महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-9, chapter-56, verse-16

तौ परस्परमासाद्य यत्तावन्योन्यरक्षणे ।
मार्जाराविव भक्षार्थे ततक्षाते मुहुर्मुहुः ॥१६॥

16. tau parasparamāsādya yattāvanyonyarakṣaṇe ,
mārjārāviva bhakṣārthe tatakṣāte muhurmuhuḥ.

16. tau parasparam āsādya yattau anyonyarakṣaṇe
mārjārā iva bhakṣārthe tatakṣāte muhuḥ muhuḥ

16. tau parasparam āsādya,
anyonyarakṣaṇe yattau,
bhakṣārthe mārjārā iva,
muhuḥ muhuḥ tatakṣāte.

16. Having come upon each other, and being intent on their mutual self-defense, they struck each other again and again, like two cats fighting for prey.

Words meanings summery:

• तौ (tau) - they two

• परस्परम् (parasparam) - mutually, each other

• आसाद्य (āsādya) - having approached, having encountered

• यत्तौ (yattau) - attentive, careful, intent

• अन्योन्यरक्षणे (anyonyarakṣaṇe) - in mutual protection, in self-defense against each other

• मार्जारा (mārjārā) - cats

• इव (iva) - like, as

• भक्षार्थे (bhakṣārthe) - for the sake of food, for prey

• ततक्षाते (tatakṣāte) - they both struck, they both wounded

• मुहुः (muhuḥ) - repeatedly, again and again

• मुहुः (muhuḥ) - repeatedly, again and again

Words meanings and morphology

तौ (tau) - they two

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, dual of tad

tad - that, he, she, it

परस्परम् (parasparam) - mutually, each other

(indeclinable)

Note: Used adverbially from accusative singular neuter form.

आसाद्य (āsādya) - having approached, having encountered

(indeclinable)

absolutive

Derived from root sad with prefix ā.

Prefix: ā

Root: sad (class 1)

यत्तौ (yattau) - attentive, careful, intent

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, dual of yatta

yatta - striven, prepared, attentive

Past Passive Participle

Derived from root yat (to strive, to endeavor).

Root: yat (class 1)

अन्योन्यरक्षणे (anyonyarakṣaṇe) - in mutual protection, in self-defense against each other

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of anyonyarakṣaṇa

anyonyarakṣaṇa - mutual protection

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (anyonya+rakṣaṇa)

• anyonya – each other, mutual
  pronoun
• rakṣaṇa – protection, guarding, defending
  noun (neuter)
  Derived from root rakṣ (to protect).
  Root: rakṣ (class 1)

मार्जारा (mārjārā) - cats

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of mārjāra

mārjāra - cat

इव (iva) - like, as

(indeclinable)

भक्षार्थे (bhakṣārthe) - for the sake of food, for prey

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of bhakṣārtha

bhakṣārtha - purpose of food, for food

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (bhakṣa+artha)

• bhakṣa – food, eating, prey
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from root bhakṣ (to eat).
  Root: bhakṣ (class 10)
• artha – purpose, meaning, wealth
  noun (masculine)

Note: Locative used in the sense of 'for the sake of'.

ततक्षाते (tatakṣāte) - they both struck, they both wounded

(verb)

3rd person , dual, active, perfect (Lit) of takṣ

Root: takṣ (class 1)

Note: Ātmanepada ending.

मुहुः (muhuḥ) - repeatedly, again and again

(indeclinable)

Note: Repeated to emphasize 'again and again'.

मुहुः (muhuḥ) - repeatedly, again and again

(indeclinable)

Note: Repeated to emphasize 'again and again'.