असुराणां पुराण्यासंस्त्रीणि वीर्यवर्तां दिवि । आयसं राजतं चैव सौवर्णमपि चापरम्
asurāṇāṃ purāṇy āsan trīṇi vīryavatāṃ divi | āyasaṃ rājataṃ caiva sauvarṇam api cāparam ||
Ваю сказал: «В древние времена могучие асуры владели тремя укреплёнными небесными городами, что двигались по небу. Один был из железа, другой — из серебра, а третий — из золота».
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse highlights how immense power and dazzling wealth (iron, silver, gold citadels) can become grounds for arrogance; in dharmic storytelling such grandeur is ultimately subordinate to moral order and is not a secure foundation for righteousness.
Vāyu describes an ancient episode: the Asuras had three moving aerial fortresses in the sky, distinguished by their metals—iron, silver, and gold—introducing a mythic setting that typically precedes their confrontation with divine forces.