महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-7, chapter-87, verse-17

आस्थिता बहुभिर्म्लेच्छैर्युद्धशौण्डैः प्रहारिभिः ।
नागा मेघनिभा राजन्क्षरन्त इव तोयदाः ॥१७॥

17. āsthitā bahubhirmlecchairyuddhaśauṇḍaiḥ prahāribhiḥ ,
nāgā meghanibhā rājankṣaranta iva toyadāḥ.

17. āsthitāḥ bahubhiḥ mlecchaiḥ yuddhaśauṇḍaiḥ prahāribhiḥ
nāgāḥ meghanibhāḥ rājan kṣarantaḥ iva toyadāḥ

17. rājan,
bahubhiḥ yuddhaśauṇḍaiḥ prahāribhiḥ mlecchaiḥ āsthitāḥ,
meghanibhāḥ nāgāḥ toyadāḥ iva kṣarantaḥ (dṛśyante).

17. O King, these elephants (nāgāḥ), mounted by many foreign warriors (mlecchaiḥ) who are fierce in battle and expert attackers, resemble clouds appearing as if they are pouring down rain-clouds.

Words meanings summery:

• आस्थिताः (āsthitāḥ) - mounted, stationed, occupied, supported

• बहुभिः (bahubhiḥ) - by many

• म्लेच्छैः (mlecchaiḥ) - by foreign warriors (by foreigners, by barbarians)

• युद्धशौण्डैः (yuddhaśauṇḍaiḥ) - by those fierce in battle, by those expert in war

• प्रहारिभिः (prahāribhiḥ) - by strikers, by attackers

• नागाः (nāgāḥ) - elephants (elephants, serpents, mountains)

• मेघनिभाः (meghanibhāḥ) - cloud-like, resembling clouds

• राजन् (rājan) - O King (king, ruler)

• क्षरन्तः (kṣarantaḥ) - pouring, exuding, flowing

• इव (iva) - like, as if, as, similar to

• तोयदाः (toyadāḥ) - rain-clouds

Words meanings and morphology

आस्थिताः (āsthitāḥ) - mounted, stationed, occupied, supported

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of āsthita

āsthita - stationed, mounted, supported, occupied

Past Passive Participle

From verb root sthā (to stand) with prefix ā (towards, upon). P.P.P. 'stood upon, mounted'.

Prefix: ā

Root: sthā (class 1)

Note: Agrees with nāgāḥ.

बहुभिः (bahubhiḥ) - by many

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of bahu

bahu - many, much, numerous

Note: Agrees with mlecchaiḥ, yuddhaśauṇḍaiḥ, prahāribhiḥ.

म्लेच्छैः (mlecchaiḥ) - by foreign warriors (by foreigners, by barbarians)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of mleccha

mleccha - foreigner, barbarian, non-Aryan

Note: Agent of āsthitāḥ.

युद्धशौण्डैः (yuddhaśauṇḍaiḥ) - by those fierce in battle, by those expert in war

(adjective)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of yuddhaśauṇḍa

yuddhaśauṇḍa - expert in battle, fierce in war, battle-addicted

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (yuddha+śauṇḍa)

• yuddha – battle, fight, war
  noun (neuter)
  Root: yudh (class 4)
• śauṇḍa – fierce, bold, strong, addicted to, expert in
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Agrees with mlecchaiḥ.

प्रहारिभिः (prahāribhiḥ) - by strikers, by attackers

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of prahārin

prahārin - striker, attacker, smiter

Agent Noun

From root hṛ (to take, carry) with prefix pra (forth, forward), suffix -in.

Prefix: pra

Root: hṛ (class 1)

Note: Agrees with mlecchaiḥ.

नागाः (nāgāḥ) - elephants (elephants, serpents, mountains)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of nāga

nāga - elephant, serpent, mountain

Note: Subject of the implied verb.

मेघनिभाः (meghanibhāḥ) - cloud-like, resembling clouds

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of meghanibha

meghanibha - cloud-like, resembling a cloud

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (megha+nibha)

• megha – cloud
  noun (masculine)
  Root: megh (class 1)
• nibha – resembling, like, similar to
  adjective (masculine)

Note: Agrees with nāgāḥ.

राजन् (rājan) - O King (king, ruler)

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of rājan

rājan - king, ruler

Stem is rājan, vocative singular is rājan.

Root: rāj (class 1)

Note: Address to the King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra).

क्षरन्तः (kṣarantaḥ) - pouring, exuding, flowing

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of kṣarant

kṣarant - flowing, dripping, exuding, pouring

Present Active Participle

From verb root kṣar (to flow, trickle, pour). Present active participle.

Root: kṣar (class 1)

Note: Agrees with nāgāḥ.

इव (iva) - like, as if, as, similar to

(indeclinable)

Particle of comparison.

तोयदाः (toyadāḥ) - rain-clouds

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of toyada

toyada - cloud (giver of water)

From toya (water) + da (giver).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (toya+da)

• toya – water
  noun (neuter)
• da – giver, giving
  adjective (masculine)
  From root dā (to give). A suffix da to form agent nouns/adjectives.
  Root: dā (class 3)

Note: In comparison with kṣarantaḥ nāgāḥ.