महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-7, chapter-49, verse-13

कथं हि बालस्तरुणो युद्धानामविशारदः ।
सदश्व इव संबाधे विषमे क्षेममर्हति ॥१३॥

13. kathaṁ hi bālastaruṇo yuddhānāmaviśāradaḥ ,
sadaśva iva saṁbādhe viṣame kṣemamarhati.

13. katham hi bālaḥ taruṇaḥ yuddhānām aviśāradaḥ
sat-aśvaḥ iva saṃbādhe viṣame kṣemam arhati

13. hi aviśāradaḥ bālaḥ taruṇaḥ yuddhānām katham
saṃbādhe viṣame sat-aśvaḥ iva kṣemam arhati

13. Indeed, how can a young man, a mere boy, who is unskilled in warfare, attain safety, just like a fine horse might struggle on a difficult and confined path?

Words meanings summery:

• कथम् (katham) - how (questioning the possibility) (how, in what manner, why)

• हि (hi) - indeed (emphasizing the impossibility) (indeed, surely, for, because)

• बालः (bālaḥ) - a young boy (a child, boy, young one, naive)

• तरुणः (taruṇaḥ) - a young man (young, youthful, a young man)

• युद्धानाम् (yuddhānām) - of warfare (of battles, of wars)

• अविशारदः (aviśāradaḥ) - unskilled, inexperienced (unskilled, inexperienced, not clever)

• सत्-अश्वः (sat-aśvaḥ) - a fine horse (a good horse, an excellent horse)

• इव (iva) - just like (like, as, as if)

• संबाधे (saṁbādhe) - in a confined situation (in a narrow place, in a strait, in difficulty, in a crowd)

• विषमे (viṣame) - on a difficult path (describing the situation) (on an uneven ground, in a difficult place, in distress)

• क्षेमम् (kṣemam) - safety (safety, security, welfare, well-being)

• अर्हति (arhati) - can attain, deserves (he/she/it deserves, is able, obtains, is worthy)

Words meanings and morphology

कथम् (katham) - how (questioning the possibility) (how, in what manner, why)

(indeclinable)

हि (hi) - indeed (emphasizing the impossibility) (indeed, surely, for, because)

(indeclinable)

बालः (bālaḥ) - a young boy (a child, boy, young one, naive)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of bāla

bāla - child, boy, young, naive, ignorant

तरुणः (taruṇaḥ) - a young man (young, youthful, a young man)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of taruṇa

taruṇa - young, youthful, tender, a young man

Root: tṝ (class 1)

Note: Agrees with bālaḥ.

युद्धानाम् (yuddhānām) - of warfare (of battles, of wars)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of yuddha

yuddha - battle, fight, war

Past Passive Participle

From root yudh- (to fight), ppp.

Root: yudh (class 4)

अविशारदः (aviśāradaḥ) - unskilled, inexperienced (unskilled, inexperienced, not clever)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of aviśārada

aviśārada - unskilled, inexperienced, not clever, ignorant

Formed by negation 'a-' + viśārada.

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+viśārada)

• a – not, non, un-
  indeclinable
  Negating prefix.
• viśārada – skilled, clever, expert, experienced
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Agrees with bālaḥ/taruṇaḥ.

सत्-अश्वः (sat-aśvaḥ) - a fine horse (a good horse, an excellent horse)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sat-aśva

sat-aśva - good horse, excellent horse

Compound of sat (good) and aśva (horse).

Compound type : karmadhāraya (sat+aśva)

• sat – good, existing, true, virtuous
  adjective (masculine)
  Present Active Participle
  Present active participle of 'as' (to be).
  Root: as (class 2)
• aśva – horse
  noun (masculine)

इव (iva) - just like (like, as, as if)

(indeclinable)

Note: Used for comparison.

संबाधे (saṁbādhe) - in a confined situation (in a narrow place, in a strait, in difficulty, in a crowd)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of saṃbādha

saṁbādha - narrow, constricted, crowded place, difficulty, distress

From sam- (together) + bādh- (to oppress, press).

Prefix: sam

Root: bādh (class 1)

विषमे (viṣame) - on a difficult path (describing the situation) (on an uneven ground, in a difficult place, in distress)

(adjective)

Locative, masculine, singular of viṣama

viṣama - uneven, difficult, dangerous, unequal, adverse

From vi- (prefix) + sama (even, equal).

Compound type : avyayībhāva (vi+sama)

• vi – apart, asunder, away
  indeclinable
  Prefix indicating separation or negation.
• sama – even, equal, same, level
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Agrees with saṃbādhe.

क्षेमम् (kṣemam) - safety (safety, security, welfare, well-being)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of kṣema

kṣema - safety, security, welfare, well-being, tranquility

From root kṣi- (to dwell, to be safe).

Root: kṣi (class 1)

Note: Object of arhati.

अर्हति (arhati) - can attain, deserves (he/she/it deserves, is able, obtains, is worthy)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of arh

Present active indicative

Root verb, 1st conjugation (bhvādi).

Root: arh (class 1)

Note: Subject is bālaḥ/taruṇaḥ.