Matsya Purana — Design and Splendour of Tripura: Maya’s Threefold Moving Fortress, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

सुवर्णाधिकृतं यच्च मयेन विहितं पुरम् स्वयमेव मयस्तत्र गतस्तदधिपः प्रभुः //

Transliteration

suvarṇādhikṛtaṃ yacca mayena vihitaṃ puram svayameva mayastatra gatastadadhipaḥ prabhuḥ //

Translation

മയൻ സ്വർണ്ണാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ച് നിർമ്മിച്ച ആ നഗരത്തിലേക്ക് മയൻ തന്നേ ചെന്നു; അവൻ അതിന്റെ അധിപതിയും പ്രഭുവും സ്വാമിയും ആയി.

Word by Word

• suvarṇa-adhikṛtam: richly adorned with gold

• yat ca: and which

• mayena: by Maya

• vihitam: built/arranged/constructed

• puram: city/fortified town

• svayam eva: himself indeed

• mayaḥ: Maya (the architect/demon-artisan)

• tatra: there

• gataḥ: went

• tat-adhipaḥ: its ruler/overlord

• prabhuḥ: lord/master

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Maya
• Pura (city)

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Town-planning
• Golden city
• Maya
• Puranic architecture

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it focuses on construction and political lordship—Maya’s gold-adorned city and his assumption of authority over it.

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

It highlights a key rajadharma theme: a ruler’s legitimacy is tied to establishing and governing a well-built, prosperous settlement—here exemplified by Maya taking responsibility as the city’s adhipa (overlord).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it emphasizes opulent material specification (suvarṇa-adhikṛta—gold adornment) and the idea that the city’s planner/creator is also accountable as its presiding authority, aligning with Matsya Purana’s Vastuvidya stress on ordered construction and governance.