Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

आरोपितो ध्वजो विष्णुगृहे धुन्वन्पटं स्वकम् । कर्तुः सर्वाणि पापानि धुनोति निमिषार्द्धतः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

āropito dhvajo viṣṇugṛhe dhunvanpaṭaṃ svakam | kartuḥ sarvāṇi pāpāni dhunoti nimiṣārddhataḥ || 46 ||

Translation

ธงที่ปักในเรือน/เทวาลัยของพระวิษณุ เมื่อสะบัดผืนผ้าแห่งตน ย่อมสลัดบาปทั้งปวงของผู้ตั้งธงนั้นออกไปได้ในครึ่งขณะ.

Word by Word

• आरोपितः: hoisted
• आरोपितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु) → आरोपित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ध्वजः इति विशेषण

• ध्वजः: the flag
• ध्वजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्ता

• विष्णुगृहे: in Vishnu's temple/house
• विष्णुगृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• धुन्वन्: shaking/waving
• धुन्वन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धुन् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ध्वजः इति कर्तृ-विशेषण

• पटम्: cloth (banner cloth)
• पटम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

• स्वकम्: its own
• स्वकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पटम् इति विशेषण

• कर्तुः: of the doer (installer)
• कर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (possessor)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; पापानि इति विशेषण

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्म

• धुनोति: shakes off/removes
• धुनोति: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धुन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• निमिषार्द्धतः: within half a moment
• निमिषार्द्धतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निमिष + अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'from/within'; कालावधि-अव्यय (time-span adverb)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that even a simple, sincere act of service to Viṣṇu—such as hoisting a temple flag—has powerful purifying force, rapidly destroying papa (sin) through devotion expressed in worship.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical seva: offering visible honor to Viṣṇu’s abode. The flag’s continual flutter symbolizes ongoing remembrance and reverence, and the merit accrues to the devotee who performs the act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects ritual application (kalpa-style practice): a concrete temple observance (dhvaja-āropaṇa) and its stated phala (result), rather than grammar or astrology.