महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-5, chapter-39, verse-1

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ।
अनीश्वरोऽयं पुरुषो भवाभवे सूत्रप्रोता दारुमयीव योषा ।
धात्रा तु दिष्टस्य वशे किलायं तस्माद्वद त्वं श्रवणे धृतोऽहम् ॥१॥

1. dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca ,
anīśvaro'yaṁ puruṣo bhavābhave; sūtraprotā dārumayīva yoṣā ,
dhātrā tu diṣṭasya vaśe kilāyaṁ; tasmādvada tvaṁ śravaṇe dhṛto'ham.

1. dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca anīśvaraḥ ayam puruṣaḥ
bhavābhave sūtraprotā dārumayī iva
yoṣā dhātrā tu diṣṭasya vaśe kila
ayam tasmāt vada tvam śravaṇe dhṛtaḥ aham

1. Dhritarashtra said: This individual (puruṣa) is not independent in the cycle of existence (saṃsāra), just like a wooden puppet strung on a thread. Indeed, this individual is under the control of destiny ordained by the Creator. Therefore, you speak, for I am attentive to listen.

Words meanings summery:

• धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - The blind king of Hastinapura. (Dhritarashtra)

• उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

• अनीश्वरः (anīśvaraḥ) - Not possessing independence or control over one's own fate. (powerless, not independent, not master)

• अयम् (ayam) - Refers to the individual (puruṣa). (this, this one)

• पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - The individual human being or soul. (person, man, male, individual, cosmic being)

• भवाभवे (bhavābhave) - In the cycle of transmigration or saṃsāra. (in existence and non-existence, in being and non-being, in creation and destruction, in birth and death)

• सूत्रप्रोता (sūtraprotā) - Like a puppet controlled by strings. (strung on a thread, threaded)

• दारुमयी (dārumayī) - Referring to a wooden puppet. (made of wood, wooden)

• इव (iva) - Introduces a simile. (like, as, as if)

• योषा (yoṣā) - A puppet, specifically a wooden one (dārumayī yoṣā often refers to a puppet). (woman, girl, puppet)

• धात्रा (dhātrā) - By the divine ordainer or fate. (by the ordainer, by the creator, by destiny)

• तु (tu) - Emphasizes the statement. (but, indeed, however)

• दिष्टस्य (diṣṭasya) - Under the sway of fate. (of destiny, of fate, of what is ordained)

• वशे (vaśe) - Under the control of destiny. (under control, in power, in subjection)

• किल (kila) - Emphasizes the statement, conveying certainty. (indeed, verily, it is said)

• अयम् (ayam) - Refers back to the puruṣaḥ. (this, this one)

• तस्मात् (tasmāt) - As a consequence of the preceding statement. (therefore, from that)

• वद (vada) - Dhritarashtra instructs Vidura to speak. (speak, tell)

• त्वम् (tvam) - Referring to Vidura. (you)

• श्रवणे (śravaṇe) - To listen to you. (in hearing, for listening)

• धृतः (dhṛtaḥ) - I am ready/attentive (to listen). (held, engaged, ready, attentive)

• अहम् (aham) - Dhritarashtra is speaking about himself. (I)

Words meanings and morphology

धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - The blind king of Hastinapura. (Dhritarashtra)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dhṛtarāṣṭra

dhṛtarāṣṭra - Dhritarashtra, one who holds the kingdom.

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dhṛta+rāṣṭra)

• dhṛta – held, supported, borne, maintained.
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root dhṛ (to hold, bear).
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• rāṣṭra – kingdom, country, realm.
  noun (neuter)
  Root: rāj (class 1)

उवाच (uvāca) - said, spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, perfect (lit) of vac

Perfect active

From root vac (to speak). Irregular formation.

Root: vac (class 2)

अनीश्वरः (anīśvaraḥ) - Not possessing independence or control over one's own fate. (powerless, not independent, not master)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of anīśvara

anīśvara - powerless, helpless, not master.

Negative compound (na-īśvara).

Compound type : nan-tatpuruṣa (a+īśvara)

• a – not, non-.
  indeclinable
  Negative prefix.
• īśvara – lord, master, ruler, controller.
  noun (masculine)
  From root īś (to rule, own).
  Root: īś (class 2)

Note: Agrees with puruṣaḥ.

अयम् (ayam) - Refers to the individual (puruṣa). (this, this one)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one.

