वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-5, chapter-28, verse-38

अर्थानर्थान्तरे बुद्धिर्निश्चितापि न शोभते ।
घातयन्ति हि कार्याणि दूताः पण्डितमानिनः ॥३८॥

38. arthānarthāntare buddhirniścitāpi na śobhate ,
ghātayanti hi kāryāṇi dūtāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ.

38. arthānarthāntare buddhiḥ niścitā api na śobhate
ghātayanti hi kāryāṇi dūtāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ

38. arthānarthāntare niścitā api buddhiḥ na śobhate
hi paṇḍitamāninaḥ dūtāḥ kāryāṇi ghātayanti

38. Even a firm intellect does not shine (is not effective) in matters distinguishing between advantage and disadvantage. Indeed, messengers who consider themselves wise only spoil important tasks.

Words meanings summery:

• अर्थानर्थान्तरे (arthānarthāntare) - in matters distinguishing between advantage and disadvantage (in the interval between profit and loss, in matters of advantage and disadvantage)

• बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ) - intellect, judgment (intellect, understanding, judgment, mind)

• निश्चिता (niścitā) - firm, determined (ascertained, determined, firm, resolved)

• अपि (api) - even (even, also, too)

• न (na) - not (not, no)

• शोभते (śobhate) - is effective, shines (shines, is beautiful, is proper, is effective)

• घातयन्ति (ghātayanti) - spoil, ruin (cause to be killed, destroy, spoil, ruin)

• हि (hi) - indeed, for (indeed, certainly, because, for)

• कार्याणि (kāryāṇi) - important tasks (tasks, actions, affairs, duties, things to be done)

• दूताः (dūtāḥ) - messengers (messengers, envoys, ambassadors)

• पण्डितमानिनः (paṇḍitamāninaḥ) - who consider themselves wise (considering oneself wise, pseudo-wise, vainly thinking oneself learned)

Words meanings and morphology

अर्थानर्थान्तरे (arthānarthāntare) - in matters distinguishing between advantage and disadvantage (in the interval between profit and loss, in matters of advantage and disadvantage)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of arthānarthāntara

arthānarthāntara - the distinction between advantage and disadvantage, the interval between profit and loss

Compound of artha, anartha, and antara. Dvandva or Karmadhāraya. "artha-anartha" is a dvandva, meaning "advantage and disadvantage", and "antara" means "interval" or "distinction". So, "in the interval/distinction of advantage-disadvantage".

Compound type : dvandva-tatpuruṣa (artha+anartha+antara)

• artha – advantage, purpose, gain
  noun (masculine)
• anartha – disadvantage, misfortune, loss
  noun (masculine)
  negative of artha
  Prefix: an
• antara – interval, difference, distinction
  noun (neuter)

Note: Indicates the sphere of activity.

बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ) - intellect, judgment (intellect, understanding, judgment, mind)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of buddhi

buddhi - intellect, understanding, perception, judgment

from root budh (to know, understand)

Root: budh (class 1)

Note: Subject.

निश्चिता (niścitā) - firm, determined (ascertained, determined, firm, resolved)

(adjective)

Nominative, feminine, singular of niścita

niścita - ascertained, determined, firm, resolved, certain

Past Passive Participle

from niś-ci (to ascertain, determine)

Prefix: niś

Root: ci (class 5)

Note: Agrees with `buddhiḥ`.

अपि (api) - even (even, also, too)

(indeclinable)

न (na) - not (not, no)

(indeclinable)

शोभते (śobhate) - is effective, shines (shines, is beautiful, is proper, is effective)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of śubh

Root: śubh (class 1)

घातयन्ति (ghātayanti) - spoil, ruin (cause to be killed, destroy, spoil, ruin)

(verb)

3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of ghātay

Causative

from root han (to strike, kill) in causative form (ghātayati)

Root: han (class 2)

हि (hi) - indeed, for (indeed, certainly, because, for)

(indeclinable)

कार्याणि (kāryāṇi) - important tasks (tasks, actions, affairs, duties, things to be done)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, plural of kārya

kārya - to be done, action, task, duty

Gerundive

from root kṛ (to do) with suffix -ya

Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Object of `ghātayanti`.

दूताः (dūtāḥ) - messengers (messengers, envoys, ambassadors)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, plural of dūta

dūta - messenger, envoy, ambassador

from root dū (to go)

Root: dū (class 1)

Note: Subject of `ghātayanti`.

पण्डितमानिनः (paṇḍitamāninaḥ) - who consider themselves wise (considering oneself wise, pseudo-wise, vainly thinking oneself learned)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, plural of paṇḍitamānin

paṇḍitamānin - one who considers oneself learned/wise, pseudo-wise

Compound of paṇḍita and mānin (from root man with suffix -in)

Compound type : upapada-tatpuruṣa (paṇḍita+mānin)

• paṇḍita – learned, wise, scholar
  noun (masculine)
• mānin – thinking, considering, proud
  adjective (masculine)
  Agent noun
  from root man (to think) with suffix -in
  Root: man (class 4)

Note: Agrees with `dūtāḥ`.