महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-5, chapter-21, verse-17

न चेदेवं करिष्यामो यदयं ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत् ।
ध्रुवं युधि हतास्तेन भक्षयिष्याम पांसुकान् ॥१७॥

17. na cedevaṁ kariṣyāmo yadayaṁ brāhmaṇo'bravīt ,
dhruvaṁ yudhi hatāstena bhakṣayiṣyāma pāṁsukān.

17. na cet evam kariṣyāmaḥ yat ayam brāhmaṇaḥ abravīt
dhruvam yudhi hatāḥ tena bhakṣayiṣyāma pāṃsukān

17. If we do not act according to what this Brahmin has said, then surely we will be slain by him in battle and consume dust (i.e., suffer utter defeat).

Words meanings summery:

• न (na) - not, no

• चेत् (cet) - if

• एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner

• करिष्यामः (kariṣyāmaḥ) - we will do, we will make

• यत् (yat) - what, which

• अयम् (ayam) - this

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

• अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - he said, he spoke

• ध्रुवम् (dhruvam) - certainly, surely, firm

• युधि (yudhi) - in battle

• हताः (hatāḥ) - slain, killed

• तेन (tena) - by him, by that

• भक्षयिष्याम (bhakṣayiṣyāma) - we will eat, we will consume

• पांसुकान् (pāṁsukān) - dust, particles of dust

Words meanings and morphology

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

चेत् (cet) - if

(indeclinable)

एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner

(indeclinable)

करिष्यामः (kariṣyāmaḥ) - we will do, we will make

(verb)

1st person , plural, active, future (lṛṭ) of kṛ

Future Indicative

1st person plural future active

Root: kṛ (class 8)

यत् (yat) - what, which

(pronoun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of yad

yad - which, what, that

Note: Refers to the advice given by the Brahmin.

अयम् (ayam) - this

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, here

ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, a member of the priestly class, relating to Brahman

Derived from brahman

Note: Refers to an important advisor, possibly Kṛṣṇa, in his capacity as a spiritual guide.

अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - he said, he spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, imperfect (laṅ) of vac

Imperfect Active

3rd person singular imperfect active

Root: vac (class 2)

ध्रुवम् (dhruvam) - certainly, surely, firm

(indeclinable)

युधि (yudhi) - in battle

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of yudh

yudh - battle, fight, war

From root yudh (to fight)

Root: yudh (class 4)

हताः (hatāḥ) - slain, killed

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of han

han - to strike, to kill

Past Passive Participle

From root han + suffix -ta, nominative plural masculine

Root: han (class 2)

Note: Qualifies an implied 'we'.

तेन (tena) - by him, by that

(pronoun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

Instrumental singular masculine/neuter of tad

Note: Refers to the Brahmin.

भक्षयिष्याम (bhakṣayiṣyāma) - we will eat, we will consume

(verb)

1st person , plural, active, future (lṛṭ) of bhakṣ

Future Indicative

1st person plural future active, desiderative of bhuj (to enjoy/eat), or a denominative from bhakṣa

Root: bhakṣ (class 10)

पांसुकान् (pāṁsukān) - dust, particles of dust

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of pāṃsuka

pāṁsuka - dust, particles of dust, sandy soil