महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-7, chapter-48, verse-5

स गदामुद्यतां दृष्ट्वा ज्वलन्तीमशनीमिव ।
अपाक्रामद्रथोपस्थाद्विक्रमांस्त्रीन्नरर्षभः ॥५॥

5. sa gadāmudyatāṁ dṛṣṭvā jvalantīmaśanīmiva ,
apākrāmadrathopasthādvikramāṁstrīnnararṣabhaḥ.

5. saḥ gadām udyatām dṛṣṭvā jvalantīm aśanīm iva
apākrāmat rathopasthāt vikramān trīn nararṣabhaḥ

5. saḥ nararṣabhaḥ udyatām jvalantīm aśanīm iva
gadām dṛṣṭvā rathopasthāt trīn vikramān apākrāmat

5. He (Ashvatthama), the best of men, having seen the raised mace, blazing like a thunderbolt, retreated three steps from the chariot platform.

Words meanings summery:

• सः (saḥ) - Ashvatthama (he)

• गदाम् (gadām) - mace

• उद्यताम् (udyatām) - raised, uplifted

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen

• ज्वलन्तीम् (jvalantīm) - blazing, shining

• अशनीम् (aśanīm) - thunderbolt, lightning

• इव (iva) - like, as

• अपाक्रामत् (apākrāmat) - he retreated, moved away

• रथोपस्थात् (rathopasthāt) - from the chariot-platform

• विक्रमान् (vikramān) - steps

• त्रीन् (trīn) - three

• नरर्षभः (nararṣabhaḥ) - Ashvatthama (best of men, foremost man)

Words meanings and morphology

सः (saḥ) - Ashvatthama (he)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he

Pronominal stem tad.

Note: Refers to Ashvatthama.

गदाम् (gadām) - mace

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of gadā

gadā - mace, club

Note: Object of dṛṣṭvā.

उद्यताम् (udyatām) - raised, uplifted

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of udyata

udyata - raised, uplifted, ready

Past Passive Participle

From ud-yam (to raise, lift up)

Prefix: ud

Root: yam (class 1)

Note: Adjective modifying gadām.

दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen

(indeclinable)

Absolutive

From root dṛś (to see) + tvā suffix.

Root: dṛś (class 1)

ज्वलन्तीम् (jvalantīm) - blazing, shining

(adjective)

Accusative, feminine, singular of jvalant

jvalant - blazing, shining, burning

Present Active Participle

From root jval (to blaze, shine) + śatṛ suffix.

Root: jval (class 1)

Note: Adjective modifying gadām.

अशनीम् (aśanīm) - thunderbolt, lightning

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, singular of aśanī

aśanī - thunderbolt, lightning, destructive weapon

Note: Used in comparison with iva.

इव (iva) - like, as

(indeclinable)

Particle of comparison.

अपाक्रामत् (apākrāmat) - he retreated, moved away

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past imperfect (laṅ) of apākram

Imperfect

Root kram (1st class) with prefix apa-ā. Laṅ, 3rd person singular.

Prefixes: apa+ā

Root: kram (class 1)

रथोपस्थात् (rathopasthāt) - from the chariot-platform

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of rathopastha

rathopastha - chariot platform/seat

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (ratha+upastha)

• ratha – chariot, car
  noun (masculine)
• upastha – seat, platform, front part, lap
  noun (masculine)
  upa (near) + stha (standing).
  Prefix: upa
  Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Source of retreat.

विक्रमान् (vikramān) - steps

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of vikrama

vikrama - step, stride, valour

From vi-kram (to step forth).

Prefix: vi

Root: kram (class 1)

Note: Quantity of steps taken.

त्रीन् (trīn) - three

(numeral)

Note: Adjective modifying vikramān.

नरर्षभः (nararṣabhaḥ) - Ashvatthama (best of men, foremost man)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of nararṣabha

nararṣabha - best of men, chief of men, excellent man

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (nara+ṛṣabha)

• nara – man, human being
  noun (masculine)
• ṛṣabha – bull, chief, best, excellent
  noun (masculine)

Note: Appositive to saḥ (Ashvatthama).