Shloka 10
Satya-lakṣaṇa (The Characteristics and Forms of Truth) | सत्यलक्षणम्
इन्द्रो यमो वैश्रवणो वरुणश्न जलेश्वर: । नैतेडपि तुल्या मरुत: कि पुनस्त्वं वनस्पते,वनस्पते! इन्द्र, यम, कुबेर तथा जलके स्वामी वरुण--ये भी वायुके तुल्य बलशाली नहीं हैं; फिर तुम जैसे साधारण वृक्षकी तो बात ही क्या है?
Indro Yamo Vaiśravaṇo Varuṇaś ca jaleśvaraḥ | naite ’pi tulyā Marutaḥ ki punaḥ tvaṃ vanaspate vanaspate ||
Nārada said: “Indra, Yama, Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), and Varuṇa, lord of the waters—none of these is equal in might to the Maruts (the storm-winds). How much less, then, are you, O lord of the forest, O tree!”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches humility and discernment: even the greatest divine rulers are said to be inferior to the Maruts in sheer force, so an ordinary being should not be arrogant about strength or status. It cautions against overestimating oneself and encourages realistic self-knowledge aligned with dharma.
Nārada is admonishing and putting someone addressed as “vanaspati” (a tree/forest-lord) in perspective by ranking powers: Indra, Yama, Kubera, and Varuṇa are invoked as eminent benchmarks, yet Nārada asserts that the Maruts surpass them in might—thereby dismissing the tree’s pretension or resistance as futile.