Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

प्राञ्जलिः पुनरप्याह ब्रह्माणं पद्मसम्भवम् यस्तदेकेषुणा दुर्गं सकृन्मुक्तेन निर्दहेत् //

Transliteration

prāñjaliḥ punarapyāha brahmāṇaṃ padmasambhavam yastadekeṣuṇā durgaṃ sakṛnmuktena nirdahet //

Translation

With folded hands, he again addressed Brahmā, the Lotus-born: “Who is that person who could burn down a fort by a single arrow, released just once?”

Word by Word

• प्राञ्जलिः: with joined palms, reverently

• पुनरपि: again

• आह: said/addressed

• ब्रह्माणम्: to Brahmā

• पद्मसम्भवम्: the lotus-born

• यः: who

• तत्: that

• एकेषुणा: with a single arrow

• दुर्गम्: a fort/stronghold

• सकृत्: once

• मुक्तेन: released/shot

• निर्दहेत्: would burn/consume by fire

Speaker

• A reverent questioner addressing Brahmā (likely a king/agent within the durga-vastu discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmā

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Durganirmāṇa
• Fortification
• Weaponry
• Puranic dialogue

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to a practical, this-worldly discourse on forts and their vulnerability to extraordinary fire-like weapon effects.

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

For a king, it highlights the strategic concern of safeguarding a fort—the core of royal security—by understanding threats (including exceptional weapons) and planning defenses accordingly.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it frames the fort (durga) as a designed defensive system whose resilience is evaluated against extreme attack scenarios—an important motif in Vastuvidyā discussions on durga planning and protection.