Shloka 8

Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)

Devanagari script

ततः सहायान्‌ सोत्साहॉल्लप्स्यसे5व्यसनान्‌ शुचीन्‌ | वर्तमान: स्वशास्त्रेण संयतात्मा जितेन्द्रिय:

Transliteration

tataḥ sahāyān sotsāhāl lapsyase vyasanān śucīn | vartamānaḥ svaśāstreṇa saṃyatātmā jitendriyaḥ |

Translation

Dann wirst du, mit neuem Eifer, in Zeiten der Not würdige und rein gesinnte Verbündete gewinnen. Lebst du nach der dir vorgeschriebenen Zucht, selbstbeherrscht und Herr deiner Sinne, wirst du Widrigkeiten ertragen und dir durch rechtschaffenes Handeln Beistand sichern.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

सहायान्helpers, allies

सोत्साहात्with enthusiasm / from zeal

लप्स्यसेyou will obtain

अव्यसनान्free from calamity/distress

शुचीन्pure, clean

वर्तमानःabiding, conducting oneself

स्वशास्त्रेणby/according to one’s own teaching/scripture

संयतात्माone whose self is restrained

जितेन्द्रियःone who has conquered the senses

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches that disciplined conduct—living by one’s rightful code (svaśāstra), with self-restraint and mastery of the senses—naturally attracts trustworthy allies and provides strength to face misfortune.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhīṣma continues advising the listener on ethical living: he links inner discipline (saṃyatātmā, jitendriyaḥ) with practical outcomes—gaining pure-hearted supporters when adversity (vyasana) arises.