1. restraint, constraint, training, self-control Mil.116 (yama +); Pv-a.98 (yama +).
2. definiteness certainty, limitation Dhp-a.iii.83 (catumagga˚, variant reading niyāma); Snp-a.124 (niyāma); Dhs-a.154; Pv-a.166 (ayaṃ n. saṃsāren’ atthi: law, necessity)
   ■ aniyama indefiniteness choice, generality Dhs-a.57; Vv-a.16 (yaṃ kiñci = aniyame, i.e. in a general sense), Vv-a.17 (same of ye keci); Pv-a.175 (vā saddo aniyamattho = indefinite)- niyamena (instr.) adv. by necessity, necessarily Pv-a.287; niyamato (abl.) id. Dhs-a.145, Dhs-a.304 (so read).
3. natural law, cosmic order; in Commentarial literature this was fivefold: utu-, bīja-, kamma-, ćitta-, dhammaDA on DN.ii.11; Dial. ii.8; Dhs-a.272; trs. 360.

cp. Sk. niyama, ni + yam; often confused with niyāma