Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

सौरमन्त्राञ्जपेत्तत्र शान्तिसूत्कानि शक्तितः । रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यादुपकण्ठं हरेः शुचुः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

sauramantrāñjapettatra śāntisūtkāni śaktitaḥ | rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ kuryādupakaṇṭhaṃ hareḥ śucuḥ || 16 ||

Translation

Dort soll man die Saura-Mantras (solare Mantras) im Japa wiederholen und, nach eigener Kraft, die Śānti-sūktas, Hymnen der Befriedung, rezitieren. Nachts soll man, gereinigt, die Nachtwache halten und nahe bei der Gegenwart Haris (Viṣṇu) verweilen.

Word by Word

• sauramantrān: solar mantras
• sauramantrān: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sauramantra (सौरमन्त्र)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• japet: should chant/mutter
• japet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (जप्)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), 3rd, Singular

• tatra: there/in that place
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (तत्र)
• Form: Adverb

• śāntisūktāni: peace hymns
• śāntisūktāni: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāntisūkta (शान्तिसूक्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• śaktitaḥ: according to ability
• śaktitaḥ: Adverb
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śakti (शक्ति)
• Form: Adverbial suffix -tasil

• rātrau: at night
• rātrau: Adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (रात्रि)
• Form: Fem, Locative, Singular

• jāgaraṇam: waking/vigil
• jāgaraṇam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāgaraṇa (जागरण)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• kuryāt: should do/perform
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), 3rd, Singular

• upakaṇṭham: near/in the presence of
• upakaṇṭham: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upakaṇṭha (उपकण्ठ)
• Form: Adverbial Compound

• hareḥ: of Hari (Vishnu)
• hareḥ: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (हरि)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• śuciḥ: pure/clean
• śuciḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (शुचि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in the vrata/ritual sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It prescribes a combined practice of mantra-japa, śānti (pacificatory) recitation, and all-night wakefulness as a disciplined offering that purifies the practitioner and aligns the rite toward Hari (Viṣṇu).

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

Bhakti is expressed through staying “near Hari” with purity and sustained remembrance—chanting and keeping vigil—so the mind remains fixed on Viṣṇu throughout the night.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights practical mantra-application and śānti-vidhi usage (ritual procedure): selecting specific sūktas/mantras and performing them “according to capacity,” a key principle in applied Vedic ritual discipline.