Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

दुर्गं व्यवसितः कर्तुम् इति चाचिन्तयत्तदा कथं नाम भवेद्दुर्गं तन्मया त्रिपुरं कृतम् //

Transliteration

durgaṃ vyavasitaḥ kartum iti cācintayattadā kathaṃ nāma bhaveddurgaṃ tanmayā tripuraṃ kṛtam //

Translation

Having resolved to build a fort, he then reflected: “How, indeed, should a fort be made?”—and accordingly I fashioned the (model of) Tripura as a fortification.

Word by Word

• दुर्गम्: a fort, stronghold

• व्यवसितः: resolved, determined

• कर्तुम्: to make, to construct

• इति: thus

• च: and

• अचिन्तयत् तदा: then he pondered/reflected

• कथम् नाम: how indeed

• भवेत्: should be, could be

• दुर्गम्: a fort

• तत्: that, accordingly

• मया: by me

• त्रिपुरम्: Tripura (the ‘three-citied’/triple-fort)

• कृतम्: made, constructed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (architectural instruction context)

Entities Mentioned

• Tripura

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Fortification
• City planning
• Durga-nirmana
• Matsya Purana Vastu

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it belongs to Vastuvidyā and emphasizes deliberate planning—reflection before construction—especially in making a defensible fort.

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

For a king, it underscores rājakartavya in protecting subjects through well-planned forts and secure settlements; prudent deliberation (cintā) precedes public works and defense infrastructure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights durga-nirmāṇa and presents “Tripura” as an archetype of a multi-layered/threefold fortified layout—useful as a conceptual model for defensive planning in Vastu traditions.