Shloka 8

Devanagari script

नियताहारता नित्यं व्रतचर्या यथाक्रमम्‌ । धर्मो हि धर्मसम्बन्धादिन्द्रियाणां विशेषत:

Transliteration

niyatāhāratā nityaṁ vratacaryā yathākramam | dharmo hi dharmasambandhād indriyāṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma dit : «Garder en tout temps une nourriture réglée, et observer les vœux selon leur ordre et leur discipline—voilà bien un devoir. Car, par le lien avec le dharma, les sens, tout particulièrement, se purifient et se trouvent maîtrisés.»

Word by Word

• नियताहारता: regulated diet (the state of taking measured food)
• नियताहारता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियताहारता (नियत + आहार + ता)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always, constantly
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• व्रतचर्या: observance/practice of vows
• व्रतचर्या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतचर्या (व्रत + चर्या)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• यथाक्रमम्: in due order, sequentially
• यथाक्रमम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथाक्रमम् (यथा + क्रम)

• धर्मः: dharma; duty/righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• धर्मसम्बन्धात्: from/through connection with dharma
• धर्मसम्बन्धात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मसम्बन्ध (धर्म + सम्बन्ध)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• इन्द्रियाणाम्: of the senses
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• विशेषतः: especially, particularly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is supported by disciplined living—especially regulated food and proper observance of vows—and this dharmic discipline purifies and steadies the senses.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on righteous conduct; here he emphasizes ascetic-style discipline (dietary regulation and vow-practice) as a means to strengthen dharma and purify the senses.