वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-1, chapter-58, verse-15

ब्राह्मणा वा महात्मानो भुक्त्वा चण्डालभोजनम् ।
कथं स्वर्गं गमिष्यन्ति विश्वामित्रेण पालिताः ॥१५॥

15. brāhmaṇā vā mahātmāno bhuktvā caṇḍālabhojanam ,
kathaṃ svargaṃ gamiṣyanti viśvāmitreṇa pālitāḥ.

15. brāhmaṇāḥ vā mahātmānaḥ bhuktvā caṇḍālabhojanam
katham svargam gamiṣyanti viśvāmitreṇa pālitāḥ

15. mahātmānaḥ brāhmaṇāḥ vā caṇḍālabhojanam bhuktvā
viśvāmitreṇa pālitāḥ katham svargam gamiṣyanti

15. Or, how will even great-souled Brahmins (brāhmaṇāḥ), having eaten the food of an outcaste (caṇḍālabhojanam), go to heaven while being protected by Viśvāmitra?

Words meanings summery:

• ब्राह्मणाः (brāhmaṇāḥ) - Brahmins, members of the priestly class

• वा (vā) - or, moreover, and

• महात्मानः (mahātmānaḥ) - great-souled, noble-minded ones

• भुक्त्वा (bhuktvā) - having eaten, after eating

• चण्डालभोजनम् (caṇḍālabhojanam) - Food considered impure due to its source from an outcaste, rendering those who eat it also impure. (food of an outcaste (caṇḍāla))

• कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner

• स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven, celestial realm

• गमिष्यन्ति (gamiṣyanti) - they will go, they will reach

• विश्वामित्रेण (viśvāmitreṇa) - by Viśvāmitra

• पालिताः (pālitāḥ) - Referring to Brahmins who might be patronized or supported by Viśvāmitra. (protected, sustained, maintained)

Words meanings and morphology

ब्राह्मणाः (brāhmaṇāḥ) - Brahmins, members of the priestly class

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of brāhmaṇa

brāhmaṇa - a Brahmin, a member of the priestly class

Derived from brahman (the ultimate reality, also a member of the priestly class)

वा (vā) - or, moreover, and

(indeclinable)

महात्मानः (mahātmānaḥ) - great-souled, noble-minded ones

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of mahātman

mahātman - great-souled, noble, magnanimous

Compound type : karmadhāraya (mahat+ātman)

• mahat – great, large, mighty, eminent
  adjective
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essential nature
  noun (masculine)
  From root an (to breathe)
  Root: an (class 2)

Note: Qualifies 'brāhmaṇāḥ'.

भुक्त्वा (bhuktvā) - having eaten, after eating

(indeclinable)

Root: bhuj (class 7)

Note: Absolutive (gerund) indicating a prior action.

चण्डालभोजनम् (caṇḍālabhojanam) - Food considered impure due to its source from an outcaste, rendering those who eat it also impure. (food of an outcaste (caṇḍāla))

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of caṇḍālabhojana

caṇḍālabhojana - food of a caṇḍāla

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (caṇḍāla+bhojana)

• caṇḍāla – an outcaste, untouchable, a person of the lowest class
  noun (masculine)
• bhojana – food, eating, meal
  noun (neuter)
  From root bhuj (to eat, enjoy) with suffix -ana.
  Root: bhuj (class 7)

कथम् (katham) - how, in what manner

(indeclinable)

स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven, celestial realm

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of svarga

svarga - heaven, paradise, celestial world

Root: svar

गमिष्यन्ति (gamiṣyanti) - they will go, they will reach

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, future (ḷṛṭ) of gam

Root: gam (class 1)

विश्वामित्रेण (viśvāmitreṇa) - by Viśvāmitra

(proper noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of viśvāmitra

viśvāmitra - Viśvāmitra (a renowned sage, originally a kṣatriya king)

पालिताः (pālitāḥ) - Referring to Brahmins who might be patronized or supported by Viśvāmitra. (protected, sustained, maintained)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of pālita

pālita - protected, guarded, nourished, kept

Past Passive Participle

Formed from root pāl (to protect, guard, cherish).

Root: pāl (class 10)

Note: Qualifies 'brāhmaṇāḥ'.