Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

यः कुर्याद्विष्णुभवने ध्वजारोपणमुत्तमम् । संपूज्यते विग्निञ्च्याद्यैः किमन्यैर्बहुभाषितैः ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ kuryādviṣṇubhavane dhvajāropaṇamuttamam | saṃpūjyate vigniñcyādyaiḥ kimanyairbahubhāṣitaiḥ || 2 ||

Translation

Quiconque accomplit l’excellent rite d’élever un drapeau dans le temple de Viṣṇu est honoré et vénéré même par Vighneśa (Gaṇeśa) et d’autres êtres divins ; à quoi bon s’étendre davantage ?

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who (he who)
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु: कृ)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇu-bhavane: in Viṣṇu’s temple/abode
• viṣṇu-bhavane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः भवने)

• dhvaja-āropaṇam: raising of a flag
• dhvaja-āropaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + āropaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (ध्वजस्य आरोपणम्)

• uttamam: excellent, best
• uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with dhvaja-āropaṇam

• saṃpūjyate: is honoured/worshipped
• saṃpūjyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√pūj (धातु: पूज्)
• Form: Present/लट्, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive sense ‘is worshipped/honoured’

• vigniñcya-ādyaiḥ: by Vighniñcya and others
• vigniñcya-ādyaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vigniñcya (प्रातिपदिक; proper name) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ādi-śabda indicates ‘beginning with’; compound: तत्पुरुषः (विग्निञ्च्यादयः)

• kim: what (need)
• kim: Prayojana/Alam (प्रयोजन/अलंकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative pronoun used idiomatically

• anyaiḥ: by others
• anyaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bahu-bhāṣitaiḥ: with many words, with much talk
• bahu-bhāṣitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); bhāṣita = PPP (क्त) of √bhāṣ; कर्मधारयः (बहूनि भाषितानि)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dhvajāropaṇa-vrata (contextual)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vighnesha (Ganesha)

FAQs

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

It teaches that even a seemingly simple act of temple-sevā—hoisting a flag at Viṣṇu’s temple—carries great spiritual merit, so exalted that major deities honor the devotee.

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

Bhakti is expressed as loving service to Viṣṇu’s abode; the verse elevates practical service (sevā) over mere talk, indicating devotion is proven by sincere offerings and actions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily ritual practice (kalpa/ācāra in the broader sense): it points to a specific temple rite (dhvajāropaṇa) and its phala (result), emphasizing correct devotional observance rather than technical grammar or astrology.