वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-3, chapter-28, verse-16

प्राकृतान् राक्षसान् हत्वा युद्धे दशरथात्मज ।
आत्मना कथमात्मानमप्रशस्यं प्रशंससि ॥१६॥

16. prākṛtān rākṣasān hatvā yuddhe daśarathātmaja ,
ātmanā kathamātmānamapraśasyaṃ praśaṃsasi.

16. prākṛtān rākṣasān hatvā yuddhe daśarathātmaja
ātmanā katham ātmānam apraśasyam praśaṃsasi

16. daśarathātmaja yuddhe prākṛtān rākṣasān hatvā
katham ātmanā apraśasyam ātmānam praśaṃsasi

16. O son of Daśaratha, having killed mere common demons in battle, how can you praise yourself (ātman), who are unworthy of praise?

Words meanings summery:

• प्राकृतान् (prākṛtān) - mere common demons (common, ordinary, vulgar)

• राक्षसान् (rākṣasān) - demons, Rākṣasas

• हत्वा (hatvā) - having killed, after killing

• युद्धे (yuddhe) - in battle

• दशरथात्मज (daśarathātmaja) - O Rāma (son of Daśaratha)

• आत्मना (ātmanā) - by yourself, by the self (ātman)

• कथम् (katham) - how, why

• आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - yourself, the self (ātman)

• अप्रशस्यम् (apraśasyam) - unworthy of praise, not to be praised

• प्रशंससि (praśaṁsasi) - you praise, you commend

Words meanings and morphology

प्राकृतान् (prākṛtān) - mere common demons (common, ordinary, vulgar)

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, plural of prākṛta

prākṛta - natural, ordinary, common, vulgar, uncultivated

Derived from `prakṛti` (nature, origin).

Root: kṛ (class 8)

राक्षसान् (rākṣasān) - demons, Rākṣasas

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of rākṣasa

rākṣasa - a demon, an evil being, a Rākṣasa

Masculine a-stem noun. Derived from root `rakṣ` (to guard, protect) with `ās` suffix (often implying hostile action).

Root: rakṣ (class 1)

हत्वा (hatvā) - having killed, after killing

(indeclinable)

Absolutive (Gerund)

From root `han` (to strike, kill).

Root: han (class 2)

युद्धे (yuddhe) - in battle

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of yuddha

yuddha - battle, fight, war

Neuter a-stem noun. From root `yudh` (to fight).

Root: yudh (class 4)

Note: Expresses location.

दशरथात्मज (daśarathātmaja) - O Rāma (son of Daśaratha)

(proper noun)

Vocative, masculine, singular of daśarathātmaja

daśarathātmaja - son of Daśaratha

Tatpuruṣa compound: Daśaratha (proper name) + ātmaja (son).

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (daśaratha+ātmaja)

• daśaratha – Daśaratha (father of Rāma)
  proper noun (masculine)
• ātmaja – son, self-born
  noun (masculine)
  From `ātman` + `ja` (born).
  Root: jan (class 4)

आत्मना (ātmanā) - by yourself, by the self (ātman)

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - self, soul, spirit, essence, ego, vital breath

Masculine n-stem noun.

Root: an (class 2)

Note: Agent of the action of praising.

कथम् (katham) - how, why

(indeclinable)

Interrogative adverb.

आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - yourself, the self (ātman)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of ātman

ātman - self, soul, spirit, essence, ego

Masculine n-stem noun.

Root: an (class 2)

Note: Object of the verb `praśaṃsasi`.

अप्रशस्यम् (apraśasyam) - unworthy of praise, not to be praised

(adjective)

Accusative, masculine, singular of apraśasya

apraśasya - not to be praised, blamable, unworthy of praise

Gerundive (Potential Passive Participle) with negative prefix

Negative prefix `a` + `praśasya`. `praśasya` is derived from `pra-√śaṃs` (to praise).

Compound type : nañ-tatpuruṣa (a+praśasya)

• a – not, non-, un-
  indeclinable
  Negative particle/prefix.
• praśasya – to be praised, praiseworthy
  adjective (masculine)
  Gerundive
  From root `śaṃs` (to praise) with prefix `pra` (forth, greatly).
  Prefix: pra
  Root: śaṃs (class 1)

प्रशंससि (praśaṁsasi) - you praise, you commend

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, present (laṭ) of pra-śaṃs

Present tense, 2nd person singular, active voice

From root `śaṃs` (to praise) with prefix `pra` (forth, greatly).

Prefix: pra

Root: śaṃs (class 1)