Demonstrative pronoun.

पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - The individual human being or soul. (person, man, male, individual, cosmic being)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of puruṣa

puruṣa - man, person, human being, spirit, the Cosmic Person.

Root: pṛ (class 3)

भवाभवे (bhavābhave) - In the cycle of transmigration or saṃsāra. (in existence and non-existence, in being and non-being, in creation and destruction, in birth and death)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of bhavābhava

bhavābhava - existence and non-existence, coming into being and ceasing to be, generation and destruction.

Dvandva compound of bhava (being, existence) and abhava (non-being, non-existence).

Compound type : dvandva (bhava+abhava)

• bhava – existence, being, state of being, birth, world.
  noun (masculine)
  From root bhū (to be, become).
  Root: bhū (class 1)
• abhava – non-existence, non-being, destruction, death.
  noun (masculine)
  Negative prefix a + bhava.
  Prefix: a-
  Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Refers to the cycle of existence and non-existence, or saṃsāra.

सूत्रप्रोता (sūtraprotā) - Like a puppet controlled by strings. (strung on a thread, threaded)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of sūtraprota

sūtraprota - strung upon a thread.

Tatpuruṣa compound: sūtra (thread) + prota (strung).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sūtra+prota)

• sūtra – thread, string, rule, aphorism.
  noun (neuter)
  Root: siv (class 4)
• prota – strung, threaded, woven, pierced.
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root ve (to weave, sew) with pra prefix.
  Prefix: pra
  Root: ve (class 1)

दारुमयी (dārumayī) - Referring to a wooden puppet. (made of wood, wooden)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of dārumaya

dārumaya - made of wood, wooden.

Formed with suffix -maya (made of).

इव (iva) - Introduces a simile. (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

Particle of comparison.

योषा (yoṣā) - A puppet, specifically a wooden one (dārumayī yoṣā often refers to a puppet). (woman, girl, puppet)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of yoṣā

yoṣā - woman, girl. In some contexts, a puppet.

Root: yu (class 2)

धात्रा (dhātrā) - By the divine ordainer or fate. (by the ordainer, by the creator, by destiny)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of dhātṛ

dhātṛ - creator, ordainer, supporter, arranger, Brahma.

From root dhā (to place, create) with agent suffix tṛ.

Root: dhā (class 3)

तु (tu) - Emphasizes the statement. (but, indeed, however)

(indeclinable)

Particle.

दिष्टस्य (diṣṭasya) - Under the sway of fate. (of destiny, of fate, of what is ordained)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, singular of diṣṭa

diṣṭa - destiny, fate, ordained, appointed, directed.

Past Passive Participle

From root diś (to show, direct, ordain).

Root: diś (class 6)

Note: Refers to the power of fate.

वशे (vaśe) - Under the control of destiny. (under control, in power, in subjection)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of vaśa

vaśa - will, power, control, authority, sway.

Root: vaś (class 2)

किल (kila) - Emphasizes the statement, conveying certainty. (indeed, verily, it is said)

(indeclinable)

Emphatic or assertory particle.

अयम् (ayam) - Refers back to the puruṣaḥ. (this, this one)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, this one.

Demonstrative pronoun.

तस्मात् (tasmāt) - As a consequence of the preceding statement. (therefore, from that)

(indeclinable)

Demonstrative pronoun used as an indeclinable (ablative singular of tad).

वद (vada) - Dhritarashtra instructs Vidura to speak. (speak, tell)

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (lot) of vad

Imperative active

From root vad (to speak).

Root: vad (class 1)

त्वम् (tvam) - Referring to Vidura. (you)

(pronoun)

Nominative, singular of yuṣmad

yuṣmad - you (singular).

Second person pronoun.

श्रवणे (śravaṇe) - To listen to you. (in hearing, for listening)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of śravaṇa

śravaṇa - hearing, listening, the ear.

From root śru (to hear).

Root: śru (class 5)

धृतः (dhṛtaḥ) - I am ready/attentive (to listen). (held, engaged, ready, attentive)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dhṛta

dhṛta - held, supported, borne, maintained, engaged, ready.

Past Passive Participle

From root dhṛ (to hold, bear).

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Agrees with aham.

अहम् (aham) - Dhritarashtra is speaking about himself. (I)

(pronoun)

Nominative, singular of asmad

asmad - I, we.

First person pronoun.