Shloka 35
प्रह्लादस्य अव्यभिचारिणी भक्ति, मायाविनाशः, तथा विष्णोः विश्वरूप-स्तुतिः
साम चोपप्रदानं च भेददण्डौ तथैव च उपायाः कथिता ह्य् एते मित्रादीनां च साधने
sāma copapradānaṃ ca bhedadaṇḍau tathaiva ca upāyāḥ kathitā hy ete mitrādīnāṃ ca sādhane
ସାମ, ଉପପ୍ରଦାନ (ଦାନ/ସହାୟତାଦ୍ୱାରା ମନାଇବା), ଭେଦ ଓ ଦଣ୍ଡ—ମିତ୍ରାଦିଙ୍କୁ ସାଧିବା ପାଇଁ ଏହି ଉପାୟଗୁଡ଼ିକ କଥିତ।
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
FAQs
This verse lists the classic four political expedients as legitimate tools of governance, emphasizing that a ruler secures allies and achieves stability by choosing the appropriate method rather than relying on force alone.
Parāśara frames kingship as a disciplined craft: persuasion, strategic generosity, controlled division, and punishment are presented as ordered options for dealing with allies and others, implying situational judgment aligned with dharma.
Even when discussing statecraft, the Vishnu Purana’s underlying premise is that rightful sovereignty supports dharma and cosmic order ultimately rooted in Vishnu as the supreme regulator; political power is justified when it protects that order.