महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-5, chapter-165, verse-15

बलज्येष्ठं स्मृतं क्षत्रं मन्त्रज्येष्ठा द्विजातयः ।
धनज्येष्ठाः स्मृता वैश्याः शूद्रास्तु वयसाधिकाः ॥१५॥

15. balajyeṣṭhaṁ smṛtaṁ kṣatraṁ mantrajyeṣṭhā dvijātayaḥ ,
dhanajyeṣṭhāḥ smṛtā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāstu vayasādhikāḥ.

15. bala-jyeṣṭham smṛtam kṣatram mantra-jyeṣṭhāḥ dvi-jātayaḥ
dhana-jyeṣṭhāḥ smṛtā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāḥ tu vayasādhikāḥ

15. kṣatram bala-jyeṣṭham smṛtam;
dvi-jātayaḥ mantra-jyeṣṭhāḥ (smṛtāḥ);
vaiśyāḥ dhana-jyeṣṭhāḥ smṛtāḥ;
śūdrāḥ tu vayasādhikāḥ (smṛtāḥ)

15. The warrior class (kṣatra) is traditionally considered pre-eminent because of their strength. The twice-born (dvijāti) are pre-eminent because of their sacred knowledge (mantra). The Vaishyas are regarded as pre-eminent due to their wealth, while the Shudras hold pre-eminence based on their age.

Words meanings summery:

• बल-ज्येष्ठम् (bala-jyeṣṭham) - pre-eminent by strength, having strength as the greatest quality

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam) - considered, remembered, traditionally held

• क्षत्रम् (kṣatram) - warrior class, kshatriya caste, sovereignty, power

• मन्त्र-ज्येष्ठाः (mantra-jyeṣṭhāḥ) - pre-eminent by sacred texts/counsel, having sacred knowledge as the greatest quality

• द्वि-जातयः (dvi-jātayaḥ) - the Brahmin class (the twice-born)

• धन-ज्येष्ठाः (dhana-jyeṣṭhāḥ) - pre-eminent by wealth, having wealth as the greatest quality

• स्मृता (smṛtā) - considered, remembered, traditionally held

• वैश्याः (vaiśyāḥ) - the merchant class, Vaishyas

• शूद्राः (śūdrāḥ) - the laboring class, Shudras

• तु (tu) - but, indeed, however

• वयसाधिकाः (vayasādhikāḥ) - pre-eminent by age, greatest in age

Words meanings and morphology

बल-ज्येष्ठम् (bala-jyeṣṭham) - pre-eminent by strength, having strength as the greatest quality

(adjective)

neuter, singular of balajyeṣṭha

balajyeṣṭha - pre-eminent by strength, greatest in strength

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (bala+jyeṣṭha)

• bala – strength, power, force
  noun (neuter)
• jyeṣṭha – eldest, senior, chief, pre-eminent
  adjective (masculine)
  superlative of praśasya

Note: Often appears as a predicate adjective with smṛtam.

स्मृतम् (smṛtam) - considered, remembered, traditionally held

(adjective)

neuter, singular of smṛta

smṛta - remembered, considered, known as

Past Passive Participle

from root smṛ (to remember)

Root: smṛ (class 1)

क्षत्रम् (kṣatram) - warrior class, kshatriya caste, sovereignty, power

(noun)

neuter, singular of kṣatra

kṣatra - the warrior class, sovereignty, power

मन्त्र-ज्येष्ठाः (mantra-jyeṣṭhāḥ) - pre-eminent by sacred texts/counsel, having sacred knowledge as the greatest quality

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of mantrajyeṣṭha

mantrajyeṣṭha - pre-eminent by sacred texts/counsel, greatest in sacred knowledge

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (mantra+jyeṣṭha)

• mantra – sacred text, hymn, formula, counsel, plan
  noun (masculine)
• jyeṣṭha – eldest, senior, chief, pre-eminent
  adjective (masculine)
  superlative of praśasya

द्वि-जातयः (dvi-jātayaḥ) - the Brahmin class (the twice-born)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dvijāti

dvijāti - twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya), a bird, a tooth

Compound type : bahuvrihi (dvi+jāti)

• dvi – two
  numeral
• jāti – birth, origin, species, kind
  noun (feminine)

Note: Refers to Brahmins in this context.

धन-ज्येष्ठाः (dhana-jyeṣṭhāḥ) - pre-eminent by wealth, having wealth as the greatest quality

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dhanajyeṣṭha

dhanajyeṣṭha - pre-eminent by wealth, greatest in wealth

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dhana+jyeṣṭha)

• dhana – wealth, riches, property
  noun (neuter)
• jyeṣṭha – eldest, senior, chief, pre-eminent
  adjective (masculine)
  superlative of praśasya

स्मृता (smṛtā) - considered, remembered, traditionally held

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of smṛta

smṛta - remembered, considered, known as

Past Passive Participle

from root smṛ (to remember)

Root: smṛ (class 1)

वैश्याः (vaiśyāḥ) - the merchant class, Vaishyas

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vaiśya

vaiśya - a member of the Vaishya (merchant/farmer) class

शूद्राः (śūdrāḥ) - the laboring class, Shudras

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of śūdra

śūdra - a member of the Shudra (laborer) class

तु (tu) - but, indeed, however

(indeclinable)

वयसाधिकाः (vayasādhikāḥ) - pre-eminent by age, greatest in age

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vayasādhika

vayasādhika - pre-eminent by age, advanced in age, superior in age

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (vayas+adhika)

• vayas – age, vigor, youth
  noun (neuter)
• adhika – excessive, superior, pre-eminent
  adjective (masculine)