Narada Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 24

Kāruṇya-stotra Phalaśruti; Dream-Darśana of Vāsudeva; Manifestation and Pratiṣṭhā of Jagannātha, Balabhadra (Ananta), and Subhadrā

Devanagari script

कूलालंबी महावृक्षः स्थितः स्थलजलेषु च । वेलाभिर्हन्यमानश्च न चासौ कंपते ध्रुवः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

kūlālaṃbī mahāvṛkṣaḥ sthitaḥ sthalajaleṣu ca | velābhirhanyamānaśca na cāsau kaṃpate dhruvaḥ || 24 ||

Translation

Like a great tree rooted on the bank, standing where land and water meet—though struck again and again by the waves, it does not tremble, remaining steadfast.

Word by Word

• kūla-ālambī: clinging to the shore
• kūla-ālambī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kūla (प्रातिपदिक) + ālambin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (mahāvṛkṣaḥ); सप्तमी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषार्थ (kūle ālambī) — masculine, Nominative, singular; ‘clinging to the bank’

• mahā-vṛkṣaḥ: a great tree
• mahā-vṛkṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — masculine, Nominative, singular; कर्मधारय (mahān vṛkṣaḥ)

• sthitaḥ: standing
• sthitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत्) → sthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (mahāvṛkṣaḥ) — masculine, Nominative, singular; ‘standing/remaining’

• sthala-jaleṣu: on land and in water
• sthala-jaleṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthala (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन — neuter, Locative, plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (sthaleṣu ca jaleṣu ca)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक — indeclinable; conjunction

• velābhiḥ: by the waves/tides
• velābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: velā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — feminine, Instrumental, plural

• hanyamānaḥ: being battered/struck
• hanyamānaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु) + ya (यक्, कर्मणि) + śānac (कृत्) → hanyamāna (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle); विशेषण (mahāvṛkṣaḥ) — masculine, Nominative, singular; ‘being struck’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक — indeclinable; conjunction

• na: not
• na: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात — indeclinable; negation particle

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वय — indeclinable; connective

• asau: that (tree)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — masculine, Nominative, singular; demonstrative pronoun

• kaṃpate: shakes/trembles
• kaṃpate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kamp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद — Present indicative, 3rd person, singular; middle voice

• dhruvaḥ: firm/steady
• dhruvaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (asau/mahāvṛkṣaḥ) — masculine, Nominative, singular

Speaker

Suta (narrating Purana discourse; verse as an illustrative simile within the Uttara-bhaga tirtha discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches inner steadiness (dhairya/dhruvatā): the wise remain anchored in dharma even when repeatedly struck by changing circumstances, just as a bank-rooted tree withstands waves.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is implied as firm anchoring—when the mind is rooted in the Lord and righteous conduct, external disturbances (the ‘waves’ of life) cannot shake one’s resolve or faith.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (e.g., Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, Kalpa) is directly taught; the verse functions primarily as a dharma-illustration (nyāya/simile) for cultivating steadiness in practice.