Shloka 8

Devanagari script

कायवितौ हि धर्मेण धर्मो हि विजयावह: । त्रयाणामपि लोकानामालोक: कारणं भवेत्‌

Transliteration

kāyavitau hi dharmeṇa dharmo hi vijayāvahaḥ | trayāṇām api lokānām ālokaḥ kāraṇaṃ bhavet |

Translation

Bhishma nói: Khi hạnh kiểm của một người được kỷ luật bởi dharma, thì chính dharma trở thành kẻ mang lại chiến thắng. Dharma là ánh sáng soi rọi cả ba cõi, và là nguyên nhân nâng đỡ sự che chở trong đời này—làm phát sinh sự thanh tịnh và ngăn không cho tội lỗi chạm đến.

Word by Word

• कायवितौ: the two (things) called 'kāyavita' (two qualities/acts)
• कायवितौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कायवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

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

• धर्मेण: by/through dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• विजयावहः: bringing victory
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजय-आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• आलोकः: light/illumination
• आलोकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• भवेत्: may be / would be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• dharma
• three worlds (trayāṇi lokāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma, expressed as disciplined conduct and purity, is not merely a rule but a power: it leads to victory, illumines the three worlds, and protects life by keeping one free from the contact of sin.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues his instruction on righteous living. Here he emphasizes to his listener that dharma governs conduct, generates inner and outer purity, and functions as a universal light and protective force.