Shanti Parva 120.34
Rahular Itihasa / M. N. Dutt · Shanti Parva Chapter 120 · Verse 34
Sanskrit Original
धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं संयमो बुद्धिरात्मा धैर्य शौर्य देशकालाप्रमादः। अल्पस्य वा बहुनो वा विवृद्धौ धनस्यैतान्यष्ट समिन्धनानि॥ अग्निः स्तोको वर्धतेऽप्याज्यसिक्तो बीजं चैकं रोहसहस्रमेति। आयव्ययौ विपुलौ संनिशाम्य तस्मादल्पं नावमन्येत वित्तम॥
Steadiness, cleverness, self-control, intelligence, health, patience, bravery, and attention to the requirements of time and place,-these eight qualities always multiply wealth, be it small or be it much. A little fire, fed with clarified butter, may end into a conflagration. A single seed may produce a thousand trees. A king, therefore, even when he knows that his income and expenditure are great, should not neglect the smaller items.