महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-8, chapter-49, verse-50

धारणाद्धर्ममित्याहुर्धर्मो धारयति प्रजाः ।
यः स्याद्धारणसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥५०॥

50. dhāraṇāddharmamityāhurdharmo dhārayati prajāḥ ,
yaḥ syāddhāraṇasaṁyuktaḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ.

50. dhāraṇāt dharmam iti āhuḥ dharmaḥ dhārayati prajāḥ
yaḥ syāt dhāraṇasaṃyuktaḥ saḥ dharmaḥ iti niścayaḥ

50. dhāraṇāt dharmam iti āhuḥ dharmaḥ prajāḥ dhārayati
yaḥ dhāraṇasaṃyuktaḥ syāt saḥ dharmaḥ iti niścayaḥ

50. They say that natural law (dharma) is so called because it upholds; natural law (dharma) sustains all beings. That which is characterized by upholding is indeed natural law (dharma) – this is the certain conclusion.

Words meanings summery:

• धारणात् (dhāraṇāt) - from upholding, from supporting, by reason of holding

• धर्मम् (dharmam) - natural law, constitution, duty

• इति (iti) - thus, so, in this manner

• आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they speak, they have said

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law, constitution, duty

• धारयति (dhārayati) - sustains, supports, upholds

• प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - creatures, subjects, progeny, people

• यः (yaḥ) - who, which

• स्यात् (syāt) - may be, should be

• धारणसंयुक्तः (dhāraṇasaṁyuktaḥ) - endowed with upholding, connected with support

• सः (saḥ) - that, he

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law, constitution, duty

• इति (iti) - thus, so, in this manner

• निश्चयः (niścayaḥ) - certainty, decision, conviction

Words meanings and morphology

धारणात् (dhāraṇāt) - from upholding, from supporting, by reason of holding

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of dhāraṇa

dhāraṇa - holding, bearing, supporting, maintaining

Derived from root dhṛ (to hold, support).

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

धर्मम् (dharmam) - natural law, constitution, duty

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness, virtue

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

इति (iti) - thus, so, in this manner

(indeclinable)

आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say, they speak, they have said

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present/perfect (lit) of āhuḥ

Derived from root brū (or vac), perfect tense form.

Root: brū (class 2)

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law, constitution, duty

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness, virtue

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

धारयति (dhārayati) - sustains, supports, upholds

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (lat) of dhṛ

Causal verb

Causal form of root dhṛ.

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - creatures, subjects, progeny, people

(noun)

Accusative, feminine, plural of prajā

prajā - progeny, offspring, creatures, subjects, people

यः (yaḥ) - who, which

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of yad

yad - who, which, what

स्यात् (syāt) - may be, should be

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (liṅ) of as

Root: as (class 2)

धारणसंयुक्तः (dhāraṇasaṁyuktaḥ) - endowed with upholding, connected with support

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dhāraṇasaṃyukta

dhāraṇasaṁyukta - joined with upholding, endowed with support

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (dhāraṇa+saṃyukta)

• dhāraṇa – holding, bearing, supporting, maintaining
  noun (neuter)
  Derived from root dhṛ (to hold, support).
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• saṃyukta – joined, connected, associated, endowed with
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  Past passive participle of root yuj (to join) with prefix sam.
  Prefix: sam
  Root: yuj (class 7)

सः (saḥ) - that, he

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - natural law, constitution, duty

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - natural law, constitution, intrinsic nature, duty, righteousness, virtue

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

इति (iti) - thus, so, in this manner

(indeclinable)

निश्चयः (niścayaḥ) - certainty, decision, conviction

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of niścaya

niścaya - certainty, determination, decision, conviction

Derived from root ci (to gather, observe) with prefix nis.

Prefix: nis

Root: ci (class 5)