Matsya Purana — Design and Splendour of Tripura: Maya’s Threefold Moving Fortress, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

आरामाश्च सभाश्चात्र उद्यानान्यत्र वा तथा उपनिर्गमो दानवानां भवत्यत्र मनोहरः //

Transliteration

ārāmāśca sabhāścātra udyānānyatra vā tathā upanirgamo dānavānāṃ bhavatyatra manoharaḥ //

Translation

Ici doivent se trouver des ārāmas, bosquets de délectation, et des sabhās, salles d’assemblée; ainsi que des jardins. En ce lieu, la voie d’accès et le chemin de sortie deviennent ravissants, convenant aux Dānavas (résidents royaux et élites) pour leurs déplacements.

Word by Word

• ārāmāḥ: pleasure-groves/parks

• ca: and

• sabhāḥ: assembly halls/council halls

• ca: and

• atra: here/in this layout

• udyānāni: gardens/pleasure-gardens

• atra: here

• vā: or/also

• tathā: likewise

• upanirgamaḥ: approach and exit route/ingress-egress passage

• dānavānām: of the Dānavas (often ‘Daitya/Dānava’

• bhavati: becomes/is

• atra: here

• manoharaḥ: charming/delightful.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vāstuvidyā to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Dānava

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Town planning
• Royal architecture
• Gardens
• Civic amenities

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s Vāstuvidyā material, focusing on civic/royal planning—parks, halls, gardens, and pleasant movement routes.

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

It supports the king’s duty of rājyapālana by prescribing public/royal amenities—assembly halls for governance and gardens/parks for wellbeing—along with orderly, pleasant access routes that reflect prosperity and good administration.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it emphasizes integrating ārāmas (parks), sabhās (council/assembly spaces), and udyānas (gardens) with well-designed approach/exit pathways (upanirgama), a core Vāstu principle for functional circulation and aesthetic delight.