Matsya Purana — Design and Splendour of Tripura: Maya’s Threefold Moving Fortress, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

इदमन्तःपुरस्थानं रुद्रायतनमत्र च सवटानि तडागानि ह्य् अत्र वाप्यः सरांसि च //

Transliteration

idamantaḥpurasthānaṃ rudrāyatanamatra ca savaṭāni taḍāgāni hy atra vāpyaḥ sarāṃsi ca //

Translation

«Voici l’emplacement du palais intérieur (antahpura), et ici se trouve aussi un sanctuaire de Rudra. Ici sont des puits et des bassins; ici encore des puits à degrés (vāpī) et des lacs naturels.»

Word by Word

• idam: this

• antaḥpura-sthānam: inner-palace area/royal women’s quarters precinct

• rudra-āyatanam: Rudra’s shrine/temple

• atra: here

• ca: and

• savaṭāni: wells (vaṭa/kūpa-type water pits)

• taḍāgāni: tanks/reservoirs

• hi: indeed/also

• vāpyaḥ: stepwells/large excavated water-reservoirs (vāpī)

• sarāṃsi: lakes/ponds (natural or large water-bodies)

• ca: and

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (context: Vastuvidya guidance in Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Palace Planning
• Water Management
• Temple Placement
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on Vastuvidya—how a royal/palatial precinct is organized with a Rudra shrine and multiple water-sources.

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

It implies a ruler’s duty to provide ordered habitation with accessible water infrastructure (wells, tanks, stepwells, lakes) and to maintain sanctioned worship spaces—both civic welfare and dharmic observance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it lists essential components of a palace zone—antaḥpura plus integrated water-works. Ritually, it specifies the presence of a Rudra-āyatana, indicating planned placement of a deity-shrine within/near the residential complex.