Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44
Dhvajāropaṇa and Dhvajāgopaṇa: Procedure, Stotra, and Phala (Merit) of Raising Viṣṇu’s Flag
यावद्दिनानि तिष्टेत ध्वजो विष्णुगृहे द्विज । तावद्युगसहस्त्राणि हरिसारुप्यमश्नुते ॥ ४४ ॥
yāvaddināni tiṣṭeta dhvajo viṣṇugṛhe dvija | tāvadyugasahastrāṇi harisārupyamaśnute || 44 ||
हे द्विज! विष्णु-गृह/मन्दिर में जितने दिनों तक ध्वज खड़ा रहता है, उतने ही सहस्र युगों तक भक्त भगवान् हरि का सारूप्य (उनके समान रूप) प्राप्त करता है।
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that even a tangible act of temple devotion—installing or maintaining Hari’s flag—produces immense spiritual merit, culminating in sārūpya (attaining a form like Viṣṇu) for vast cosmic durations.
Bhakti is shown as practical and temple-centered: honoring Viṣṇu through visible service (dhvaja in Viṣṇu-gṛha) becomes a sustained offering, and its continuity (as long as it stands) mirrors sustained devotion, yielding liberation-like proximity to Hari.
Ritual application (kalpa/ācāra) is implied: the verse points to prescribed temple observances and merit-accounting tied to duration, a common dharma-śāstric principle used in vrata and pūjā procedures.