महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-5, chapter-120, verse-12

अष्टकस्त्वथ राजर्षिः कौशिको माधवीसुतः ।
अनेकशतयज्वानं वचनं प्राह धर्मवित् ॥१२॥

12. aṣṭakastvatha rājarṣiḥ kauśiko mādhavīsutaḥ ,
anekaśatayajvānaṁ vacanaṁ prāha dharmavit.

12. aṣṭakaḥ tu atha rājarṣiḥ kauśikaḥ mādhvīsutaḥ
anekaśatayajvānam vacanam prāha dharmavit

12. atha tu rājarṣiḥ kauśikaḥ mādhvīsutaḥ dharmavit
aṣṭakaḥ anekaśatayajvānam vacanam prāha

12. But then the royal sage Aṣṭaka, Kauśika, the son of Mādhvī, and a knower of natural law (dharma), spoke a statement to Yayāti, who had performed hundreds of Vedic rituals (yajña).

Words meanings summery:

• अष्टकः (aṣṭakaḥ) - Aṣṭaka

• तु (tu) - but, however, indeed

• अथ (atha) - then, thereupon, now

• राजर्षिः (rājarṣiḥ) - royal sage, kingly sage

• कौशिकः (kauśikaḥ) - Kauśika, descendant of Kuśika

• माध्वीसुतः (mādhvīsutaḥ) - son of Mādhvī

• अनेकशतयज्वानम् (anekaśatayajvānam) - to Yayāti, who had performed hundreds of Vedic rituals (yajña) (one who has performed hundreds of Vedic rituals)

• वचनम् (vacanam) - a statement (word, statement)

• प्राह (prāha) - spoke, said

• धर्मवित् (dharmavit) - a knower of natural law (dharma) (knower of righteousness)

Words meanings and morphology

अष्टकः (aṣṭakaḥ) - Aṣṭaka

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of aṣṭaka

aṣṭaka - a proper name

तु (tu) - but, however, indeed

(indeclinable)

अथ (atha) - then, thereupon, now

(indeclinable)

राजर्षिः (rājarṣiḥ) - royal sage, kingly sage

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rājarṣi

rājarṣi - a royal sage; a king who is also a sage

Compound type : karmadhāraya (rājan+ṛṣi)

• rājan – king, ruler
  noun (masculine)
• ṛṣi – sage, seer, inspired poet
  noun (masculine)

कौशिकः (kauśikaḥ) - Kauśika, descendant of Kuśika

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kauśika

kauśika - a descendant of Kuśika; belonging to the family of Kuśika

Taddhita derivation from Kuśika

माध्वीसुतः (mādhvīsutaḥ) - son of Mādhvī

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of mādhvīsuta

mādhvīsuta - son of Mādhvī

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (mādhvī+suta)

• mādhvī – Mādhavī, a proper name (feminine)
  proper noun (feminine)
• suta – son
  noun (masculine)
  Root: sū (class 2)

अनेकशतयज्वानम् (anekaśatayajvānam) - to Yayāti, who had performed hundreds of Vedic rituals (yajña) (one who has performed hundreds of Vedic rituals)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of anekaśatayajvan

anekaśatayajvan - one who has performed many hundreds of Vedic rituals

agent noun formed from anekaśata (many hundreds) and yajvan (one who performs yajña)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (anekaśata+yajvan)

• anekaśata – many hundreds
  noun (neuter)
  compound: aneka (many) + śata (hundred)
• yajvan – one who performs a Vedic ritual, a sacrificer
  noun (masculine)
  agent noun
  suffix -van from yaj
  Root: yaj (class 1)

Note: Refers to Yayāti

वचनम् (vacanam) - a statement (word, statement)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of vacana

vacana - speaking, saying, word, speech, statement

verbal noun

from root vac

Root: vac (class 2)

प्राह (prāha) - spoke, said

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of pra-ah

perfect active

root ah with prefix pra, perfect 3rd singular

Prefix: pra

Root: ah (class 2)

धर्मवित् (dharmavit) - a knower of natural law (dharma) (knower of righteousness)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharmavit

dharmavit - knower of dharma, learned in dharma

compound of dharma (natural law) and vid (knowing)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dharma+vid)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, intrinsic nature, righteousness, duty, virtue, merit, justice
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• vid – knowing, one who knows
  adjective (masculine)
  agent noun
  derived from root vid (to know)
  Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Qualifies 'Aṣṭakaḥ'