Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

देवस्य द्वारदेशे वा शिखरे वा मुदान्वितः । सुस्थिरं स्थापयेद्विप्र ध्वजं सस्तम्भसंयुतम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

devasya dvāradeśe vā śikhare vā mudānvitaḥ | susthiraṃ sthāpayedvipra dhvajaṃ sastambhasaṃyutam || 19 ||

Translation

O brāhmaṇa, na may masayang at mapitagang diwa, itindig nang matatag ang watawat ng templo—kasama ang poste nito—sa may pook ng tarangkahan ng dambana ng Diyos o sa tuktok ng templo.

Word by Word

• devasya: of the deity
• devasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• dvāra-deśe: at the doorway area
• dvāra-deśe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāra (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• śikhare: on the top/peak
• śikhare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

• mudā-anvitaḥ: endowed with joy
• mudā-anvitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त; √i/anu-√i)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘anvita’; समासः—तत्पुरुष (instrumental/association sense)

• su-sthiram: very firm/steady
• su-sthiram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + sthira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय

• sthāpayet: should place/establish
• sthāpayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• dhvajam: the flag
• dhvajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• sa-stambha-saṃyutam: joined with a pole/pillar
• sa-stambha-saṃyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + stambha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (कृदन्त; √yuj)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘saṃyuta’ (joined); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सह-सम्बन्ध)

Speaker

Narada (instructing a brahmana/ritual practitioner)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Deva (temple deity)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that visible temple symbols like the dhvaja (banner) should be established with auspicious joy and stability, expressing steadfast devotion and publicly marking the deity’s presence and protection.

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

Bhakti is shown as disciplined temple-sevā: approaching the deity with gladness (mudā) and performing careful, stable installation of sacred emblems, turning devotion into concrete, ordered worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (kalpa-style guidance) and temple-placement sensibility (often aligned with vāstu considerations): where to place the dhvaja and the need for firm installation with its stambha.