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 ।। अभधनं दुर्बलं प्राहुर्धनेन बलवान् भवेत् । सर्व धनवता प्राप्यं सर्व तरति कोशवान्
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.
दानेन यज्ञकर्मणा च केचित् तपसा तपस्विनः। बुद्ध्या च केचिदन्ये तु दाक्ष्येण बहवो जनाः॥ अधनं दुर्बलं प्राहुर्धनेन बलवान् भवेत्। सर्वं धनवता प्राप्यं सर्वं तरति कोशवान्॥
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.