Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

तं ददर्श महावृक्षं तेजस्वंतं महाद्रुमम् । महांतकं महारोहं पुण्यं विफलमेव च ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

taṃ dadarśa mahāvṛkṣaṃ tejasvaṃtaṃ mahādrumam | mahāṃtakaṃ mahārohaṃ puṇyaṃ viphalameva ca || 33 ||

Translation

他看见那棵大树：光辉炽盛，巨木巍然；枝叶铺展广大，树身高耸入云；诚然圣洁，却竟无一果实。

Word by Word

• tam: him/that (tree)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• mahā-vṛkṣam: a great tree
• mahā-vṛkṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tejasvantam: radiant
• tejasvantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tejasvant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• mahā-drumam: a huge tree
• mahā-drumam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + druma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mahāntakam: very formidable/terrible
• mahāntakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahāntaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• mahā-roham: of great height/growth
• mahā-roham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + roha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (having great growth/ascent)

• puṇyam: holy/auspicious
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• viphalam: fruitless; without fruit
• viphalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narrator (Suta) describing the scene within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya narrative

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It highlights a key puranic theme: something can appear grand and even “holy,” yet be spiritually unproductive—true merit is measured by inner transformation and results, not mere outward grandeur.

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

By implying that spiritual life should be “fruit-bearing”: bhakti is validated by qualities like humility, steadiness, and remembrance of the Lord, rather than only impressive external forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (e.g., Vyakarana, Jyotisha, Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharmic discernment—evaluating practices by their spiritual outcome rather than appearance.