वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-1, chapter-8, verse-14

भवन्तः श्रुतधर्माणो लोकचारित्रवेदिनः ।
समादिशन्तु नियमं प्रायश्चित्तं यथा भवेत् ॥१४॥

14. bhavantaḥ śrutadharmāṇo lokacāritravedinaḥ ,
samādiśantu niyamaṃ prāyaścittaṃ yathā bhavet.

14. bhavantaḥ śruta-dharmāṇaḥ loka-cāritra-vedinaḥ
samādiśantu niyamam prāyaścittam yathā bhavet

14. bhavantaḥ śruta-dharmāṇaḥ loka-cāritra-vedinaḥ yathā
bhavet (iti) niyamam prāyaścittam (ca) samādiśantu

14. You, being learned in the sacred law (dharma) and knowledgeable of worldly customs, should prescribe a rule and an expiation (prāyaścitta) so that [the situation] may be resolved.

Words meanings summery:

• भवन्तः (bhavantaḥ) - you (plural, honorific), respectable sirs

• श्रुत-धर्माणः (śruta-dharmāṇaḥ) - those who know the sacred law (dharma), learned in natural law

• लोक-चारित्र-वेदिनः (loka-cāritra-vedinaḥ) - those who know worldly customs/conduct, conversant with people's ways

• समादिशन्तु (samādiśantu) - may they prescribe, should they command, let them direct

• नियमम् (niyamam) - a rule, a precept, a measure, a discipline

• प्रायश्चित्तम् (prāyaścittam) - expiation, atonement, penance

• यथा (yathā) - so that, in order that, as

• भवेत् (bhavet) - it may be, it should be, it would happen

Words meanings and morphology

भवन्तः (bhavantaḥ) - you (plural, honorific), respectable sirs

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of bhavat

bhavat - you, sir, your honor, being

Present Active Participle

From root bhū (to be) + śatṛ (present participle suffix)

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Addresses the Brahmins.

श्रुत-धर्माणः (śruta-dharmāṇaḥ) - those who know the sacred law (dharma), learned in natural law

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of śruta-dharman

śruta-dharman - whose sacred law (dharma) is known, learned in sacred law (dharma), upholding dharma

Compound type : Bahuvrīhi (śruta+dharman)

• śruta – heard, learned, sacred knowledge, Vedic revelation
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  From root śru (to hear)
  Root: śru (class 5)
• dharman – sacred law, natural law, constitution, duty, virtue, righteousness
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Agrees with `bhavantaḥ`.

लोक-चारित्र-वेदिनः (loka-cāritra-vedinaḥ) - those who know worldly customs/conduct, conversant with people's ways

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of loka-cāritra-vedin

loka-cāritra-vedin - knowing worldly conduct, conversant with popular customs

Derived from root vid (to know) with -in suffix.

Compound type : Tatpuruṣa (loka+cāritra+vedin)

• loka – world, people, folk
  noun (masculine)
• cāritra – conduct, custom, character, behavior
  noun (neuter)
  From car (to move, conduct)
  Root: car (class 1)
• vedin – knowing, one who knows, acquainted with
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent noun from root vid (to know)
  Root: vid (class 2)

Note: Agrees with `bhavantaḥ`.

समादिशन्तु (samādiśantu) - may they prescribe, should they command, let them direct

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, imperative (loṭ) of samādiś

Imperative Mood, 3rd person plural

From sam-ā-diś (to prescribe, direct)

Prefixes: sam+ā

Root: diś (class 6)

Note: The implied subject is `bhavantaḥ` (you, plural).

नियमम् (niyamam) - a rule, a precept, a measure, a discipline

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of niyama

niyama - rule, precept, discipline, control, regulation

From ni-yam (to restrain, regulate)

Prefix: ni

Root: yam (class 1)

Note: Object of `samādiśantu`.

प्रायश्चित्तम् (prāyaścittam) - expiation, atonement, penance

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of prāyaścitta

prāyaścitta - expiation, atonement, penance, purification ritual

Note: Object of `samādiśantu`.

यथा (yathā) - so that, in order that, as

(indeclinable)

भवेत् (bhavet) - it may be, it should be, it would happen

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhiliṅ) of bhū

Optative Mood, 3rd person singular

From root bhū (to be) + eyāt (optative suffix)

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Expresses a wish or possibility.