वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-1, chapter-13, verse-14

कर्मान्तरे तदा विप्रा हेतुवादान्बहूनपि ।
प्राहुः सुवाग्मिनो धीराः परस्परजिगीषया ॥१४॥

14. karmāntare tadā viprā hetuvādānbahūnapi ,
prāhuḥ suvāgmino dhīrāḥ parasparajigīṣayā.

14. karmāntare tadā viprāḥ hetuvādān bahūn api
prāhuḥ suvāgminaḥ dhīrāḥ parasparajigīṣayā

14. tadā karmāntare suvāgminaḥ dhīrāḥ viprāḥ
parasparajigīṣayā bahūn api hetuvādān prāhuḥ

14. Then, during the performance of the rites (karma), the eloquent and resolute Brahmins presented many logical arguments, driven by a desire for mutual intellectual victory.

Words meanings summery:

• कर्मान्तरे (karmāntare) - during the performance of the sacred rites (karma) (in the midst of the ritual, during the performance of a rite)

• तदा (tadā) - then, at that particular time during the ritual (then, at that time)

• विप्राः (viprāḥ) - the learned Brahmins present at the ritual (Brahmins, inspired ones, learned ones)

• हेतुवादान् (hetuvādān) - logical arguments or debates (arguments based on reason, logical discussions)

• बहून् (bahūn) - many, a great number of (many, numerous)

• अपि (api) - even (emphasizing the quantity) (also, even, indeed)

• प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they presented, they put forth (arguments) (they said, they spoke, they declared)

• सुवाग्मिनः (suvāgminaḥ) - those skilled in speech and argument (eloquent speakers)

• धीराः (dhīrāḥ) - resolute and steady-minded (in their arguments) (resolute, wise, firm-minded)

• परस्परजिगीषया (parasparajigīṣayā) - driven by a desire to intellectually overcome each other (by the desire for mutual victory/conquest)

Words meanings and morphology

कर्मान्तरे (karmāntare) - during the performance of the sacred rites (karma) (in the midst of the ritual, during the performance of a rite)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of karmāntara

karmāntara - interval of action, interval between rites, duration of a rite

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (karma+antara)

• karma – action, deed, ritual, fate (karma)
  noun (neuter)
  Root: kṛ (class 8)
• antara – interval, midst, interior, difference
  noun (neuter)

Note: Refers to the time during the performance of the ritual.

तदा (tadā) - then, at that particular time during the ritual (then, at that time)

(indeclinable)

Formed from pronominal stem `tad` + suffix `dā`.

विप्राः (viprāḥ) - the learned Brahmins present at the ritual (Brahmins, inspired ones, learned ones)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of vipra

vipra - Brahmin, inspired, wise, learned

From root `vip` (to tremble, to be inspired).

Root: vip

हेतुवादान् (hetuvādān) - logical arguments or debates (arguments based on reason, logical discussions)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of hetuvāda

hetuvāda - argument, reasoning, logical discourse, sophistry

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (hetu+vāda)

• hetu – cause, reason, motive
  noun (masculine)
• vāda – speech, talk, doctrine, argument
  noun (masculine)
  From root `vad` (to speak).
  Root: vad (class 1)

Note: Object of `prāhuḥ`.

बहून् (bahūn) - many, a great number of (many, numerous)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, plural of bahu

bahu - much, many, numerous, abundant

Note: Agrees with `hetuvādān`.

अपि (api) - even (emphasizing the quantity) (also, even, indeed)

(indeclinable)

प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they presented, they put forth (arguments) (they said, they spoke, they declared)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, perfect (Lit) of pra-ah

Perfect active, 3rd person plural

Irregular perfect form of the root `ah`. `pra` is a prefix.

Prefix: pra

Root: ah

सुवाग्मिनः (suvāgminaḥ) - those skilled in speech and argument (eloquent speakers)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of suvāgmin

suvāgmin - eloquent, good speaker, skilled in speech

`su` (good) + `vāgmin` (speaker, from `vāc` speech).

Compound type : karmadhāraya (su+vāgmin)

• su – good, well, excellent
  indeclinable
• vāgmin – eloquent, speaker
  adjective (masculine)
  From `vāc` (speech) + suffix `min`.
  Root: vac (class 2)

Note: Agrees with `viprāḥ` and `dhīrāḥ`.

धीराः (dhīrāḥ) - resolute and steady-minded (in their arguments) (resolute, wise, firm-minded)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dhīra

dhīra - firm, steady, resolute, wise, courageous

From `dhī` (thought, understanding).

Note: Agrees with `viprāḥ` and `suvāgminaḥ`.

परस्परजिगीषया (parasparajigīṣayā) - driven by a desire to intellectually overcome each other (by the desire for mutual victory/conquest)

(noun)

Instrumental, feminine, singular of parasparajigīṣā

parasparajigīṣā - desire for mutual conquest, rivalry

From `paraspara` (mutual) + `jigīṣā` (desire to conquer, desiderative of `ji`).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (paraspara+jigīṣā)

• paraspara – mutual, reciprocal, each other
  adjective (masculine)
• jigīṣā – desire to conquer, desire for victory
  noun (feminine)
  Desiderative noun
  Desiderative stem of root `ji` (to conquer) + `ā` suffix.
  Root: ji (class 1)

Note: Indicates the reason/motive.