Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

अहोऽपूर्वमहोऽपूर्वमहोऽपूर्वमिदं द्विज । सर्वपाप हरं कर्म ध्वजागोपणसंज्ञितम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

aho'pūrvamaho'pūrvamaho'pūrvamidaṃ dvija | sarvapāpa haraṃ karma dhvajāgopaṇasaṃjñitam || 5 ||

Translation

അഹോ! അപൂർവം, അപൂർവം, അത്യന്തം അപൂർവമാണിത്, ഹേ ദ്വിജ; ‘ധ്വജാഗോപണ’ എന്നു പേരുള്ള ഈ കർമ്മം സർവ്വപാപഹരമാണ്।

Word by Word

• aho: ah!/oh!
• aho: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Udāharaṇa-nipāta (उद्गार/निपात), exclamation

• apūrvam: unprecedented/wondrous
• apūrvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular; used predicatively

• aho: oh!
• aho: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamatory particle (उद्गार)

• apūrvam: wondrous
• apūrvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• aho: oh!
• aho: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamatory particle (उद्गार)

• apūrvam: unprecedented
• apūrvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• dvija: O twice-born (brahmin)
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Vocative (8 विभक्ति/सम्बोधन), Singular

• sarva-pāpa-haram: removing all sins
• sarva-pāpa-haram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘removing all sins’)

• karma: act/rite
• karma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular

• dhvaja-āropaṇa-saṃjñitam: called ‘flag-hoisting’
• dhvaja-āropaṇa-saṃjñitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + āropaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from sam-√jñā ‘to be named’)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular; past passive participle (क्त) ‘named/called’; तत्पुरुषः (‘called flag-hoisting’)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic dialogue voice; addressing a dvija)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dhvajāgopaṇa (rite of safeguarding the sacred flag)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It praises the Dhvajāgopaṇa observance as an extraordinary, merit-generating rite whose core fruit is the destruction of sins (sarva-pāpa-haraṇa), emphasizing purification through dharmic ritual action.

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

By glorifying a named religious observance connected with sacred symbolism (the dhvaja/flag), the verse supports bhakti in a practical form—devotion expressed through disciplined worship and protective service to a holy emblem.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: the verse classifies Dhvajāgopaṇa as a specific karma/vidhi with a stated result (phala), reflecting the Vedic method of prescribing rites with defined spiritual outcomes.