Shloka 38
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
अग्नि: स्तोको वर्धते5प्याज्यसिक्तो बीजं चैक॑ रोहसहस््रमेति । आयब्ययौ विपुलौ संनिशाम्य तस्मादल्पं नावमन्येत वित्तम्,थोड़ी-सी भी आग यदि घीसे सिंच जाय तो बढ़कर बहुत बड़ी हो जाती है। एक ही छोटे-से बीजको बो देनेपर उससे सहस्रों बीज पैदा हो जाते हैं। इसी प्रकार महान् आय- व्ययके विषयमें विचार करके थोड़े-से भी धनका अनादर न करे
agniḥ stoko vardhate ’py ājya-sikto bījaṃ caikaṃ roha-sahasram eti | āyavyayau vipulau saṃniśāmya tasmād alpaṃ nāvamanyeta vittam ||
Bhishma said: “A small fire, when fed with ghee, grows into a great blaze. A single seed, when sown, yields thousands more. Therefore, reflecting on the vast play of income and expenditure, one should never despise even a little wealth.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even small resources matter: like a tiny fire fed with ghee or a single seed yielding many, modest wealth can grow and support dharmic aims; hence one should not neglect or scorn small amounts, especially after considering how large gains and losses arise.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on practical dharma and governance/householder prudence. Here he uses everyday analogies (fire and seed) to counsel careful respect for even minor wealth in the context of managing income and expenditure.