Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

गर्ताश्च तत्र सप्त स्युस् त्रिपर्वोच्छ्रितमेखलाः सर्वतस्तु सवर्णाः स्युः पताकाध्वजसंयुताः //

Transliteration

gartāśca tatra sapta syus triparvocchritamekhalāḥ sarvatastu savarṇāḥ syuḥ patākādhvajasaṃyutāḥ //

Translation

Dort sollen sieben Schutzgräben (garta) sein, versehen mit erhöhten Wallgürteln in drei Stufen; und nach allen Seiten hin sollen sie im Erscheinungsbild gleichförmig sein, ausgestattet mit Wimpeln (patākā) und Bannern (dhvaja).

Word by Word

• गर्ताः (gartāḥ): moats/ditches

• च (ca): and

• तत्र (tatra): there/in that (fort or city)

• सप्त (sapta): seven

• स्युः (syuḥ): should be/are prescribed

• त्रि-पर्व (tri-parva): three-tiered/with three stages

• उच्छ्रित (ucchrita): raised/elevated

• मेखलाः (mekhalāḥ): encircling belts/rampart-bands

• सर्वतः (sarvataḥ): on all sides

• तु (tu): indeed

• सवर्णाः (savarṇāḥ): uniform in form/consistent in appearance

• स्युः (syuḥ): should be

• पताका (patākā): pennants/flags

• ध्वज (dhvaja): standards/banners

• संयुताः (saṃyutāḥ): furnished with/endowed with

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Moats (Garta)
• Dhvaja
• Pataka

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Fortification
• Town Planning
• Royal Insignia
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a Vastuvidya instruction describing defensive infrastructure—moats, rampart tiers, and the use of flags—within a planned fort or city.

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

It supports rajadharma by prescribing orderly, standardised fortifications and visible royal insignia (dhvaja/patākā), reflecting a king’s duty to protect the realm and maintain disciplined civic planning.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it specifies seven moats and three-tier rampart-belts with uniform design; symbolically, the pennants and banners mark authority, auspicious presence, and organised guardianship of the settlement.