of dakṣiṇa

dakṣiṇa - right, southern, skillful

Note: Used adverbially to mean 'on the right'.

वा (vā) - or

(indeclinable)

अथ (atha) - then, or, now, moreover

(indeclinable)

Note: Often used in pairs like 'vā...atha vā' for 'either...or'.

वामम् (vāmam) - left, on the left side

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of vāma

vāma - left, pleasing, beautiful

Note: Used adverbially to mean 'on the left'.

वा (vā) - or

(indeclinable)

पार्श्वम् (pārśvam) - side

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of pārśva

pārśva - side, flank

आसीत (āsīta) - he should sit

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, optative (liṅ) of ās

Root: ās (class 2)

पण्डितः (paṇḍitaḥ) - a wise person, scholar

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of paṇḍita

paṇḍita - wise, learned, scholar

रक्षिणाम् (rakṣiṇām) - of the guards, of the protectors

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of rakṣin

rakṣin - guard, protector

Root: rakṣ (class 1)

हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

(indeclinable)

आत्तशस्त्राणाम् (āttaśastrāṇām) - of those who have taken up weapons, armed

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, plural of āttaśastra

āttaśastra - armed, having taken up weapons

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (ātta+śastra)

• ātta – taken, seized, received
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Derived from root dā (to give, take) with ā-prefix and kta suffix
  Prefix: ā
  Root: dā (class 3)
• śastra – weapon, instrument
  noun (neuter)

स्थानम् (sthānam) - place, position

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of sthāna

sthāna - place, position, stand

Root: sthā (class 1)

पश्चात् (paścāt) - behind, afterwards, in the west

(indeclinable)

विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed, is ordered, is made

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of vidhā

Prefix: vi

Root: dhā (class 3)

नित्यम् (nityam) - always, constantly

(indeclinable)

Note: Used adverbially here.

विप्रतिषिद्धम् (vipratiṣiddham) - forbidden, prohibited

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of vipratiṣiddha

vipratiṣiddha - forbidden, prohibited, opposed

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root sidh- (to be accomplished) with vi-prati- prefixes and kta suffix, meaning 'hindered, forbidden'.

Prefixes: vi+prati

Root: sidh (class 1)

तु (tu) - but, however, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

पुरस्तात् (purastāt) - in front, before

(indeclinable)

आसनम् (āsanam) - seat, sitting

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of āsana

āsana - seat, sitting, posture

Root: ās (class 2)

महत् (mahat) - great, prominent

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of mahat

mahat - great, large, important