वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-1, chapter-11, verse-17

छिद्रं हि मृगयन्ते ऽत्र विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसाः ।
विधिहीनस्य यज्ञस्य सद्यः कर्ता विनश्यति ॥१७॥

17. chidraṃ hi mṛgayante'tra vidvāṃso brahmarākṣasāḥ ,
vidhihīnasya yajñasya sadyaḥ kartā vinaśyati.

17. chidram hi mṛgayante atra vidvāṃsaḥ brahmarākṣasāḥ
vidhihīnasya yajñasya sadyaḥ kartā vinaśyati

17. hi atra vidvāṃsaḥ brahmarākṣasāḥ chidram mṛgayante
vidhihīnasya yajñasya kartā sadyaḥ vinaśyati

17. Indeed, the learned Brahmarākṣasas here search for a flaw. The performer of a ritual (yajña) lacking proper procedure perishes immediately.

Words meanings summery:

• छिद्रम् (chidram) - a weak point or defect in the ritual performance (flaw, defect, hole, weak point)

• हि (hi) - indeed, emphasizing the action (indeed, surely, because, for)

• मृगयन्ते (mṛgayante) - they search for, they look for (they search, they hunt, they seek)

• अत्र (atra) - here, at this place (where the ritual is being performed) (here, in this place, in this matter)

• विद्वांसः (vidvāṁsaḥ) - the learned ones (referring to the Brahmarākṣasas, who are often depicted as learned but malevolent spirits) (learned ones, wise persons, scholars)

• ब्रह्मराक्षसाः (brahmarākṣasāḥ) - Brahmarākṣasas, a specific class of malevolent spirits. (Brahmarākṣasas (a type of demon or ghost, usually of Brahmins who committed grave sins))

• विधिहीनस्य (vidhihīnasya) - of a ritual (yajña) lacking proper procedure (of one lacking proper procedure/rule, of a rule-less (action))

• यज्ञस्य (yajñasya) - of a ritual (yajña) (of a sacrifice, of a ritual, of a worship)

• सद्यः (sadyaḥ) - immediately (immediately, at once, instantaneously)

• कर्ता (kartā) - the performer (of the ritual) (doer, maker, agent, performer)

• विनश्यति (vinaśyati) - perishes, is doomed (perishes, is destroyed, is lost)

Words meanings and morphology

छिद्रम् (chidram) - a weak point or defect in the ritual performance (flaw, defect, hole, weak point)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of chidra

chidra - flaw, defect, hole, aperture, weak point

Root: chid (class 7)

Note: Direct object of mṛgayante.

हि (hi) - indeed, emphasizing the action (indeed, surely, because, for)

(indeclinable)

मृगयन्ते (mṛgayante) - they search for, they look for (they search, they hunt, they seek)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, middle, present (laṭ) of mṛgay

Denominative verb from mṛga (deer) meaning 'to hunt like a deer'.

Denominative verb derived from the noun mṛga (deer, game), literally "to act like a hunter/deer" or "to hunt/seek".

Root: mṛg (class 10)

Note: The ending ante indicates 3rd person plural, middle voice, present tense.

अत्र (atra) - here, at this place (where the ritual is being performed) (here, in this place, in this matter)

(indeclinable)

Formed from the pronominal stem a + tra suffix.

विद्वांसः (vidvāṁsaḥ) - the learned ones (referring to the Brahmarākṣasas, who are often depicted as learned but malevolent spirits) (learned ones, wise persons, scholars)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vidvas

vidvas - learned, knowing, wise, skilled

Past Active Participle

Formed from the root vid (to know) + suffix vas (kvasi, denoting past active participle).

Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Qualifies brahmarākṣasāḥ.

ब्रह्मराक्षसाः (brahmarākṣasāḥ) - Brahmarākṣasas, a specific class of malevolent spirits. (Brahmarākṣasas (a type of demon or ghost, usually of Brahmins who committed grave sins))

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of brahmarākṣasa

brahmarākṣasa - a ghost or demon of a deceased Brahmin

Compound type : karmadhāraya (brahman+rākṣasa)

• brahman – Brahmin, sacred knowledge, ultimate reality
  noun (masculine)
• rākṣasa – demon, evil spirit, monster
  noun (masculine)

Note: Subject of mṛgayante.

विधिहीनस्य (vidhihīnasya) - of a ritual (yajña) lacking proper procedure (of one lacking proper procedure/rule, of a rule-less (action))

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of vidhihīna

vidhihīna - lacking rule, devoid of prescription, without proper procedure

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (vidhi+hīna)

• vidhi – rule, injunction, ordinance, method, procedure
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhā (class 3)
• hīna – deprived of, devoid of, lacking, inferior, abandoned
  adjective (masculine)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root hā (to abandon, forsake).
  Root: hā (class 3)

Note: Modifies yajñasya.

यज्ञस्य (yajñasya) - of a ritual (yajña) (of a sacrifice, of a ritual, of a worship)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of yajña

yajña - sacrifice, ritual, worship, offering

From root yaj (to sacrifice, worship).

Root: yaj (class 1)

Note: Possessive case, dependent on kartā.

सद्यः (sadyaḥ) - immediately (immediately, at once, instantaneously)

(indeclinable)

From sa (together) + dyas (day), meaning 'on the same day', hence 'immediately'.

Note: Modifies vinaśyati.

कर्ता (kartā) - the performer (of the ritual) (doer, maker, agent, performer)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kartṛ

kartṛ - doer, maker, agent, performer, author

Agent noun

Formed from root kṛ (to do, make) + suffix tṛ.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Subject of vinaśyati.

विनश्यति (vinaśyati) - perishes, is doomed (perishes, is destroyed, is lost)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of naś

Root naś in 4th class with vi prefix.

Prefix: vi

Root: naś (class 4)

Note: The ending ti indicates 3rd person singular, active voice, present tense.