Shloka 88
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
नित्य॑ बुद्धिमतो<प्यर्थ: स्वल्पको5पि विवर्धते । दाक्ष्येण कुर्वतः कर्म संयमात् प्रतितिष्ठति,बुद्धिमानके पास थोड़ा-सा धन हो तो वह भी सदा बढ़ता रहता है। वह दक्षतापूर्वक काम करते हुए संयमके द्वारा प्रतिष्ठित होता है
nityaṁ buddhimato 'py arthaḥ svalpako 'pi vivardhate | dākṣyeṇa kurvataḥ karma saṁyamāt pratitiṣṭhati ||
Brahmadatta said: Even a small amount of wealth, when possessed by an intelligent person, steadily increases. By performing one’s work with skill and efficiency, and by self-restraint, a person becomes firmly established—gaining stability, standing, and lasting prosperity.
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
Intelligence makes even small resources grow; skillful work (dākṣya) and disciplined self-restraint (saṁyama) give a person stable standing and enduring prosperity.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on right conduct and governance, Brahmadatta offers a maxim on livelihood: prosperity is secured not merely by having wealth, but by competent action and self-control that stabilize one’s life and reputation.