Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P..., Shloka 68

Devanagari script

साम दैत्येषु नैवास्ति यतस्ते लब्धसंश्रयाः जातिधर्मेण वा भेद्या दानं प्राप्तश्रिये च किम् //

Transliteration

sāma daityeṣu naivāsti yataste labdhasaṃśrayāḥ jātidharmeṇa vā bhedyā dānaṃ prāptaśriye ca kim //

Translation

ଦୈତ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ସାମର ସ୍ଥାନ ନାହିଁ, କାରଣ ସେମାନେ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ଓ ସମର୍ଥନ ଲାଭ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଯଦି ସେମାନେ ନିଜ ଜାତି-ଧର୍ମ ଓ ଦଳୀୟ ସ୍ୱଭାବରେ ଭେଦ୍ୟ ହୋଇପାରନ୍ତି, ତେବେ ଯେ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ, ତାହାକୁ ଦାନ ଦେବାର ଅର୍ଥ କ’ଣ?

Word by Word

• साम (sāma): conciliation, pacific counsel

• दैत्येषु (daityeṣu): among the Daityas/demons

• नैव (naiva): not at all

• अस्ति (asti): is/has place

• यतस् (yatas): because

• ते (te): they

• लब्ध-संश्रयाः (labdha-saṃśrayāḥ): having obtained shelter/support/allies

• जाति-धर्मेण (jāti-dharmeṇa): by their group-nature/factional character

• वा (vā): or/indeed

• भेद्याः (bhedyāḥ): to be divided/split

• दानम् (dānam): gifts, bribery, concessions

• प्राप्त-श्रिये (prāpta-śriye): to one who has obtained fortune/prosperity

• च (ca): and

• किम् (kim): what use?/why?

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu on policy and governance)

Entities Mentioned

• Daityas

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Statecraft
• Dharma
• Enemy-policy

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on practical rajadharma—how a ruler should assess diplomacy and strategy toward hostile powers.

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

For a king, it advises realistic policy: avoid ineffective conciliation or bribery when the opponent is already entrenched and better handled through division of alliances and internal factions; for householders, it parallels discerning when gentle persuasion or material concessions will not reform a hardened wrongdoer.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the verse is purely about political counsel (nīti) within the Matsya Purana’s rajadharma material.