महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-7, chapter-99, verse-12

ततस्ते पर्यवर्तन्त सर्वे द्रोणरथं प्रति ।
भयात्पतगराजस्य गर्तानीव महोरगाः ॥१२॥

12. tataste paryavartanta sarve droṇarathaṁ prati ,
bhayātpatagarājasya gartānīva mahoragāḥ.

12. tataḥ te paryavartanta sarve droṇaratham prati
bhayāt patagarājasya gartāni iva mahoragāḥ

12. tataḥ sarve te patagarājasya bhayāt mahoragāḥ
gartāni iva droṇaratham prati paryavartanta

12. Then all of them turned back towards Droṇa's chariot, just like great serpents retreat into their holes out of fear of the king of birds.

Words meanings summery:

• ततः (tataḥ) - then, thence, from that

• ते (te) - the warriors (those, they)

• पर्यवर्तन्त (paryavartanta) - they turned around, they retreated

• सर्वे (sarve) - all of them (the warriors) (all, everyone)

• द्रोणरथम् (droṇaratham) - towards Droṇa's chariot

• प्रति (prati) - towards, against

• भयात् (bhayāt) - from fear

• पतगराजस्य (patagarājasya) - of Garuda (the mythical eagle) (of the king of birds)

• गर्तानि (gartāni) - holes, caves, lairs

• इव (iva) - like, as

• महोरगाः (mahoragāḥ) - great serpents, large snakes

Words meanings and morphology

ततः (tataḥ) - then, thence, from that

(indeclinable)

ते (te) - the warriors (those, they)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of tad

tad - that, those, he, they

Note: Refers to the Kaurava warriors implied from context.

पर्यवर्तन्त (paryavartanta) - they turned around, they retreated

(verb)

3rd person , plural, middle, past imperfect (laṅ) of paryavṛt

Imperfect

From prefix 'pari-' + 'ava-' + root 'vṛt' (class 1, Ātmanepada, vartate), imperfect third person plural.

Prefixes: pari+ava

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Subject is 'sarve te'.

सर्वे (sarve) - all of them (the warriors) (all, everyone)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of sarva

sarva - all, every, whole

Note: Agrees with 'te' (warriors).

द्रोणरथम् (droṇaratham) - towards Droṇa's chariot

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of droṇaratha

droṇaratha - Droṇa's chariot

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (droṇa+ratha)

• droṇa – Droṇa (a revered warrior teacher)
  proper noun (masculine)
• ratha – chariot
  noun (masculine)

Note: Object of the preposition 'prati'.

प्रति (prati) - towards, against

(indeclinable)

Note: Governs the accusative 'droṇaratham'.

भयात् (bhayāt) - from fear

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of bhaya

bhaya - fear, dread

Note: Expresses the cause of turning back.

पतगराजस्य (patagarājasya) - of Garuda (the mythical eagle) (of the king of birds)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of patagarāja

patagarāja - king of birds (Garuda, the mythical eagle, enemy of serpents)

Compound type : ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (pataga+rāja)

• pataga – bird (lit. 'going by flying')
  noun (masculine)
• rāja – king, ruler
  noun (masculine)

Note: Related to 'bhayāt' (fear *of*).

गर्तानि (gartāni) - holes, caves, lairs

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, plural of garta

garta - hole, pit, cave, den

Note: Implied destination of movement.

इव (iva) - like, as

(indeclinable)

Note: Used for comparison.

महोरगाः (mahoragāḥ) - great serpents, large snakes

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of mahoraga

mahoraga - great serpent, large snake

Compound type : karmadhāraya (mahat+uraga)

• mahat – great, large
  adjective
• uraga – serpent, snake (lit. 'going on the chest')
  noun (masculine)

Note: Subject of the simile, corresponding to 'te' (warriors).