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

Затем, с обновлённым рвением, ты обретёшь в пору бедствий достойных и чистых умом союзников. Живя согласно предписанной тебе дисциплине, сдержанный и владеющий своими чувствами, ты сможешь вынести невзгоды и снискать поддержку праведным поведением.

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.