Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

मन्यन्ते दुर्जना नित्यं साम चापि भयोदयात् तस्माद् दुर्जनम् आक्रान्तुं श्रेयान्पौरुषसंश्रयः //

Transliteration

manyante durjanā nityaṃ sāma cāpi bhayodayāt tasmād durjanam ākrāntuṃ śreyānpauruṣasaṃśrayaḥ //

Translation

Wicked men always construe even conciliation as born of fear; therefore, when confronting the wicked, it is better to rely on firmness and manly resolve—the strength of decisive action.

Word by Word

• manyante: they think/assume

• durjanāḥ: wicked people, bad men

• nityam: always

• sāma: conciliation, gentle persuasion

• ca api: even also

• bhaya-udayāt: arising from fear, due to the onset of fear

• tasmāt: therefore

• durjanam: a wicked person

• ākrāntum: to confront/overpower/press down

• śreyān: better, preferable

• pauruṣa-saṃśrayaḥ: reliance on courage/strength/firmness (manly effort).

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu in dharma and policy

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Durjana
• Dharma
• Leadership

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it is a practical nīti teaching about human behavior—specifically how the wicked misread gentleness as fear.

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

For a king (and, by extension, a householder managing conflicts), it advises discernment: conciliatory speech (sāma) may work with the virtuous, but with the wicked it is often taken as weakness—so one should act with firm resolve to restrain wrongdoing.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vāstu or ritual procedure is mentioned; the takeaway is ethical and administrative—choose firmness over appeasement when dealing with persistently harmful persons.