Shloka 87
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
अग्निं स्तोकमिवात्मानं संधुक्षयति यो नर: । स वर्धमानो ग्रसते महान्तमपि संचयम्,जो मनुष्य थोड़ी-सी अग्निकी भाँति अपने-आपको (सहायक सामग्रियोंद्वारा धीरे-धीरे) प्रज्वलित या समृद्ध करता रहता है, वह एक दिन बहुत बड़ा होकर शत्रुरूपी ईंधनकी बहुत बड़ी राशिको भी अपना ग्रास बना लेता है
agniṁ stokam ivātmānaṁ sandhukṣayati yo naraḥ | sa vardhamāno grasate mahāntam api sañcayam ||
ଯେ ମଣିଷ ଛୋଟ ଅଗ୍ନି ପରି ସହାୟକ ସାଧନରେ ଧୀରେ ଧୀରେ ନିଜ ଶକ୍ତି ଓ ସମ୍ପଦକୁ ବଢ଼ାଇ ଚାଲେ, ସେ କ୍ରମେ ବୃଦ୍ଧି ପାଇ ଏକଦିନ ମହାନ୍ ହୁଏ ଏବଂ ଅଗ୍ନି ଯେପରି ଇନ୍ଧନକୁ ଗ୍ରସେ, ସେପରି ଶତ୍ରୁର ବିଶାଳ ସଞ୍ଚୟକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଗ୍ରସି ନେଇଥାଏ।
कणिक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Incremental strengthening—like slowly kindling a small fire—leads to decisive power: steady self-improvement and resource-building can eventually overwhelm even a much larger opposing stock of strength.
Kaṇika is giving political-ethical counsel in the Adi Parva, using the metaphor of a small fire that, once properly kindled and grown, can consume a large heap—illustrating how a person (or ruler) should build capacity gradually to defeat stronger rivals.