Shloka 37
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं संयमो बुद्धिरात्मा धैर्य शौर्य देशकालाप्रमाद: । अल्पस्य वा बहुनो वा विवृद्धौ धनस्यैतान्यष्ट समिन्धनानि
dhṛtir dākṣyaṁ saṁyamo buddhir ātmā dhairyaṁ śauryaṁ deśa-kālāpramādaḥ | alpasya vā bahuno vā vivṛddhau dhanasya etāny aṣṭa samindhanāni ||
毗湿摩说道：坚忍不移、行事娴熟、自我克制、明澈的智慧、主宰其身、忍耐、勇武，以及对时地的警觉——此八者，乃使财富无论寡多皆得增长的要道。它们如同燃料，点燃并维系兴盛之火。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth grows through character and competence: resolve, practical skill, restraint, discernment, self-mastery, patience, courage, and timely, context-aware action. Prosperity is portrayed as a ‘fire’ sustained by these inner and behavioral ‘fuels,’ not merely by luck.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous governance and conduct after the war, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira principles of artha (material well-being) aligned with dharma, listing the virtues that enable a person or ruler to build and sustain prosperity.