Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — The Cave-Sanctuary: Jewel-Lake

Devanagari script

मध्ये तु तस्याः प्रासादं निर्मितं तपसात्रिणा रुक्मसेतुप्रवेशान्तं सर्वरत्नमयं शुभम् //

Transliteration

madhye tu tasyāḥ prāsādaṃ nirmitaṃ tapasātriṇā rukmasetupraveśāntaṃ sarvaratnamayaṃ śubham //

Translation

In the very middle of that place, an auspicious palace was built by the power of austerity; its approach extended up to a golden causeway/bridge, and it was fashioned entirely of every kind of precious gem.

Word by Word

• मध्ये (madhye): in the middle

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• तस्याः (tasyāḥ): of that (feminine—city/enclosure/complex)

• प्रासादम् (prāsādam): palace/mansion

• निर्मितम् (nirmitam): constructed

• तपसा (tapasā): by austerity/ascetic power

• त्रिणा (triṇā): by the Three (often read as instrumental

• रुक्म (rukma): gold/golden

• सेतु (setu): bridge/causeway

• प्रवेशान्तम् (praveśāntam): extending up to the entrance/terminating at the entry

• सर्वरत्नमयम् (sarvaratnamayam): made of all kinds of jewels

• शुभम् (śubham): auspicious/propitious.

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s account; descriptive passage within Vastuvidya context)

Entities Mentioned

• Vastuvidya
• Prasada (palace)
• Rukma-setu (golden causeway/bridge)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Puranic palace
• Temple-town planning
• Auspicious architecture
• Gem-studded construction

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it describes ideal, auspicious construction—highlighting a palace placed at the center and approached by a golden causeway, emphasizing sacred order and prosperity rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It reflects the royal duty to establish a well-ordered, auspicious seat of governance: a centrally placed palace, splendid yet ritually ‘śubha’, suggesting that wealth (gems, gold) should be aligned with dharmic planning and public order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Key Vastu cues are the central placement (madhye) and the designed approach (rukma-setu) culminating at the entrance—signs of intentional axial planning; ‘sarvaratnamaya’ also signals a symbolic ideal of abundance and consecrated splendor in Puranic architecture.