Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Design and Splendour of Tripura: Maya’s Threefold Moving Fortress

Devanagari script

पङ्क्तीकृतानि राजन्ते गृहाणि त्रिपुरे पुरे मुक्ताकलापैर्लम्बद्भिर् हसन्तीव शशिश्रियम् //

Transliteration

paṅktīkṛtāni rājante gṛhāṇi tripure pure muktākalāpairlambadbhir hasantīva śaśiśriyam //

Translation

In the city of Tripura, the houses, set in orderly rows, shone brilliantly; with strings of pearls hanging down, they seemed—as it were—to smile forth with the moon’s own radiance.

Word by Word

• पङ्क्तीकृतानि: arranged in rows

• राजन्ते: shine, appear splendid

• गृहाणि: houses

• त्रिपुरे: in Tripura

• पुरे: in the city

• मुक्ताकलापैः: with pearl-strings/garlands of pearls

• लम्बद्भिः: hanging down

• हसन्तीव: as if smiling

• शशिश्रियम्: the beauty/splendor of the moon (moonlike radiance).

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the city (contextual narrator voice within the Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Tripura

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Urban planning
• City description
• Architecture
• Aesthetic ornamentation

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is descriptive, focusing on urban splendor and aesthetic order rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It implies a well-governed, prosperous city: orderly rows of homes and refined ornamentation suggest civic planning, stability, and household affluence supported by good rule and social order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights planned layout (houses in rows) and decorative facade elements (hanging pearl-strings), aligning with Vastu-oriented ideals of symmetry, beauty, and auspicious presentation.