Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

ध्वजारोपणतुल्यं स्याद्गङ्गास्नानमनुत्तमम् । अथवा तुलसिसेवा शिवलिङ्गप्रपूजनम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

dhvajāropaṇatulyaṃ syādgaṅgāsnānamanuttamam | athavā tulasisevā śivaliṅgaprapūjanam || 4 ||

Translation

Việc tắm trong sông Gaṅgā—hành vi vô thượng—được nói là ngang bằng với việc dựng cờ thiêng để thờ phụng. Hoặc việc phụng sự Tulasī và sự lễ bái Śiva-liṅga một cách trọn vẹn cũng đem công đức tương đương.

Word by Word

• dhvaja-āropaṇa-tulyam: equal to flag-hoisting
• dhvaja-āropaṇa-tulyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + āropaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (‘equal to flag-hoisting’)

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• gaṅgā-snānām: bathing in the Ganga
• gaṅgā-snānām: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘bath in the Ganga’)

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; superlative sense (‘unsurpassed’)

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta; alternative conjunction

• tulasi-sevā: service to Tulasi
• tulasi-sevā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulasī (प्रातिपदिक) + sevā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘service of Tulasi’)

• śiva-liṅga-prapūjanam: worship of the Śiva-liṅga
• śiva-liṅga-prapūjanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + prapūjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Nominative (1), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (‘worship of the Śiva-liṅga’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Tulasi
• Shiva-linga
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It ranks several widely accessible acts—Gaṅgā bathing, hoisting a sacred worship-banner, serving Tulasī, and worshipping the Śiva-liṅga—as highly meritorious, emphasizing that sincere devotional observance can confer great punya.

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

By highlighting Tulasī-sevā and reverent pūjā as equal in merit to famed pilgrimage acts, it teaches that bhakti expressed through regular, heartfelt service and worship is a direct and powerful spiritual path.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: prescribed acts like snāna, dhvaja-āropaṇa, and prapūjana are presented as structured devotional rites, guiding practical dharmic worship rather than technical grammar or astrology.