Matsya Purana — Design and Splendour of Tripura: Maya’s Threefold Moving Fortress, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

दिव्यभोगोपभोगानि नानारत्नयुतानि च पुष्पोत्करैश्च सुभगास् त्रिपुरस्योपनिर्गमाः परिखाशतगम्भीराः कृता मायानिवारणैः //

Transliteration

divyabhogopabhogāni nānāratnayutāni ca puṣpotkaraiśca subhagās tripurasyopanirgamāḥ parikhāśatagambhīrāḥ kṛtā māyānivāraṇaiḥ //

Translation

Les issues et les portes de Tripurā étaient splendides — pourvues de jouissances et de luxes célestes, ornées de gemmes de toutes sortes et embellies par des monceaux de fleurs. Tout autour s’étendaient des fossés, par centaines, d’une profondeur extrême, établis comme rempart pour écarter les artifices d’illusion (māyā) et les ruses hostiles.

Word by Word

• divya: celestial, wondrous

• bhoga-upabhogāni: luxuries and enjoyments (objects of pleasure and use)

• nānā-ratna-yutāni: endowed with various gems

• puṣpa-utkaraiḥ: with heaps/mounds of flowers

• ca: and

• subhagāḥ: beautiful, auspicious-looking

• tripurasya: of Tripura

• upanirgamāḥ: approaches/exits, gateways (access points leading out)

• parikhāḥ: moats, trenches

• śata-gambhīrāḥ: a hundred (i.e., very many) and deep

• kṛtāḥ: made, constructed

• māyā-nivāraṇaiḥ: by/with means that ward off māyā (deception/illusion), i.e., anti-stratagem defenses

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual narration of Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Tripura
• Maya (as deceptive arts/stratagems)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Fortification
• City Planning
• Tripura
• Defensive Architecture

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it describes engineered splendor and defensive planning—Tripura’s jewel-adorned gateways and deep moats designed to counter hostile deception.

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

It reflects a king’s rajadharma of protection: establishing secure, well-designed city defenses (gateways, moats, and anti-stratagem measures) while maintaining prosperity and public auspiciousness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights Vastuvidya themes—ornamented gateways/approaches and deep moats as layered defenses, explicitly including measures against “māyā” (deceptive tactics), a hallmark of strategic fortification planning.