Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

हेमभारसहस्त्रं तु यो ददाति कुटुम्बिने । तत्फलं तुल्यमात्रं स्याद्धूजारोपणकर्मणः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

hemabhārasahastraṃ tu yo dadāti kuṭumbine | tatphalaṃ tulyamātraṃ syāddhūjāropaṇakarmaṇaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Even if one were to give a householder a thousand loads of gold, the merit gained would be only equal to the fruit of the religious rite of planting dhūjā, the sacred tree or plant.

Word by Word

• hema-bhāra-sahasram: a thousand loads of gold
• hema-bhāra-sahasram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1/2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (hema-bhāra = ‘of gold’ load; bhāra-sahasra = ‘thousand loads’)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात), adversative/emphatic particle

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• dadāti: gives
• dadāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धाातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• kuṭumbine: to a householder/family man
• kuṭumbine: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭumbin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4 विभक्ति/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat-phalam: that fruit/result
• tat-phalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); प्रादि-तत्पुरुषः (tat + phala)

• tulya-mātram: only equal (in measure)
• tulya-mātram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (‘only equal’)

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

• dhvaja-āropaṇa-karmaṇaḥ: of the act of hoisting a flag
• dhvaja-āropaṇa-karmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + āropaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6 विभक्ति/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘of the act of raising a flag’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that certain dharmic rites—here, sacred planting (dhūjāropaṇa)—can yield merit comparable to immense monetary charity, emphasizing purposeful, sanctified action over sheer material magnitude.

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

By valuing a consecrated act that supports dharma and sacred space, the verse aligns with bhakti-oriented living: offerings are not only wealth-based but also expressed through acts that sustain devotional and ritual ecosystems.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (Kalpa) is implied: the verse points to a specific prescribed karma (dhūjāropaṇa) whose performance, timing, and procedure belong to the domain of dharma-ritual practice.