Shloka 58

Matsya Purana — The Burning of Tripura and Rudra’s Victory

Devanagari script

प्रासादाग्रेषु रम्येषु वनेषूपवनेषु च वातायनगताश्चान्याश् चाकाशस्य तलेषु च //

Transliteration

prāsādāgreṣu ramyeṣu vaneṣūpavaneṣu ca vātāyanagatāścānyāś cākāśasya taleṣu ca //

Translation

Some (female spirits or subtle beings) dwell upon the lovely tops of mansions, in forests and pleasure-groves; others abide in windows and openings, and still others move about in the open expanse of the sky.

Word by Word

• prāsāda-agraṣu: on the tops/uppermost parts of mansions

• ramyeṣu: in beautiful/pleasant places

• vaneṣu: in forests

• upavaneṣu: in subsidiary groves/pleasure-gardens

• ca: and

• vātāyana-gatāḥ: situated in windows/ventilating openings (lit. ‘gone to/occupying the vātāyana’)

• anyāḥ: others

• ca: and

• ākāśasya: of the sky/ether

• taleṣu: on the surface/expanse/region

• ca: and

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Prāsāda (mansion/palace)
• Vātāyana (window/opening)
• Ākāśa (sky/ether)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Omens
• Spirits
• Architecture
• Auspiciousness

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s Vastu-oriented material, describing where unseen beings are believed to frequent, as part of omen-lore connected with dwellings and their surroundings.

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

For kings and householders, it supports the duty of maintaining auspicious residences—palaces, homes, and gardens—by understanding traditional śakuna (omen) teachings about spaces like rooftops and windows, which were treated as sensitive architectural zones.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights key liminal areas—prāsāda-agra (roof/upper levels) and vātāyana (windows/openings)—as spiritually charged zones in Vastu Shastra, implying careful design, cleanliness, and protective rites for openings and elevated parts of buildings.