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

Ôi kỳ diệu thay—kỳ diệu thay—thật là kỳ diệu, hỡi bậc nhị sinh! Nghiệp hành này, gọi là “Dhvajāgopaṇa” (nghi lễ gìn giữ cờ thiêng), có năng lực tiêu trừ mọi tội lỗi.

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.