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

Hendaknya senantiasa dibuat menyenangkan dengan kenikmatan lima indra—dipenuhi harum dupa dan wewangian, serta bunga melati, jāti, dan lainnya—serasi dan seimbang, seolah berada dalam pergaulan orang-orang mulia yang berjiwa sama.

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.