महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-8, chapter-27, verse-72

ब्राह्मणैः कथिताः पूर्वं यथावद्राजसंनिधौ ।
श्रुत्वा चैकमना मूढ क्षम वा ब्रूहि वोत्तरम् ॥७२॥

72. brāhmaṇaiḥ kathitāḥ pūrvaṁ yathāvadrājasaṁnidhau ,
śrutvā caikamanā mūḍha kṣama vā brūhi vottaram.

72. brāhmaṇaiḥ kathitāḥ pūrvaṃ yathāvat rājasaṃnidhau |
śrutvā ca ekamanāḥ mūḍha kṣama vā brūhi vā uttaram

72. (tāḥ gāthāḥ) pūrvaṃ brāhmaṇaiḥ rājasaṃnidhau yathāvat kathitāḥ.
mūḍha,
ca śrutvā ekamanāḥ kṣama vā vā uttaram brūhi.

72. These were formerly narrated properly by Brahmins in the presence of kings. O fool, after hearing (them), either be attentive and patiently bear (them), or speak your reply.

Words meanings summery:

• ब्राह्मणैः (brāhmaṇaiḥ) - by Brahmins

• कथिताः (kathitāḥ) - narrated, spoken, told

• पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - formerly, previously, before

• यथावत् (yathāvat) - properly, accurately, truly

• राजसंनिधौ (rājasaṁnidhau) - in the presence of kings

• श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard

• च (ca) - and

• एकमनाः (ekamanāḥ) - single-minded, attentive

• मूढ (mūḍha) - O fool, O confused one

• क्षम (kṣama) - bear, endure, forgive

• वा (vā) - or

• ब्रूहि (brūhi) - speak, say

• वा (vā) - or

• उत्तरम् (uttaram) - reply, answer

Words meanings and morphology

ब्राह्मणैः (brāhmaṇaiḥ) - by Brahmins

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - Brahmin, one belonging to the priestly class

कथिताः (kathitāḥ) - narrated, spoken, told

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, plural of kathita

kathita - spoken, told, narrated

Past Passive Participle

From root kath (to tell, narrate)

Root: kath (class 10)

Note: Refers to the 'gāthāḥ' from the previous verse.

पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - formerly, previously, before

(indeclinable)

यथावत् (yathāvat) - properly, accurately, truly

(indeclinable)

राजसंनिधौ (rājasaṁnidhau) - in the presence of kings

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of rājasaṃnidha

rājasaṁnidha - presence of a king/kings

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (rājan+saṃnidha)

• rājan – king, ruler
  noun (masculine)
• saṃnidha – presence, proximity
  noun (masculine)

श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (Gerund)

Derived from root śru (to hear)

Root: śru (class 5)

च (ca) - and

(indeclinable)

एकमनाः (ekamanāḥ) - single-minded, attentive

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ekamanas

ekamanas - single-minded, attentive, having one thought

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (eka+manas)

• eka – one, single, alone
  numeral
• manas – mind, intellect, thought
  noun (neuter)

Note: Agrees with 'mūḍha'

मूढ (mūḍha) - O fool, O confused one

(noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of mūḍha

mūḍha - foolish, ignorant, deluded; a fool

Past Passive Participle

From root muh (to be bewildered, confused)

Root: muh (class 4)

क्षम (kṣama) - bear, endure, forgive

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of kṣam

Root: kṣam (class 1)

वा (vā) - or

(indeclinable)

ब्रूहि (brūhi) - speak, say

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of brū

Root: brū (class 2)

वा (vā) - or

(indeclinable)

उत्तरम् (uttaram) - reply, answer

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of uttara

uttara - later, higher, superior, northern; answer, reply (as noun)