Shloka 38
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
अग्नि: स्तोको वर्धते5प्याज्यसिक्तो बीजं चैक॑ रोहसहस््रमेति । आयब्ययौ विपुलौ संनिशाम्य तस्मादल्पं नावमन्येत वित्तम्
agniḥ stoko vardhate ’py ājya-sikto bījaṃ caikaṃ roha-sahasram eti | āyavyayau vipulau saṃniśāmya tasmād alpaṃ nāvamanyeta vittam ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಅಗ್ನಿಯೂ ತುಪ್ಪ ಸುರಿದರೆ ಬೆಳೆದು ಮಹಾಜ್ವಾಲೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಒಂದೇ ಬೀಜ ಬಿತ್ತಿದರೆ ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಬೀಜಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಆದಾಯ-ವ್ಯಯಗಳ ವಿಶಾಲ ಚಲನವಲನವನ್ನು ಮನನಮಾಡಿ, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಧನವನ್ನೂ ತಿರಸ್ಕರಿಸಬಾರದು.
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.