निहते तारके दैत्ये तारपुत्रे सबान्धवे स्कन्देन वा प्रयत्नेन तस्य पुत्रा महाबलाः
When Tāraka, the demon and son of Tāra, along with his kin, was slain by Skanda with great effort, his sons, mighty in strength,
विद्युन्माली तारकाक्षः कमलाक्षश् च वीर्यवान् तपस्तेपुर्महात्मानो महाबलपराक्रमाः
Vidyunmālī, Tārakākṣa, and the valiant Kamalākṣa—these great souls, powerful and heroic, undertook severe austerities.
तप उग्रं समास्थाय नियमे परमे स्थिताः तपसा कर्शयामासुर् देहान् स्वान्दानवोत्तमाः
Engaging in intense penance and observing strict discipline, those foremost among Dānavas tormented their own bodies through their austerities.
तेषां पितामहः प्रीतो वरदः प्रददौ वरम् अवध्यत्वं च सर्वेषां सर्वभूतेषु सर्वदा
Pleased with them, the Grandsire, bestower of boons, granted them a boon: that none among all beings could ever slay them.
सहिता वरयामासुः सर्वलोकपितामहम् तान् अब्रवीत् तदा देवो लोकानां प्रभुर् अव्ययः
Together they sought a boon from the Grandsire of all worlds; then the imperishable Lord of beings spoke to them.
नास्ति सर्वामरत्वं वै निवर्तध्वम् अतो ऽसुराः अन्यं वरं वृणीध्वं वै यादृशं सम्प्ररोचते
"Immortality for all is not possible—turn back from this, O Asuras. Choose another boon, whatever you desire."
ततस्ते सहिता दैत्याः सम्प्रधार्य परस्परम् ब्रह्माणमब्रुवन्दैत्याः प्रणिपत्य जगद्गुरुम्
Then those Daityas, united, deliberated among themselves and, bowing to Brahmā, the preceptor of the universe, addressed him.
वयं पुराणि त्रीण्येव समास्थाय महीमिमाम् विचरिष्याम लोकेश त्वत्प्रसादाज्जगद्गुरो
"O Lord of the worlds, by your grace, we shall dwell upon this earth, each in one of three cities of old."
तथा वर्षसहस्रेषु समेष्यामः परस्परम् एकीभावं गमिष्यन्ति पुराण्येतानि चानघ
"Thus, after a thousand years, we shall come together, and those ancient cities, O sinless one, will unite as one."
समागतानि चैतानि यो हन्याद्भगवंस्तदा एकेनैवेषुणा देवः स नो मृत्युर्भविष्यति
"O Lord, whoever destroys these united cities with a single arrow—let that alone be our death."
एवमस्त्विति तान्देवः प्रत्युक्त्वा प्राविशद्दिवम् ततो मयः स्वतपसा चक्रे वीरः पुराण्यथ
The god replied, "So be it," and, having spoken thus to them, ascended to heaven. Then Maya, by his own austerity, constructed the ancient cities.
काञ्चनं दिवि तत्रासीद् अन्तरिक्षे च राजतम् आयसं चाभवद् भूमौ पुरं तेषां महात्मनाम्
One city of gold was in the sky, one of silver in the mid-air, and one of iron was on earth for those great souls.
एकैकं योजनशतं विस्तारायामतः समम् काञ्चनं तारकाक्षस्य कमलाक्षस्य राजतम्
Each city was a hundred yojanas in width and length; the golden city belonged to Tārakākṣa, the silver to Kamalākṣa.
विद्युन्मालेश्चायसं वै त्रिविधं दुर्गमुत्तमम् मयश् च बलवांस्तत्र दैत्यदानवपूजितः
The iron city belonged to Vidyunmālī; thus, the threefold, supreme fortresses were made. There, Maya, powerful and honored by Daityas and Dānavas, resided.
हैरण्ये राजते चैव कृष्णायसमये तथा आलयं चात्मनः कृत्वा तत्रास्ते बलवांस्तदा
In the golden, silver, and black iron cities, Maya built his own abode and dwelled there, mighty as he was.
एवं बभूवुर्दैत्यानाम् अतिदुर्गाणि सुव्रताः पुराणि त्रीणि विप्रेन्द्रास् त्रैलोक्यमिव चापरम्
Thus, the three ancient, supremely fortified cities of the Daityas came into being, O best of Brahmins, like another triple world.
