Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
द्विवर्णः सत्त्वहीनः स्यात्केकरश्चतुरक्षरः । षड्वर्णो बीजहीनो वा सार्द्धसप्ताक्षरोऽपि वा ॥ ४५ ॥
dvivarṇaḥ sattvahīnaḥ syātkekaraścaturakṣaraḥ | ṣaḍvarṇo bījahīno vā sārddhasaptākṣaro'pi vā || 45 ||
দুই বর্ণের মন্ত্র শক্তিহীন বলা হয়; আর ‘কেকর’ দোষযুক্ত চার অক্ষরের মন্ত্রও ত্রুটিপূর্ণ। তদ্রূপ বীজহীন ছয় বর্ণের, কিংবা সাড়ে সাত অক্ষরের মন্ত্রও দোষযুক্ত গণ্য।
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on mantra-lakshana within Vedanga-oriented teaching)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It teaches that mantra is a precise Vedic technology: when syllable-count, phonetics, and required bīja are defective, the mantra’s intended spiritual potency and ritual fruit are diminished.
It indirectly supports bhakti by emphasizing disciplined, correct japa and worship: devotion becomes steadier and more fruitful when the mantra used for Vishnu-upasana is properly formed and recited without doṣa.
Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-lakṣaṇa are highlighted—correct akṣara/varṇa structure, avoidance of pronunciation/formation defects (kekara-doṣa), and the necessity of bīja in certain mantras.