Shloka 5
अध्याय १७८ — प्राणवायुगतिः तथा शारीराग्निव्यवस्था
Adhyāya 178 — The courses of prāṇa-vāyu and the regulation of the bodily fire
ईहमानो धनं मड्किर्भग्नेहश्व॒ पुन: पुन: । केनचिद् धनशेषेण क्रीतवान् दम्यगोयुगम्
īhamāno dhanaṃ maṅkir bhagnehaś ca punaḥ punaḥ | kenacid dhanaśeṣeṇa krītavān damyagoyugam ||
Bhishma sprach: Maṅki mühte sich auf vielerlei Weise, Reichtum zu erwerben, doch immer wieder verlief sein Bemühen ins Leere. Schließlich, als nur noch ein kleiner Rest Geld übrig war, verwendete er ihn, um ein Paar junger Kälber zu kaufen—und damit den Anlass zu einer Betrachtung zu geben, wie unablässiges Begehren und wiederholte Enttäuschung den Geist zu Einsicht und Zügelung führen können.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Repeated failure in the pursuit of wealth highlights the instability of external gain; the episode points toward ethical self-control and the possibility that disappointment can awaken detachment and clearer judgment.
Bhishma narrates that Maṅki repeatedly tried to earn money but kept failing; with the little money left, he finally purchases a pair of young calves, which becomes the immediate circumstance for the next events and moral reflection.