Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — Tripura Takes Refuge in the Ocean; Maya’s Hidden Nectar-Reservoir and the God...

Devanagari script

वापीपालवचः श्रुत्वा मयो ऽसौ दानवप्रभुः कष्टमित्यसकृत्प्रोच्य दितिजानिदमब्रवीत् //

Transliteration

vāpīpālavacaḥ śrutvā mayo 'sau dānavaprabhuḥ kaṣṭamityasakṛtprocya ditijānidamabravīt //

Translation

Hearing the words of the guardian of the stepwell (vāpī), Maya—the lord of the Dānavas—repeatedly cried, “Alas, what hardship!” and then addressed the sons of Diti as follows.

Word by Word

• वापी (vāpī): stepwell/water-reservoir

• पाल (pāla): guardian/keeper

• वचः (vacaḥ): words/speech

• श्रुत्वा (śrutvā): having heard

• मयः (mayaḥ): Maya (the famed architect)

• असौ (asau): that (person)

• दानवप्रभुः (dānavaprabhuḥ): lord of the Dānavas

• कष्टम् (kaṣṭam): hardship/woe

• इति (iti): thus

• असकृत् (asakṛt): repeatedly

• प्रोच्य (procya): having said/uttering

• दितिजान् (ditijān): sons of Diti (Daityas)

• इदम् (idam): this

• अब्रवीत् (abravīt): said/spoke

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration introducing Maya’s speech)

Entities Mentioned

• Maya
• Dānavas
• Diti’s sons (Daityas)
• Vāpī (stepwell/tank) guardian

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Water Architecture
• Stepwell
• Maya
• Daityas

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it frames a Vastu/civic-planning episode where Maya reacts emotionally to a statement about a vāpī (stepwell), indicating a narrative shift into practical or moral implications of water-works.

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

By centering on a vāpī (public water structure) and its guardian, the verse aligns with the Purāṇic ethic that supporting and maintaining water resources is a key public duty—relevant to rulers (state welfare) and householders (charitable public works).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse explicitly situates the discussion around a vāpī (stepwell/tank) and its pāla (guardian), signaling Vastuvidyā concerns: proper construction, protection, and management of water infrastructure—core themes in Matsya Purana’s architecture-oriented chapters.