महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-7, chapter-166, verse-46

न त्विदं सहसा ब्रह्मन्प्रयोक्तव्यं कथंचन ।
न ह्येतदस्त्रमन्यत्र वधाच्छत्रोर्निवर्तते ॥४६॥

46. na tvidaṁ sahasā brahmanprayoktavyaṁ kathaṁcana ,
na hyetadastramanyatra vadhācchatrornivartate.

46. na tu idam sahasā brahman prayoktavyam kathaṃcana
na hi etat astram anyatra vadhāt śatroḥ nivartate

46. brahman tu idam astram sahasā kathaṃcana na prayoktavyam
hi etat astram śatroḥ vadhāt anyatra na nivartate

46. Indeed, O Brahmin, this (weapon) should certainly never be employed rashly by any means. For this missile does not cease its action except by the slaying of an enemy.

Words meanings summery:

• न (na) - not, no

• तु (tu) - but, indeed, on the other hand

• इदम् (idam) - this

• सहसा (sahasā) - suddenly, rashly, impulsively, with force

• ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O Brahmin

• प्रयोक्तव्यम् (prayoktavyam) - should be employed, to be used

• कथंचन (kathaṁcana) - by any means whatsoever, never, in any way

• न (na) - not, no

• हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

• एतत् (etat) - this

• अस्त्रम् (astram) - weapon, missile

• अन्यत्र (anyatra) - elsewhere, otherwise, except (from)

• वधात् (vadhāt) - from killing, from destruction

• शत्रोः (śatroḥ) - of the enemy

• निवर्तते (nivartate) - turns back, ceases, desists, returns

Words meanings and morphology

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

तु (tu) - but, indeed, on the other hand

(indeclinable)

इदम् (idam) - this

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of idam

idam - this, here, now

Note: Can also be accusative singular neuter. Context indicates nominative here, referring to 'astram'.

सहसा (sahasā) - suddenly, rashly, impulsively, with force

(indeclinable)

ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O Brahmin

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of brahman

brahman - Brahmin, priest, religious person

Note: `n`-ending stem.

प्रयोक्तव्यम् (prayoktavyam) - should be employed, to be used

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of prayoktavya

prayoktavya - to be employed, to be used, suitable for use

Gerundive (karmaṇi prayogya)

Derived from root 'yuj' with prefix 'pra' and suffix '-tavya'.

Prefix: pra

Root: yuj (class 7)

Note: Refers to `idam` (this weapon), which is neuter.

कथंचन (kathaṁcana) - by any means whatsoever, never, in any way

(indeclinable)

Combination of 'katham' (how) and 'cana' (even, ever).

न (na) - not, no

(indeclinable)

हि (hi) - indeed, surely, for

(indeclinable)

एतत् (etat) - this

(pronoun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of etas

etas - this, that

Note: Also accusative singular neuter. Context indicates nominative here, referring to 'astram'.

अस्त्रम् (astram) - weapon, missile

(noun)

Nominative, neuter, singular of astra

astra - weapon, missile

Root: as (class 4)

Note: Refers to `idam` and `etat`.

अन्यत्र (anyatra) - elsewhere, otherwise, except (from)

(indeclinable)

Derived from 'anya' (other) with the locative suffix '-tra'. Used adverbially.

Note: Governs the ablative case (`vadhāt`).

वधात् (vadhāt) - from killing, from destruction

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of vadha

vadha - killing, striking, slaughter, destruction

From root 'vadh' (to strike, kill).

Root: vadh (class 1)

Note: Governed by `anyatra`.

शत्रोः (śatroḥ) - of the enemy

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of śatru

śatru - enemy, rival, foe

Note: Qualifies `vadhāt` (the killing *of the enemy*).

निवर्तते (nivartate) - turns back, ceases, desists, returns

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of nivṛt

Root 'vṛt' with prefix 'ni'.

Prefix: ni

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Subject is `astram`.