Humbled and awe-struck, Viśvakarma approached the Lord of creatures, Brahmā, with a heartfelt plea. “Let this fortress be invulnerable, O Lord,” he prayed, “impervious to all born of earth or water, untouched by the curses of sages, unassailable by the weapons of the gods, and even by the gods themselves. If it pleases you, let Tripura remain unconquerable.” Brahmā, the Grandsire, listened. Then, turning to Maya—the foremost among the Daityas, a master of illusion and the leader of the demon hosts—Brahmā laughed gently and spoke with gravity, “Immortality is not granted to those of wicked conduct, O Dānava. Such a boon is not to be given. Therefore, let a fortress be built at once.” Hearing these words, Maya bowed in obedience and began preparations for the construction. With palms joined in reverence, Maya addressed Brahmā again, “Let it be decreed, O lotus-born Lord, that whoever destroys this fortress with a single arrow, with but one release, let him alone be able to slay its inhabitants in battle; let all others remain invulnerable.” Brahmā, the Grandsire, nodded in assent. “So be it,” he declared. In that moment, the vision was granted and then vanished like a dream. With Brahmā’s departure, the demons left too, with Maya as their leader. Rejoicing in the boons granted and empowered by their great asceticism, the Daityas celebrated, and Maya, wise and resolute, stood foremost among them. Maya pondered deeply: How should such an impregnable fortress be built? After all, it was he who had constructed Tripura before. Determined, he resolved that this divine city would be inhabited by him alone, without doubt, and that it would not be destroyed by a single arrow. Thus, the gods must arrange accordingly. He envisioned three cities, each a hundred yojanas in length and breadth. At the auspicious conjunction of Puṣya, their construction would be completed, and the cities would be ancient in grandeur. At that same celestial conjunction, the three cities would unite in the sky. Joined together, whoever reached them at that moment and destroyed them with a single blow would shatter hundreds of ancient cities at once. Maya planned: one city of iron on the earth, one of silver in the sky, and above the silver city, a golden one. Thus, Tripura would be formed—three cities, each a hundred yojanas wide, joined together, difficult to approach and awe-inspiring in their splendor. They would be adorned with towers, engines for hurling hundreds of missiles, wheels, spears, and shaking mechanisms, with gates as grand as Mandara and Meru, and shining rampart peaks. Tripura would be protected by Maya, also called Sātāraka, secure and guarded, wreathed in lightning. Who indeed, Maya wondered, could destroy such a fortress, save for the one blessed with three eyes? With his mind filled with these thoughts, Maya, empowered by divine means, set about constructing Tripura, the unconquerable fortress, as his imagination dictated. He laid out the ramparts, the paths, the gateways, the towered gates, and the royal roads. Broad thoroughfares, streets, lanes, assembly halls, and squares filled the city. Within the inner sanctum, shrines to Rudra stood alongside pavilions, ponds, reservoirs, and lakes. Gardens and parks abounded, creating delightful promenades for the Dānavas. Thus, Maya, the master architect, fashioned Tripura in his mind and brought it into being. The city of black iron, built by Maya, was ruled by the mighty Tāraka. The silver city, radiant as the full moon, was ruled by Vidyunmālī, resplendent like a rain-cloud. The golden city, the crowning glory, was ruled by Maya himself, who entered it as its sovereign lord. Tāraka’s city and Vidyunmālī’s city were separated by a hundred yojanas each, while Maya’s own great city, resembling Mount Meru, was created at the auspicious conjunction with Puṣya. As Maya moved, he built city after city, just as the three-eyed one had once fashioned Puṣpaka. In the region of Varuṇa, Maya created hundreds and thousands of splendid mansions, made of gold, silver, and iron. The cities of the enemies of the gods shone with jewels, filled with countless palaces and lofty residences, surpassing all the worlds in their beauty. Gardens, reservoirs, wells, and lotus-filled lakes adorned the cities, alongside groves reminiscent of the Aśoka forest, resounding with the calls of cuckoos. Splendid halls and the finest four-pillared mansions rose everywhere. Buildings of seven, eight, and ten levels, all constructed by Maya’s skill, were adorned with banners, flags, and garlands. The air was filled with the music of tinkling ornaments and the fragrance of jasmine, jātī flowers, and other blossoms, with incense always burning. The pleasures of the five senses were ever-present, like noble men gathered in joy. The ramparts of Tripura’s triple city gleamed with gold, silver, copper, and precious gems, resembling the fortifications of mountains. In each city, hundreds upon hundreds of gateways could be seen, bearing banners and flags, rising like mountain peaks. Within Tripura, all was beauty, joy, and strength—a city like no other, the marvel and pride of Maya and the Dānavas, awaiting its destiny in the cosmic play.