Mayamatam मयमतम् - chapter-10A : राजधानी : The royal capital
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Mayamatam मयमतम्
TREATISE OF HOUSING, ARCHITECTURE AND ICONOGRAPHY
by bruno dagens, Authentic book on ancient vastu sastra

[ राजधानी ]

राष्ट्रस्य मध्यभागे सज्जनबहुले नदीसमीपे च । नगरं केवलमथवा राजगृहोपेतराजधानी वा ॥ १९ ॥

दिक्षु चतुर्द्वारयुतं गोपुरयुक्तं तु सालाढ्यम् । क्रयविक्रयकैर्युक्तं सर्वजनावाससङ्कीर्णम् ॥ २० ॥ 

सर्वसुरालयसहितं नगरमिदं केवलं प्रोक्तम्" । प्रत्यगुदग्दिशि गहना परितः साला बहिः सपांसुचया ॥ २१ ॥

परितः परिखा बाह्ये शिबिरयुतानेकमुखरक्षा । पूर्वायां दक्षिणतश्चाभिमुखा राजबलयुक्ता ॥ २२ ॥

उन्नतगोपुरयुक्ता नानाविधमालिकोपेता ।सर्वसुरालयसहिता नानागणिकान्विता बहूद्याना ॥ २३ ॥ 

हस्त्यश्वरथपदातिबहुमुख्या सर्वजनयुक्ता । द्वारोपद्वारयुताभ्यंन्तरतोऽनेकजनवासा ॥ २४ ॥

या नृपवेश्मसमेता सा कथिता राजधानीति ।  काननवनदेशे वा सर्वजनावाससङ्कीर्णम् ॥ २५ ॥



क्रयविक्रयकैर्युक्तं पुरमुदितं यत् तदेव नगरमिति” ।

[खेटादिभेदाः ]

शूद्रैरधिष्ठितं यत्रद्यचलावेष्टितं॰ तु तत् खेटम् ॥ २६ ॥ 


परितः पर्वतयुक्तं खर्वटकं सर्वजनसहितम् । खर्वटखेटकमध्ये यज्जनताढ्यं जनस्थानकुब्जम्" ॥ २७ ।।

द्वीपान्तरागतवस्तुभिरभियुक्तं सर्वजनसहितम् । क्रयविक्रयकैर्युक्तं रत्नधनक्षौमगन्धवस्त्वाढ्यम्  ॥ २८ ॥ 

सागरवेलाभ्याशे“ तदनुगतायामि पत्तनं प्रोक्तम् । परनृपदेशसमीपे युद्धारम्भक्रियोपेतम् ॥ २९ ॥ 

सेनासेनापतियुतमिदमुदितं शिबिरमिति च वरै: सर्वजनैः सङ्कीर्णं नृपभवनयुतं तदेव तथा ॥ ३० ॥


बहुरक्षोपेतं यत् सेनामुखमुच्यते तज्ज्ञैः । नद्यद्रिपार्श्वयुक्तं नृपभवनयुतं सबहुरक्षम् ॥ ३१ ॥

यन्नृपतिस्थापितकं तत् स्थानीयं समुद्दिष्टम् । 4¨नद्यब्धिदक्षिणादक्षिणभाग् वणिगादिसंयुक्तम् ॥ ३२

'सर्वजनावासं यद् द्रोणमुखं प्रोक्तमाचार्यैः । ग्रामसमीपे जनतालयमिदमुदितं विडम्बमिति ॥ ३३ ॥ 

वनमध्ये जनवासं यत् कोत्मकोलकं प्रोक्तम् ।चातुर्वर्ण्यसमेतं सर्वजनावाससङ्कीर्णम् ॥ ३४ ॥ 

बहुकर्मकारयुक्तं यनिगमं तत् समुद्दिष्टम् । नद्यद्रिवनसमेतं बहुजनयुक्तं सनृपवासम् ॥ ३५॥ 

एतत् स्कन्धावारं तत्पार्श्वे चेरिका" प्रोक्ता ।


The royal capital

A heavily populated town situated in the middle of the kingdom and beside a river is an 'ordinary' (kevala) town though if there is a royal palace there it is a 'royal capital'. 

A town is called 'ordinary' when it has four entrances at cardinal points, gateways 10 and ramparts, when it contains shops as well as dwellings for all classes of people and temples for all the gods.

A town called 'royal capital' is impregnable at the north and at the east; it is encircled by a wall beyond which is a glacis of earth; beyond that is a moat and, lastly, farther away is a fortified garrison keeping watch in all directions, the royal guard facing to the cast and to the south. This town has high gateways, various types of gallery and temples to all the gods. It is frequented by all sorts of courtesans and has a number of gardens. Elephants, horses, war chariots and foot soldiers abound. People of all classes (live there). It has gates and posterns¹4 and, inside, a great number of dwelling houses as well as the king's palace.


However when it is located in a forested country and when it contains dwellings for all classes of people, and shops, it is called pura or nagara.¹5

Kheta and other types of town

A kbeta is inhabited by śüdra; it is situated in the vicinity of a river or a mountain. A kharvata is surrounded by mountains and is inhabited by people of all classes." A janasthanakubja is heavily populated and situated between a kbeta and a kharvata.

A pattana is a town where products from other countries are to be found; it is inhabited by people of all classes, there are shops and an abundance of merchandise such as precious stones, grains, fine cloth and perfumes, it is situated by the sea and extends along the coast.

Sages say that a sibira is situated in proximity to the realm of an enemy prince; it is provided with everything necessary for war and it accommodates the army and the commander-in-chief. 




According to the sages a senámukba is a place where people of all classes are mixed; it contains a royal palace and is provided with a well fortified garrison.

A sthaniya is a town founded by the king and situated beside a river or near to a mountain; it comprises a royal palace and a large garrison. What extends (both) along the right and left banks of a river and which is frequented by traders and others and inhabited by people of all classes is called dronamukha by teachers.

An inhabited place in the vicinity of a village is a vidamba. An in habited place in the middle of a forest is a kotmakolaka. A nigama is a town where the four castes are gathered, where people of all classes live together and where there are a number of artisans.

A skandhävāra is near a forested region or a river; it is heavily popu lated and comprises a royal palace; that which is found next to it is a cerikā. 

Manish Jain Luhadia 
B.Arch (hons.), M.Plan
Email: manish@frontdesk.co.in
Tel: +91 141 6693948
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