Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

धातारं च विधातारं पूजयेद्धजदण्डके । हरिद्राक्षतगन्धाद्यैः शुक्लपुष्पैर्विशेषतः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

dhātāraṃ ca vidhātāraṃ pūjayeddhajadaṇḍake | haridrākṣatagandhādyaiḥ śuklapuṣpairviśeṣataḥ || 12 ||

Translation

ധ്വജദണ്ഡത്തിൽ ധാതാവിനെയും വിധാതാവിനെയും പൂജിക്കണം. മഞ്ഞൾ, അക്ഷതം, സുഗന്ധദ്രവ്യങ്ങൾ മുതലായവ—പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് വെളുത്ത പുഷ്പങ്ങൾ—അർപ്പിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• धातारम्: Dhātā
• धातारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; deity ‘Dhātā’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• विधातारम्: Vidhātā
• विधातारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; deity ‘Vidhātā’

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada; ‘should worship’

• ध्वज-दण्डके: on the flagstaff
• ध्वज-दण्डके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘on/at the flagstaff (small pole)’

• हरिद्रा-अक्षत-गन्ध-आद्यैः: with turmeric, akṣata, perfumes, etc.
• हरिद्रा-अक्षत-गन्ध-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; list-compound: ‘with turmeric, unbroken rice, fragrance, etc.’

• शुक्ल-पुष्पैः: with white flowers
• शुक्ल-पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; ‘with white flowers’

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition, commonly framed with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dhata
• Vidhata
• Dhvaja-daṇḍa (flagstaff)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise, sattvic mode of worship on the dhvaja-daṇḍa, honoring cosmic functions (Dhātā and Vidhātā) through pure offerings like turmeric, akṣata, fragrance, and white flowers—signifying order, auspiciousness, and ritual purity.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as disciplined, reverent service (pūjā) using prescribed offerings; devotion becomes concrete through careful ritual attention, purity of materials, and honoring divine roles that uphold the world-order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through itemized offerings and the correct locus of worship (dhvaja-daṇḍa), emphasizing practical ritual grammar—what to offer, where to offer, and the purity-signaling use of white flowers.