Shloka 8
Devanagari script
नियताहारता नित्यं व्रतचर्या यथाक्रमम् । धर्मो हि धर्मसम्बन्धादिन्द्रियाणां विशेषत:
Transliteration
niyatāhāratā nityaṁ vratacaryā yathākramam | dharmo hi dharmasambandhād indriyāṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ ||
Translation
毗湿摩说：“恒常守持节制之食，依次第与戒律奉行誓戒——此实为应尽之责。由与法（dharma）相系，诸根（感官）尤得清净，复归摄持。”
Word by Word
नियताहारताregulated diet (the state of taking measured food)
नियताहारता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनियताहारता (नियत + आहार + ता)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
नित्यम्always, constantly
नित्यम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्य
व्रतचर्याobservance/practice of vows
व्रतचर्या:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootव्रतचर्या (व्रत + चर्या)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
यथाक्रमम्in due order, sequentially
यथाक्रमम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथाक्रमम् (यथा + क्रम)
धर्मःdharma; duty/righteousness
धर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
धर्मसम्बन्धात्from/through connection with dharma
धर्मसम्बन्धात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मसम्बन्ध (धर्म + सम्बन्ध)
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
इन्द्रियाणाम्of the senses
इन्द्रियाणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootइन्द्रिय
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
विशेषतःespecially, particularly
विशेषतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootविशेषतः
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Dharma is supported by disciplined living—especially regulated food and proper observance of vows—and this dharmic discipline purifies and steadies the senses.
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.