Matsya Purana — Design and Splendour of Tripura: Maya’s Threefold Moving Fortress, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

निशम्य तद्दुर्गविधानमुत्तमं कृतं मयेनाद्भुतवीर्यकर्मणा दितेः सुता दैवतराजवैरिणः सहस्रशः प्रापुरनन्तविक्रमाः //

Transliteration

niśamya taddurgavidhānamuttamaṃ kṛtaṃ mayenādbhutavīryakarmaṇā diteḥ sutā daivatarājavairiṇaḥ sahasraśaḥ prāpuranantavikramāḥ //

Translation

Ayant appris ce plan de fortification excellent — façonné par Maya, dont les actes et la puissance étaient prodigieux — les fils de Diti, ennemis du roi des dieux, s’y rassemblèrent par milliers, animés d’une vaillance sans bornes.

Word by Word

• niśamya: having heard

• tat: that

• durga-vidhānam: the arrangement/design of a fortification

• uttamam: excellent, supreme

• kṛtam: made, constructed

• mayena: by Maya (the master architect of the Asuras)

• adbhuta: marvelous

• vīrya: prowess, might

• karmaṇā: by deeds/works

• diteḥ: of Diti

• sutāḥ: sons/offspring

• daivata-rāja: king of the gods (Indra)

• vairiṇaḥ: enemies

• sahasraśaḥ: in thousands, in great numbers

• prāpuḥ (prāpur): reached/arrived

• ananta: endless

• vikramāḥ: valor, heroic power.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the Daityas and Maya’s fortification

Entities Mentioned

• Maya
• Diti
• Daityas
• Indra (Daivataraja)

Tags

• Daityas
• Devasura conflict
• Maya architect
• Fortification
• Puranic warfare

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it focuses on a worldly episode of power—Daityas assembling after Maya constructs an excellent fortification.

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

Indirectly, it highlights the strategic importance of strong defenses and skilled counsel: rulers must secure their realm through proper fortification and vigilance, since organized adversaries can gather rapidly in great numbers.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it uses the technical idea of durga-vidhāna—systematic fort planning—crediting Maya as the master builder; this is a key Matsya Purana-style bridge between narrative and Vastu/defensive architecture vocabulary.