महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-5, chapter-118, verse-21

विमानपालाः शतशः स्वर्गद्वाराभिरक्षिणः ।
पृष्टा आसनपालाश्च न जानीमेत्यथाब्रुवन् ॥२१॥

21. vimānapālāḥ śataśaḥ svargadvārābhirakṣiṇaḥ ,
pṛṣṭā āsanapālāśca na jānīmetyathābruvan.

21. vimānapālāḥ śataśaḥ svargadvārābhirakṣiṇaḥ
pṛṣṭāḥ āsanapālāḥ ca na jānīmaḥ iti atha abruvan

21. Hundreds of celestial chariot guards and the guardians of heaven's gates, as well as the attendants (seat-guards), when questioned, all replied, 'We do not know.'

Words meanings summery:

• विमानपालाः (vimānapālāḥ) - guards of celestial chariots/aerial cars

• शतशः (śataśaḥ) - by hundreds, in hundreds

• स्वर्गद्वाराभिरक्षिणः (svargadvārābhirakṣiṇaḥ) - guardians of the gates of heaven

• पृष्टाः (pṛṣṭāḥ) - when questioned (having been asked, questioned)

• आसनपालाः (āsanapālāḥ) - seat-guards, attendants

• च (ca) - and, also

• न (na) - not, no

• जानीमः (jānīmaḥ) - we know

• इति (iti) - thus, so saying, indicating speech

• अथ (atha) - then, thereupon, now

• अब्रुवन् (abruvan) - they spoke, they said

Words meanings and morphology

विमानपालाः (vimānapālāḥ) - guards of celestial chariots/aerial cars

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vimānapāla

vimānapāla - guardian of a celestial chariot, guard of an aerial car

Compound of 'vimāna' (celestial chariot) and 'pāla' (guardian).

Compound type : genitive tatpuruṣa (vimāna+pāla)

• vimāna – celestial chariot, aerial car, temple, palace
  noun (neuter)
• pāla – guardian, protector, keeper
  noun (masculine)
  agent noun from root 'pā'
  Derived from root 'pā' (to protect) with suffix 'ac'
  Root: pā (class 2)

Note: Subject of the sentence.

शतशः (śataśaḥ) - by hundreds, in hundreds

(indeclinable)

Adverbial suffix 'śas' indicating distribution or measure.

Note: Qualifies the number of guards.

स्वर्गद्वाराभिरक्षिणः (svargadvārābhirakṣiṇaḥ) - guardians of the gates of heaven

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of svargadvārābhirakṣin

svargadvārābhirakṣin - guardian of heaven's gates

Compound of 'svarga' (heaven), 'dvāra' (gate) and 'abhirakṣin' (guardian).

Compound type : genitive tatpuruṣa (svarga+dvāra+abhirakṣin)

• svarga – heaven, celestial abode
  noun (masculine)
• dvāra – door, gate, entrance
  noun (neuter)
• abhirakṣin – guardian, protector
  noun (masculine)
  agent noun from root 'rakṣ'
  Derived from root 'rakṣ' (to protect) with upasarga 'abhi' and suffix 'ṇini'
  Prefix: abhi
  Root: rakṣ (class 1)

Note: Also a subject.

पृष्टाः (pṛṣṭāḥ) - when questioned (having been asked, questioned)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of pṛṣṭa

pṛṣṭa - asked, questioned, interrogated

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root 'prach' (to ask) with suffix 'kta'

Root: prach (class 6)

Note: Qualifies the guards and attendants.

आसनपालाः (āsanapālāḥ) - seat-guards, attendants

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of āsanapāla

āsanapāla - seat-guard, attendant

Compound of 'āsana' (seat) and 'pāla' (guardian).

Compound type : genitive tatpuruṣa (āsana+pāla)

• āsana – seat, sitting, posture
  noun (neuter)
  Root: ās (class 2)
• pāla – guardian, protector, keeper
  noun (masculine)
  agent noun from root 'pā'
  Derived from root 'pā' (to protect) with suffix 'ac'
  Root: pā (class 2)

Note: Also a subject.

च (ca) - and, also

(indeclinable)

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

जानीमः (jānīmaḥ) - we know

(verb)

1st person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of jñā

Present Active, 1st Person Plural

Root 'jñā' (class 9), Present Tense, Parasmaipada, 1st plural

Root: jñā (class 9)

Note: Used with 'na' to mean 'we do not know'.

इति (iti) - thus, so saying, indicating speech

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces the quoted speech.

अथ (atha) - then, thereupon, now

(indeclinable)

Note: Temporal connector.

अब्रुवन् (abruvan) - they spoke, they said

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, past imperfect (laṅ) of brū

Imperfect Tense, 3rd Person Plural

Root 'brū' (class 2), Imperfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd plural

Root: brū (class 2)

Note: Imperfect of 'brū'.