Shloka 30

Matsya Purana — Code of Conduct and Vow-Procedure for Courtesans

Devanagari script

यः कश्चिच्छुल्कमादाय गृहमेष्यति वः सदा निधनेनोपचार्यो वः स तदान्यत्र दाम्भिकात् //

Transliteration

yaḥ kaścicchulkamādāya gṛhameṣyati vaḥ sadā nidhanenopacāryo vaḥ sa tadānyatra dāmbhikāt //

Translation

Whoever, after taking a levy (or fee), comes to your house again and again—he should be dealt with by you through a “payment,” as a decisive settlement; at that time, keep him away elsewhere, for he is a hypocritical deceiver.

Word by Word

• yaḥ kaścit: whoever

• śulkam: toll/fee/levy

• ādāya: having taken

• gṛham: to the house

• eṣyati: comes

• vaḥ: to/for you (your)

• sadā: always/again and again

• nidhanena: by nidhanā (payment/settlement

• upacāryaḥ: to be dealt with/treated

• saḥ: he

• tadā: then

• anyatra: elsewhere/away

• dāmbhikāt: from the hypocrite/pretender (dāmbhika)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu on practical dharma and governance)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Lord Matsya

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Taxes
• Corruption
• Social conduct
• Dharma

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on practical dharma—how to respond to exploitative or deceitful agents who repeatedly demand levies.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It cautions rulers and householders against predatory fee-collectors and hypocritical intermediaries, implying that administration should prevent repeated harassment and that such persons should be firmly and conclusively dealt with.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the significance is ethical-administrative—guarding society from corrupt or hypocritical exploitation under the guise of ‘fees’.