Shloka 36

Matsya Purana — Maya’s War-Counsel to the Danavas and the Moonlit Revels in Tripura

Devanagari script

शशाङ्कपादैरुपशोभितेषु प्रासादवर्येषु वराङ्गनानाम् माधुर्यभूताभरणा महान्तः स्वना बभूवुर्मदनेषु तुल्याः //

Transliteration

śaśāṅkapādairupaśobhiteṣu prāsādavaryeṣu varāṅganānām mādhuryabhūtābharaṇā mahāntaḥ svanā babhūvurmadaneṣu tulyāḥ //

Translation

In those excellent palaces of noble women, beautified by moonlight, great sounds arose—made sweet as though they were ornaments—comparable to the stirrings of love.

Word by Word

• śaśāṅka: the moon

• pādaiḥ: by the rays/feet (i.e., moonbeams)

• upaśobhiteṣu: made splendid, further adorned

• prāsāda-varyeṣu: in the finest palaces/mansions

• varāṅganānām: of beautiful/noble women

• mādhurya-bhūtābharaṇāḥ: having sweetness as (their) ornament, sweetness-made-ornaments

• mahāntaḥ: great, abundant

• svanāḥ: sounds, resonances (music/voices)

• babhūvuḥ: became, arose

• madaneṣu: in matters of Kāma/love, in amorous play

• tulyāḥ: equal to, comparable.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the scene within the Matsya Purana’s architectural/royal-city narrative (contextual narration rather than direct dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Śaśāṅka (Moon)
• Madana (Kāma)

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Prasada
• Royal palaces
• Aesthetics
• Urban culture

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on refined palace ambience—moonlit beauty and sweet resonant sounds associated with love and enjoyment.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the ideal of cultured, orderly prosperity: a ruler or householder is expected to maintain well-designed residences where beauty, music, and decor support a harmonious social life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights prāsāda excellence and experiential design—light (moonbeams) and acoustics (pleasant sounds) as components of an ideal built environment emphasized in Vāstu-oriented passages.