महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-5, chapter-43, verse-23

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ।
आख्यानपञ्चमैर्वेदैर्भूयिष्ठं कथ्यते जनः ।
तथैवान्ये चतुर्वेदास्त्रिवेदाश्च तथापरे ॥२३॥

23. dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca ,
ākhyānapañcamairvedairbhūyiṣṭhaṁ kathyate janaḥ ,
tathaivānye caturvedāstrivedāśca tathāpare.

23. dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | ākhyāna
pañcamaiḥ vedaiḥ bhūyiṣṭham kathyate
janaḥ | tathā eva anye
caturvedāḥ trivedāḥ ca tathā apare

23. Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: Most people are described by the Vedas, with narratives (ākhyāna) considered the fifth (category). Similarly, others are 'four-Veda' scholars, and still others are 'three-Veda' scholars.

Words meanings summery:

• धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - Dhritarashtra

• उवाच (uvāca) - said

• आख्यान (ākhyāna) - narrative, story, legend

• पञ्चमैः (pañcamaiḥ) - by the fifth

• वेदैः (vedaiḥ) - by the Vedas, by the sacred knowledge

• भूयिष्ठम् (bhūyiṣṭham) - mostly, predominantly, in the greatest degree

• कथ्यते (kathyate) - is said, is told, is described

• जनः (janaḥ) - people, person

• तथा (tathā) - thus, so, similarly

• एव (eva) - indeed, only, just so

• अन्ये (anye) - others

• चतुर्वेदाः (caturvedāḥ) - those who know the four Vedas, four-Veda scholars

• त्रिवेदाः (trivedāḥ) - those who know the three Vedas, three-Veda scholars

• च (ca) - and

• तथा (tathā) - thus, so, similarly

• अपरे (apare) - others, still others

Words meanings and morphology

धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - Dhritarashtra

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dhṛtarāṣṭra

dhṛtarāṣṭra - Dhṛtarāṣṭra (name of the blind king)

Compound type : bahuvrihi (dhṛta+rāṣṭra)

• dhṛta – held, borne, maintained
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From √dhṛ (to hold)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• rāṣṭra – kingdom, realm, nation
  noun (neuter)

Note: Subject of 'uvāca'.

उवाच (uvāca) - said

(verb)

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

Perfect Indicative, 3rd Person Singular

Root: vac (class 2)

आख्यान (ākhyāna) - narrative, story, legend

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of ākhyāna

ākhyāna - narrative, story, legend, tradition

verbal noun

From √khyā (to tell, relate) with prefix ā-

Prefix: ā

Root: khyā (class 2)

Note: Part of the compound 'ākhyānapañcamaiḥ'.

पञ्चमैः (pañcamaiḥ) - by the fifth

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of pañcama

pañcama - fifth

From pañcan (five)

Note: Adjective modifying 'vedaiḥ' within the compound sense of 'having narratives as the fifth'.

वेदैः (vedaiḥ) - by the Vedas, by the sacred knowledge

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of veda

veda - Veda, sacred knowledge, scripture

From √vid (to know)

Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Agent of 'kathyate'. The preceding 'ākhyāna pañcamaiḥ' functions as an adjective here, describing these Vedas.

भूयिष्ठम् (bhūyiṣṭham) - mostly, predominantly, in the greatest degree

(indeclinable)

Superlative of bahu (much/many)

Note: Adverb modifying 'kathyate'.

कथ्यते (kathyate) - is said, is told, is described

(verb)

3rd person , singular, passive, present (laṭ) of kath

Present Indicative, 3rd Person Singular, Passive voice

Root: kath (class 10)

जनः (janaḥ) - people, person

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of jana

jana - person, people, man, creature

Note: Subject of 'kathyate' (in passive voice, it refers to the one being described).

तथा (tathā) - thus, so, similarly

(indeclinable)

एव (eva) - indeed, only, just so

(indeclinable)

Note: Emphasizes 'tathā'.

अन्ये (anye) - others

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of anya

anya - other, another

Note: Subject.

चतुर्वेदाः (caturvedāḥ) - those who know the four Vedas, four-Veda scholars

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of caturveda

caturveda - possessing or knowing the four Vedas

Compound type : bahuvrihi (catur+veda)

• catur – four
  numeral
• veda – Veda, sacred knowledge
  noun (masculine)
  Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Functions as a noun here, referring to scholars.

त्रिवेदाः (trivedāḥ) - those who know the three Vedas, three-Veda scholars

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of triveda

triveda - possessing or knowing the three Vedas

Compound type : bahuvrihi (tri+veda)

• tri – three
  numeral
• veda – Veda, sacred knowledge
  noun (masculine)
  Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Functions as a noun here, referring to scholars.

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects 'caturvedāḥ' and 'trivedāḥ'.

तथा (tathā) - thus, so, similarly

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces 'apare'.

अपरे (apare) - others, still others

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of apara

apara - other, another, posterior, lower

Note: Subject of an implied verb (e.g., 'exist').