Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
द्विनवत्येकहीनो वा शतत्रयमथापि वा । ये मंत्रा वर्णसंख्याका निःस्नेहास्ते प्रकीर्तिताः ॥ ५६ ॥
dvinavatyekahīno vā śatatrayamathāpi vā | ye maṃtrā varṇasaṃkhyākā niḥsnehāste prakīrtitāḥ || 56 ||
যে মন্ত্রগুলি কেবল অক্ষর‑গণনায় পরিমিত—একানব্বই (বিরানব্বই থেকে এক কম) হোক বা তিনশো পর্যন্ত—তাদের ‘নিঃস্নেহ’ বলা হয়েছে, অর্থাৎ অন্তঃশক্তি ও ভক্তি‑প্রভাবহীন।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedanga-style discussion on mantra characteristics)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It warns that mantra-power is not produced by numerical syllable-count alone; without living bhāva (sneha/rasa) and right method, the mantra becomes ‘dry’ and spiritually unfruitful.
By calling such mantras niḥsneha (“without affection/unction”), it implies that devotion and heartfelt orientation are essential for mantra to mature into a transformative practice, not just technical recitation.
It reflects a Śikṣā/Chandas-oriented concern with akṣara (syllable/letter) counts, while simultaneously teaching the limitation of purely mechanical metrics in mantra-vidhi.