Through rigorous austerity, the Danavas became so emaciated that their flesh vanished, their bodies grew thin, and their veins stood out starkly. The radiance that once surrounded them seemed swept away by the intensity of their penance. Their ascetic power was so fierce that all the worlds grew dim; speech itself faltered, and everything was scorched by the three fires emanating from these Danavas. At that moment, the grandsire of the world, Pitamaha Brahma, appeared before them. The heroic Daityas, seeing their revered ancestor arrive suddenly, spoke to him with reverence. They praised their grandsire, and Brahma, perceiving the Danavas shining with the heat of their austerity, addressed them with joy radiating from his eyes and face. He said, “I am pleased by your austerity, O children. I have come to grant you a boon. Ask for whatever you desire, whatever you wish for—let it be spoken.” Hearing these words, the Danavas approached Pitamaha. Visvakarma Maya, his eyes wide with delight, spoke on their behalf: “O god, formerly the Daityas were defeated by the gods in the battle of Taraka. Struck and slain by weapons, we fled trembling in fear, pursued by enmity from the gods. We knew neither refuge nor safety, though we sought shelter everywhere. By the power of austerity and devotion to you, I wish to build a fortress so formidable that even the gods would find it difficult to overcome. In that triple fortress, O bestower of boons, let it be invulnerable to the earth-born, to those born of water, to the curses of sages, to the weapons of the gods, and to the gods themselves, O Lord of creatures. Let Tripura be unassailable, if it pleases you.” Brahma, addressed thus by Visvakarma Maya, laughed and replied to Maya, leader of the demon hosts, “Immortality cannot be granted to one of wicked conduct, O Danava. Therefore, let the construction of a fortress be undertaken at once.” Hearing these words, Maya began his task. With joined palms, Maya addressed Brahma again, “Whoever destroys the fortress with a single arrow, released just once—let him slay equally in battle; let the remainder be invulnerable.” “So be it,” replied Brahma, the grandsire, granting his boon to Maya. Like a vision in a dream, Brahma’s presence faded, and the demons departed with Maya as their leader. Rejoicing from the granting of boons, empowered by their ascetic strength, Maya, the great-minded Danava, stood foremost among them. He resolved to build the fortress and pondered deeply: “How might such a fortress be made by me, since Tripura was constructed by me? That divine city will be inhabited by me alone, not by others, without doubt; and as it cannot be destroyed by a single arrow, so it shall be.” He considered that the gods must arrange according to his plan. Each city would span a hundred yojanas in length and breadth. At the conjunction of Pushya, the construction would be completed, and the city would be ancient. At the conjunction of Pushya, the three cities would unite in the sky; joined at Pushya, whoever reached them with a single blow could destroy hundreds of ancient cities. He envisioned one city of iron on the earth, one of silver in the sky, and above the silver, a golden city. Thus, Tripura would be formed—three cities joined by hundred-yojana breadths, difficult to approach. They would be adorned with towers, engines for hurling hundreds of missiles, wheels, spears, shaking mechanisms, and gates as grand as Mandara and Meru, with shining rampart peaks. Protected by Maya, called Satāraka, secure and guarded, wreathed in lightning—who indeed could destroy Tripura, except the one blessed with three eyes? Filled with these thoughts, the demon Maya, by the power of divine means, constructed Tripura, the mighty fortress, guided by the workings of his mind. He envisioned the rampart, the paths, the gateways, the towered gates, and the towered gateways. The royal road was broad, with streets, lanes, assembly halls, and squares. Within the inner city were shrines to Rudra, pavilions, ponds, reservoirs, lakes, gardens, assembly halls, parks, and delightful promenades for the Danavas. Thus, the city-planner fashioned this city in his mind, and it was heard that Maya created the city called Tripura. The city made of black iron was constructed by Maya, and there the lord named Tāraka was established as ruler. The city built of silver, shining like the full moon, was ruled by Vidyunmālī, resplendent like a rain-cloud. The city made of gold, constructed by Maya himself, was entered by Maya, who became its sovereign lord. Tāraka’s city was separated by a hundred yojanas, as was Vidyunmālī’s city. Maya’s own great city resembled Mount Meru; at the conjunction with Puṣya, Maya created it. That demon created Tripura, just as the three-eyed one made Puṣpaka; as Maya moved, he built city after city. In the region of Varuṇa, there were excellent mansions by the hundreds and thousands, made of gold, silver, and iron. Thus, Tripura—the triple fortress of the Daityas, wondrous and formidable—was brought into being by Maya’s divine skill and vision, fulfilling the boon granted by Brahma.