Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारग । सर्वकर्मवरिष्टं च त्वयोक्तं ध्वजधारणम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | bhagavansarvadharmajña sarvaśāstrārthapāraga | sarvakarmavariṣṭaṃ ca tvayoktaṃ dhvajadhāraṇam || 1 ||

Translation

నారదుడు పలికెను— ఓ భగవన్! మీరు సర్వధర్మజ్ఞులు, సర్వశాస్త్రార్థపారగులు. సమస్త కర్మములలో ధ్వజధారణమే శ్రేష్ఠమని మీరు ప్రకటించారు.

Word by Word

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• भगवन्: O Blessed Lord
• भगवन्: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वधर्मज्ञ: knower of all dharmas
• सर्वधर्मज्ञ: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-धर्म-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘सर्वेषां धर्माणां ज्ञः’

• सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारग: one who has mastered the meanings of all scriptures
• सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारग: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-शास्त्र-अर्थ-पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘सर्वशास्त्राणाम् अर्थेषु पारगः’

• सर्वकर्मवरिष्टम्: the best among all acts
• सर्वकर्मवरिष्टम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-कर्म-वरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्वेषु कर्मसु वरिष्ठम्’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• उक्तम्: said, declared
• उक्तम्: विशेषण (Predicate/Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• ध्वजधारणम्: the holding of a banner
• ध्वजधारणम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज-धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘ध्वजस्य धारणम्’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse frames dhvaja-dhāraṇa (raising/bearing a sacred banner) as a supremely meritorious religious observance, introduced with reverence to the teacher’s complete mastery of dharma and śāstra—signaling that the practice is grounded in authoritative tradition and intended to elevate devotion and merit.

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

By praising dhvaja-dhāraṇa as the best of acts, Nārada points to visible, emblematic worship—an outward sign that supports inward devotion. In Purāṇic bhakti, such symbols (like a dhvaja associated with the deity) help fix the mind on the Lord and make devotion continuous and public.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While no specific Vedāṅga is named, the verse emphasizes śāstra-arthapāragatā—competence in interpreting scriptural meaning. Practically, this points to the role of Vyākaraṇa and Nirukta-supported exegesis in determining what counts as ‘श्रेष्ठ’ (highest) among ritual actions and vows.