Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Dhvajāropaṇa and Dhvajāgopaṇa: Procedure, Stotra, and Phala (Merit) of Raising Viṣṇu’s Flag

Devanagari script

ध्वजारोपणतुल्यं स्याद्गङ्गास्नानमनुत्तमम् । अथवा तुलसिसेवा शिवलिङ्गप्रपूजनम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

dhvajāropaṇatulyaṃ syādgaṅgāsnānamanuttamam | athavā tulasisevā śivaliṅgaprapūjanam || 4 ||

Translation

إن الاغتسال في نهر الغانغا، وهو عمل لا يُضاهى، يُقال إنه مساوٍ لرفع الراية المقدّسة للعبادة. أو إن خدمة التولسي، والعبادة التامة لِلِـشِفَا-لِنْغَا، تمنح ثوابًا مماثلًا.

Word by Word

• dhvaja-āropaṇa-tulyam: equal to flag-hoisting
• dhvaja-āropaṇa-tulyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + āropaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (‘equal to flag-hoisting’)

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• gaṅgā-snānām: bathing in the Ganga
• gaṅgā-snānām: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘bath in the Ganga’)

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; superlative sense (‘unsurpassed’)

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta; alternative conjunction

• tulasi-sevā: service to Tulasi
• tulasi-sevā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulasī (प्रातिपदिक) + sevā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘service of Tulasi’)

• śiva-liṅga-prapūjanam: worship of the Śiva-liṅga
• śiva-liṅga-prapūjanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + prapūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (‘worship of the Śiva-liṅga’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Tulasi
• Shiva-linga
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It ranks several widely accessible acts—Gaṅgā bathing, hoisting a sacred worship-banner, serving Tulasī, and worshipping the Śiva-liṅga—as highly meritorious, emphasizing that sincere devotional observance can confer great punya.

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

By highlighting Tulasī-sevā and reverent pūjā as equal in merit to famed pilgrimage acts, it teaches that bhakti expressed through regular, heartfelt service and worship is a direct and powerful spiritual path.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: prescribed acts like snāna, dhvaja-āropaṇa, and prapūjana are presented as structured devotional rites, guiding practical dharmic worship rather than technical grammar or astrology.