Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P..., Shloka 66

Devanagari script

साम भेदस्तथा दानं दण्डश्चाङ्गचतुष्टयम् नीतौ क्रमाद्देशकालरिपुयोग्यक्रमादिदम् //

Transliteration

sāma bhedastathā dānaṃ daṇḍaścāṅgacatuṣṭayam nītau kramāddeśakālaripuyogyakramādidam //

Translation

സാമം, ഭേദം, ദാനം, ദണ്ഡം—ഇവയാണ് രാജനീതിയുടെ നാല് അംഗങ്ങൾ. ഭരണകാര്യത്തിൽ ദേശം, കാലം, ശത്രുവിന്റെ യോഗ്യത എന്നിവ കണക്കാക്കി ക്രമമായി പ്രയോഗിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• साम (sāma): conciliation, persuasion

• भेदः (bhedaḥ): division, sowing dissension

• तथा (tathā): and likewise

• दानम् (dānam): gift, grant, inducement

• दण्डः (daṇḍaḥ): punishment, coercive force

• च (ca): and

• अङ्गचतुष्टयम् (aṅga-catuṣṭayam): the set of four limbs/measures

• नीतौ (nītau): in policy, in governance/statecraft

• क्रमात् (kramāt): in order, sequentially

• देश (deśa): place, region

• काल (kāla): time, circumstance

• रिपु (ripu): enemy, adversary

• योग्य (yogya): suitable, appropriate

• क्रमात् (kramāt): by proper sequence/application

• इदम् (idam): this (teaching/principle).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu on rajadharma/nīti)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Nīti
• Daṇḍa

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Statecraft
• Upayas
• Kingship

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s rajadharma/nīti material, outlining practical tools of governance rather than cosmology.

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

For a king, it prescribes the classic four measures—persuasion, inducement, strategic division, and punishment—used in a graduated and situational way. For householders, it implies an ethical escalation: try peaceful persuasion first, then softer incentives, and reserve harsh measures for when circumstances truly require them.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned here; the verse is focused on political strategy and appropriate sequencing of actions in governance.