Shloka 12

Matsya Purana — Omens in Tripura and the Nārada–Maya Dialogue on Dharma

Devanagari script

अट्टालकाश्च नृत्यन्ते सपताकाः सगोपुराः हिंस हिंसेति श्रूयन्ते गिरश्च भयदाः पुरे //

Transliteration

aṭṭālakāśca nṛtyante sapatākāḥ sagopurāḥ hiṃsa hiṃseti śrūyante giraśca bhayadāḥ pure //

Translation

In the city, the watchtowers seem to “dance,” and the bannered gateways—the gopuras—tremble; and terrifying cries are heard, “Violence! violence!”, voices that spread fear throughout the town.

Word by Word

• aṭṭālakāḥ: watchtowers/lofty ramparts

• ca: and

• nṛtyante: dance/sway as if moving

• sa-patākāḥ: with flags/banners

• sa-gopurāḥ: together with gopuras/fort-gates/towered gateways

• hiṃsā hiṃsā iti: 'violence, violence' thus

• śrūyante: are heard

• giraḥ: cries/voices

• ca: and

• bhaya-dāḥ: fear-giving/terror-causing

• pure: in the city

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s discourse on omens related to cities/fortifications)

Entities Mentioned

• Aṭṭālaka (watchtowers)
• Gopura (gateway towers)
• Patākā (banners/flags)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• City Omens
• Fortifications
• Gopura
• Inauspicious Signs

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic Pralaya directly; instead it presents civic-scale portents—unnatural movement of towers and fear-inducing cries—signaling impending calamity or disorder within a city.

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

For a king, such omens function as warnings to strengthen security, investigate unrest, and perform protective rites; for householders, it implies vigilance and seeking auspicious remedies when public spaces show signs of instability.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Aṭṭālakas (watchtowers) and gopuras (gateway towers) are key Vastu/fortification elements; their ‘swaying’ is treated as an inauspicious structural/omenic sign, prompting inspection, stabilization, and apotropaic (protective) rites.