महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-5, chapter-13, verse-16

तत्राश्वमेधः सुमहान्महेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः ।
ववृते पावनार्थं वै ब्रह्महत्यापहो नृप ॥१६॥

16. tatrāśvamedhaḥ sumahānmahendrasya mahātmanaḥ ,
vavṛte pāvanārthaṁ vai brahmahatyāpaho nṛpa.

16. tatra aśvamedhaḥ sumahān mahendrasya mahātmanaḥ
vavṛte pāvanārtham vai brahmahatyāpahaḥ nṛpa

16. O king, there a very great horse sacrifice (aśvamedha) was performed by the noble (mahātman) Mahendra (Indra) for the purpose of purification and for expiating the sin of killing a brahmin (brahmahatyā).

Words meanings summery:

• तत्र (tatra) - there, in that place

• अश्वमेधः (aśvamedhaḥ) - The Horse Sacrifice (aśvamedha) is a significant Vedic ritual, often performed by powerful kings to assert sovereignty. (horse sacrifice)

• सुमहान् (sumahān) - very great, mighty, huge

• महेन्द्रस्य (mahendrasya) - of Mahendra (Indra)

• महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled one, of the noble one

• ववृते (vavṛte) - was performed, happened, occurred

• पावनार्थम् (pāvanārtham) - for the purpose of purification, for purification

• वै (vai) - indeed, verily, certainly (particle)

• ब्रह्महत्यापहः (brahmahatyāpahaḥ) - removing the sin of brahmin-killing, expiating brahmin-killing (brahmahatyā)

• नृप (nṛpa) - O king

Words meanings and morphology

तत्र (tatra) - there, in that place

(indeclinable)

अश्वमेधः (aśvamedhaḥ) - The Horse Sacrifice (aśvamedha) is a significant Vedic ritual, often performed by powerful kings to assert sovereignty. (horse sacrifice)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of aśvamedha

aśvamedha - horse sacrifice

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (aśva+medha)

• aśva – horse
  noun (masculine)
• medha – sacrifice, oblation
  noun (masculine)

सुमहान् (sumahān) - very great, mighty, huge

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sumahat

sumahat - very great, mighty, enormous

Compound type : karmadhāraya (su+mahat)

• su – good, well, very
  indeclinable
• mahat – great, large, important
  adjective (neuter)

महेन्द्रस्य (mahendrasya) - of Mahendra (Indra)

(proper noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of mahendra

mahendra - Mahendra (a name of Indra, meaning 'great Indra')

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (mahā+indra)

• mahā – great, large
  adjective (feminine)
• indra – Indra (king of gods)
  proper noun (masculine)

महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled one, of the noble one

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of mahātman

mahātman - great-souled, noble, magnanimous; a great person (ātman)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (mahat+ātman)

• mahat – great, large, important
  adjective (neuter)
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence (ātman)
  noun (masculine)

ववृते (vavṛte) - was performed, happened, occurred

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, past perfect (lit) of vṛt

Root: vṛt (class 1)

पावनार्थम् (pāvanārtham) - for the purpose of purification, for purification

(indeclinable)

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (pāvana+artha)

• pāvana – purifying, sacred, holy; purification
  noun (neuter)
  agent noun/action noun
  Derived from root pū (to purify)
  Root: pū (class 1)
• artha – purpose, meaning, object, wealth
  noun (masculine)

Note: Used as an adverbial compound in accusative singular neuter.

वै (vai) - indeed, verily, certainly (particle)

(indeclinable)

ब्रह्महत्यापहः (brahmahatyāpahaḥ) - removing the sin of brahmin-killing, expiating brahmin-killing (brahmahatyā)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of brahmahatyāpaha

brahmahatyāpaha - removing the sin of brahmin-killing

Compound type : upapada tatpuruṣa (brahmahatyā+apaha)

• brahmahatyā – the killing of a brahmin, the sin of brahminicide (brahmahatyā)
  noun (feminine)
• apaha – removing, dispelling, taking away
  adjective (masculine)
  agent noun
  Derived from root han (to strike, kill) with prefix apa and suffix -a
  Prefix: apa
  Root: han (class 2)

नृप (nṛpa) - O king

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of nṛpa

nṛpa - king, protector of men

Compound type : upapada tatpuruṣa (nṛ+pa)

• nṛ – man, human being
  noun (masculine)
• pa – protector, guardian
  noun (masculine)
  agent noun
  Derived from root pā (to protect)
  Root: pā (class 2)