If a foe, however insignificant he is, be allowed to grow in prowess, he swallows one as the white ants at the root of a tree eat up the tree itself.
अल्पोऽपि शरिरत्यर्थं वर्धमानः पराक्रमैः। वल्मीको मूलज इव ग्रसते वृक्षमन्तिकात्॥