Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — The Burning of Tripura: Maya’s Triple Fortresses and the Boon that Leads to S...

Devanagari script

विश्वकर्मा मयः प्राह प्रहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचनः देव दैत्याः पुरा देवैः संग्रामे तारकामये //

Transliteration

viśvakarmā mayaḥ prāha praharṣotphullalocanaḥ deva daityāḥ purā devaiḥ saṃgrāme tārakāmaye //

Translation

Maya said to Viśvakarmā, his eyes widened with joy: “Formerly, O god, the Dānavas (Daityas) fought against the Devas in the battle known as Tārakāmaya.”

Word by Word

• विश्वकर्मा (Viśvakarmā): the divine architect

• मयः (mayaḥ): Maya (the Asura master-builder)

• प्राह (prāha): said/spoke

• प्रहर्ष-उत्फुल्ल-लोचनः (praharṣotphullalocanaḥ): with eyes blossoming/widened in delight

• देव (deva): O god / divine one (vocative)

• दैत्याः (daityāḥ): Daityas/Danavas (Asura clans)

• पुरा (purā): formerly/once upon a time

• देवैः (devaiḥ): with/by the Devas

• संग्रामे (saṃgrāme): in battle/war

• तारकामये (tārakāmaye): in the Tārakāmaya (named) conflict

Speaker

• Maya (the Asura architect)

Entities Mentioned

• Viśvakarmā
• Maya
• Devas
• Daityas
• Tārakāmaya (war)

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Shilpa-Shastra
• Deva-Asura
• Puranic warfare
• Mythic history

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it introduces a remembered conflict (Tārakāmaya war) as narrative background, likely to frame later discussion of divine/asuric powers and crafts.

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

Directly, it does not legislate royal or household duty; indirectly, it models Purāṇic historiography—leaders should learn from past conflicts and the causes of war when applying dharma and policy.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architectural significance lies in the protagonists: Viśvakarmā and Maya are archetypal master-builders in Vāstu/Śilpa traditions; the verse sets up a context where technical knowledge and divine craftsmanship may be discussed through mythic events.