पुरत्रये तदा जाते सर्वे दैत्या जगत्त्रये पुरत्रयं प्रविश्यैव बभूवुस्ते बलाधिकाः
When the three cities were thus created, all the Daityas entered them and became exceedingly powerful in the three worlds.
कल्पद्रुमसमाकीर्णं गजवाजिसमाकुलम् नानाप्रसादसंकीर्णं मणिजालैः समावृतम्
Filled with wish-fulfilling trees, crowded with elephants and horses, adorned with various splendid mansions, and covered with networks of jewels,
सूर्यमण्डलसंकाशैर् विमानैर्विश्वतोमुखैः पद्मरागमयैः शुभ्रैः शोभितं चन्द्रसंनिभैः
Adorned with celestial palaces, radiant like the solar orb, facing all directions, fashioned from pure ruby and shining with the luster of the moon.
प्रासादैर्गोपुरैर्दिव्यैः कैलासशिखरोपमैः शोभितं त्रिपुरं तेषां पृथक्पृथगनुत्तमैः
Graced with divine mansions and lofty gateways, resembling the peaks of Mount Kailāsa, Tripura was splendid with each of these supreme structures, distinct and magnificent.
दिव्यस्त्रीभिः सुसम्पूर्णं गन्धर्वैः सिद्धचारणैः रुद्रालयैः प्रतिगृहं साग्निहोत्रैर् द्विजोत्तमाः
Filled with celestial women, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas, and in every house, the foremost twice-born performed sacred fires in shrines of Rudra.
वापीकूपतडागैश् च दीर्घिकाभिस्तु सर्वतः मत्तमातङ्गयूथैश् च तुरङ्गैश् च सुशोभनैः
Surrounded on all sides by wells, ponds, reservoirs, and long pools, as well as herds of intoxicated elephants and splendid horses.
रथैश् च विविधाकारैर् विचित्रैर्विश्वतोमुखैः सभाप्रपादिभिश् चैव क्रीडास्थानैः पृथक् पृथक्
With chariots of various forms, wondrous and facing all directions, and with assembly halls, gateways, and separate places for sport.
वेदाध्ययनशालाभिर् विविधाभिः समन्ततः अधृष्यं मनसाप्यन्यैर् मयस्यैव च मायया
Encircled everywhere by diverse schools for Vedic study, unassailable even in thought by others, through the power of Maya alone of Maya.
पतिव्रताभिः सर्वत्र सेवितं मुनिपुङ्गवाः कृत्वापि सुमहत् पापम् अपापैः शङ्करार्चनात्
Everywhere attended by devoted wives, O best of sages; even after committing great sin, they became sinless through the worship of Śaṅkara.
दैत्येश्वरैर्महाभागैः सदारैः ससुतैर्द्विजाः श्रौतस्मार्तार्थधर्मज्ञैस् तद्धर्मनिरतैः सदा
By the great and fortunate lords of the Daityas, with their wives and sons, always engaged in the duties of the Vedas and Smṛtis, steadfast in those dharmas.
महादेवेतरं त्यक्त्वा देवं तस्यार्चने स्थितैः व्यूढोरस्कैर् वृषस्कन्धैः सर्वायुधधरैः सदा
Having abandoned all gods except the Great God, they stood in his worship—broad-chested, bull-shouldered, always bearing every weapon.
सर्वदा क्षुधितैश्चैव दावाग्निसदृशेक्षणैः प्रशान्तैः कुपितैश्चैव कुब्जैर् वामनकैस् तथा
Always with the hungry, with eyes like blazing fire, calm or enraged, and also with the hunchbacked and the dwarfish.
नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्यैर् नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजैः नीलाद्रिमेरुसंकाशैर् नीरदोपमनिःस्वनैः मयेन रक्षितैः सर्वैः शिक्षितैर्युद्धलालसैः
With hair dark as blue lotus petals, curled and deep blue, resembling the blue mountain and Meru, with voices like thunderclouds, all guarded by Maya’s warriors, trained and eager for battle.
अथ समररतैः सदा समन्ताच् छिवपदपूजनया सुलब्धवीर्यैः रविमरुदमरेन्द्रसंनिकाशैः सुरमथनैः सुदृढैः सुसेवितं तत्
Then, always surrounded by those devoted to battle, whose strength was easily gained by worship of Śiva’s feet, resembling the sun, wind, and Indra, firm and heroic, that city was well protected.