Matsya Purana — Design and Splendour of Tripura: Maya’s Threefold Moving Fortress, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

दिव्यभोगोपभोगानि नानारत्नयुतानि च पुष्पोत्करैश्च सुभगास् त्रिपुरस्योपनिर्गमाः परिखाशतगम्भीराः कृता मायानिवारणैः //

Transliteration

divyabhogopabhogāni nānāratnayutāni ca puṣpotkaraiśca subhagās tripurasyopanirgamāḥ parikhāśatagambhīrāḥ kṛtā māyānivāraṇaiḥ //

Translation

Pintu keluar dan gerbang Tripurā tampak gemilang—dipenuhi kenikmatan dan kesenangan bersifat ilahi, dihiasi pelbagai permata, serta diperindah dengan timbunan bunga. Di sekelilingnya terdapat parit-parit, beratus-ratus jumlahnya, amat dalam, dibina sebagai benteng untuk menangkis tipu daya māyā dan muslihat musuh.

Word by Word

• divya: celestial, wondrous

• bhoga-upabhogāni: luxuries and enjoyments (objects of pleasure and use)

• nānā-ratna-yutāni: endowed with various gems

• puṣpa-utkaraiḥ: with heaps/mounds of flowers

• ca: and

• subhagāḥ: beautiful, auspicious-looking

• tripurasya: of Tripura

• upanirgamāḥ: approaches/exits, gateways (access points leading out)

• parikhāḥ: moats, trenches

• śata-gambhīrāḥ: a hundred (i.e., very many) and deep

• kṛtāḥ: made, constructed

• māyā-nivāraṇaiḥ: by/with means that ward off māyā (deception/illusion), i.e., anti-stratagem defenses

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual narration of Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Tripura
• Maya (as deceptive arts/stratagems)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Fortification
• City Planning
• Tripura
• Defensive Architecture

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it describes engineered splendor and defensive planning—Tripura’s jewel-adorned gateways and deep moats designed to counter hostile deception.

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

It reflects a king’s rajadharma of protection: establishing secure, well-designed city defenses (gateways, moats, and anti-stratagem measures) while maintaining prosperity and public auspiciousness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights Vastuvidya themes—ornamented gateways/approaches and deep moats as layered defenses, explicitly including measures against “māyā” (deceptive tactics), a hallmark of strategic fortification planning.