Matsya Purana — Design and Splendour of Tripura: Maya’s Threefold Moving Fortress, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

मल्लिकाजातिपुष्पाद्यैर् गन्धधूपाधिवासितैः पञ्चेन्द्रियसुखैर्नित्यं समैः सत्पुरुषैरिव //

Transliteration

mallikājātipuṣpādyair gandhadhūpādhivāsitaiḥ pañcendriyasukhairnityaṃ samaiḥ satpuruṣairiva //

Translation

Qu’on le rende sans cesse délicieux par les plaisirs des cinq sens—pénétré de parfum et de fumée d’encens, avec le jasmin (mallikā), le jāti et d’autres fleurs—équilibré et harmonieux, comme s’il se trouvait en la compagnie de nobles hommes à l’esprit égal.

Word by Word

• mallikā: jasmine

• jāti: jasmine/Spanish jasmine (jāti-flower)

• puṣpa-ādyaiḥ: with flowers and the like

• gandha: fragrance/perfume

• dhūpa: incense

• adhivāsitaiḥ: thoroughly infused/pervaded/scented

• pañca-indriya: the five senses

• sukhaiḥ: with सुख/pleasures/comforts

• nityam: always/continually

• samaiḥ: with balanced, even, harmonious (arrangements/qualities)

• sat-puruṣaiḥ: with good/noble persons

• iva: as if/like.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within Vastu/ritual guidance context)

Entities Mentioned

• Mallika (jasmine)
• Jati (flower)
• Gandha (fragrance)
• Dhupa (incense)
• Panchendriyas (five senses)
• Satpurusha (noble person)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Temple ritual
• Gandha-Dhupa
• Auspiciousness
• Consecration

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it teaches how a sacred or auspicious space should be maintained—harmonized through sensory purity (flowers, fragrance, incense) as part of orderly ritual culture.

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

It supports the dharmic duty of maintaining clean, auspicious, and uplifting environments—especially in worship spaces—using regulated sensory enjoyments (pañcendriya-sukha) that are “sama” (balanced), not indulgent.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It implies Vastu/ritual standards for consecrated spaces: continuous perfuming (gandha), incense (dhūpa), and floral offerings (mallikā, jāti, etc.) to create a harmonious atmosphere suitable for worship and sanctity.