Shloka 49
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
कुछ लोग दानसे, कुछ लोग यज्ञकर्म करनेसे, कुछ तपस्वी तपस्या करनेसे, कुछ लोग बुद्धिसे और अन्य बहुत-से मनुष्य कार्यकौशलसे धनराशि प्राप्त कर लेते हैं ।।
kecid dānena, kecid yajñakarmaṇā, kecit tapasvino tapasyā, kecid buddhyā, anye bahavo manuṣyāḥ kāryakauśalena dhanārāśiṃ prāpnuvanti. abadhanaṃ durbalaṃ prāhur, dhanena balavān bhavet. sarvaṃ dhanavatā prāpyaṃ, sarvaṃ tarati kośavān.
Bhīṣma dit : «Les uns acquièrent des richesses par le don, d’autres par l’accomplissement des rites sacrificiels, certains ascètes par l’austérité, d’autres par l’intelligence, et beaucoup encore par l’habileté dans l’action et la compétence pratique. On dit que celui qui est sans biens est faible, tandis qu’avec des biens l’homme devient fort. Pour le riche, tout est accessible ; celui qui possède un trésor franchit toute épreuve.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes the practical power of artha (material resources): wealth can be gained by multiple means (charity, ritual, austerity, intelligence, skill), and possessing a treasury increases one’s capacity to act, secure aims, and overcome obstacles—an ethical reminder that resources strongly shape worldly strength and effectiveness.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira on dharma and statecraft, Bhishma explains how people obtain wealth and why a king must understand the role of the treasury: without resources one is socially and politically weak, while with resources one can accomplish necessary duties and pass through crises.