Shloka 65

Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P...

Devanagari script

सामपूर्वा स्मृता नीतिश् चतुरङ्गा पताकिनी जिगीषतां सुरश्रेष्ठ स्थितिरेषा सनातनी //

Transliteration

sāmapūrvā smṛtā nītiś caturaṅgā patākinī jigīṣatāṃ suraśreṣṭha sthitireṣā sanātanī //

Translation

O best of the gods, the nīti (policy of governance) is taught as beginning with sāma (conciliation); it is four-limbed and raised like a banner. For those who seek victory and conquest, this is the eternal, established rule.

Word by Word

• sāma-pūrvā: beginning with conciliation

• smṛtā: remembered/taught (as authoritative)

• nītiḥ: statecraft, policy, right governance

• catur-aṅgā: four-limbed/fourfold

• patākinī: banner-bearing, proclaimed openly/with standard

• jigīṣatām: of those desiring to conquer (would-be victors)

• sura-śreṣṭha: O best of the gods

• sthitiḥ: established order, settled rule

• eṣā: this

• sanātanī: eternal, perennial

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• sāma
• nīti
• caturvidha upāya (fourfold policy)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Statecraft
• Sama-Dana-Bheda-Danda
• Conquest

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it belongs to Rajadharma, outlining an enduring rule of political strategy for kings seeking victory.

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

It instructs a ruler (especially a conqueror-king) to apply policy in a graded way—starting with sāma (conciliation) and proceeding through the fourfold approach (commonly understood as sāma, dāna, bheda, daṇḍa), emphasizing restraint and strategic ethics before coercion.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is mentioned; the technical focus is political nīti—how governance and diplomacy should be structured for success.