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Shloka 25

असुराणां पुराण्यासंस्त्रीणि वीर्यवर्तां दिवि । आयसं राजतं चैव सौवर्णमपि चापरम्‌

asurāṇāṃ purāṇy āsan trīṇi vīryavatāṃ divi | āyasaṃ rājataṃ caiva sauvarṇam api cāparam ||

Vāyu dit : «Dans les temps anciens, les puissants Asuras possédaient trois cités fortifiées, aériennes, qui se mouvaient dans le ciel. L’une était de fer, l’autre d’argent, et la troisième d’or.»

असुराणाम्of the Asuras
असुराणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअसुर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
पुराणिcities/fortresses (aerial citadels)
पुराणि:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुर
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
आसन्were
आसन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormImperfect, 3rd, Plural
त्रीणिthree
त्रीणि:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootत्रि
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
वीर्यवताम्of the mighty/powerful
वीर्यवताम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootवीर्यवत्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
दिविin heaven/in the sky
दिवि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदिव्
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
आयसम्made of iron
आयसम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootआयस
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
राजतम्made of silver
राजतम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootराजत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
सौवर्णम्made of gold
सौवर्णम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसौवर्ण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अपिalso
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अपरम्another/other (one)
अपरम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअपर
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
A
Asuras
T
three aerial cities/forts (Tripura-like citadels)
I
iron city
S
silver city
G
golden city

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how immense power and dazzling wealth (iron, silver, gold citadels) can become grounds for arrogance; in dharmic storytelling such grandeur is ultimately subordinate to moral order and is not a secure foundation for righteousness.

Vāyu describes an ancient episode: the Asuras had three moving aerial fortresses in the sky, distinguished by their metals—iron, silver, and gold—introducing a mythic setting that typically precedes their confrontation with divine forces.