Shloka 123
Merit of Causeways and Crossings, Temple Construction Rewards, and the Rudrākṣa Mahātmya
संख्यातं यज्जपेन्मंत्रमसंख्यातं च निष्फलम् । सर्वेषामेव देवानां जपेन्मंत्रं स्वमालया
saṃkhyātaṃ yajjapenmaṃtramasaṃkhyātaṃ ca niṣphalam | sarveṣāmeva devānāṃ japenmaṃtraṃ svamālayā
গণনা করে মন্ত্রজপ করলে তা ফলপ্রদ; গণনা-বিহীন জপ নিষ্ফল। অতএব নিজের মালা দিয়ে সকল দেবতার মন্ত্র জপ করা উচিত।
Unspecified (narrative instruction within the Adhyaya; speaker not identifiable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Spiritual effort must be measured and intentional; counted japa embodies niyama and prevents heedless, distracted religiosity.
Application: Set a daily sankalpa (e.g., 1–4 rounds) and complete it attentively; use your own mālā consistently; track repetitions to cultivate steadiness and reduce mental wandering.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner sits before a small altar bearing multiple deity symbols—Vishnu’s śaṅkha-cakra, Shiva’s liṅga emblem, Gaṇapati’s modaka/ankusha motif, and Surya’s radiant disc—yet the focus remains on the mālā in the hands. Each bead is counted with care, and a written tally or palm-leaf note rests nearby, symbolizing ‘saṅkhyāta japa’.","primary_figures":["a householder devotee","(optional) subtle icon-forms of Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, Surya on the altar"],"setting":"Domestic shrine room with a low altar, incense, a copper water pot, and a neatly coiled mālā; atmosphere of orderly devotion.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["copper bronze","ivory white","saffron","peacock blue","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a householder devotee counting a tulasi mālā with meticulous hand posture; a compact altar with Vishnu’s śaṅkha-cakra, a small Shiva liṅga, Gaṇapati icon, and Surya disc; lavish gold leaf on halos and altar arch, rich reds/greens, jewel-like detailing on the mālā and vessels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate indoor shrine scene, delicate lines showing bead-by-bead counting; soft morning light through a lattice window; refined facial features, cool shadows, subtle textiles; small deity emblems painted with restraint and elegance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized hands emphasizing counting; altar icons simplified into emblematic forms; warm pigment palette with rhythmic repetition of beads; temple-wall aesthetic even in a domestic setting.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central devotee with mālā; surrounding border of repeating bead-and-lotus motifs; Vishnu-centered composition with secondary emblems in corners; deep blues and gold, intricate floral filigree, peacocks perched along the border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["counting beads (soft clicks)","incense crackle","temple bell (single strikes)","morning birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यज्जपेन्मंत्रम्→यत् जपेत् मन्त्रम्; मन्त्रमसंख्यातं→मन्त्रम् असंख्यातम्; सर्वेषामेव→सर्वेषाम् एव; स्वमालया treated as tatpuruṣa (‘own rosary’) in instr. sg.
FAQs
It teaches that disciplined, measurable repetition (saṃkhyāta-japa) is considered effective and goal-oriented, while casual, uncounted recitation is described as lacking focused spiritual yield.
A mālā functions as a practical tool to keep an accurate count and maintain attention during japa, supporting steadiness (niyama) and continuity of practice.
The wording gives a general procedural rule for mantra-recitation—especially that mantras (including those of various deities) should be performed with counted repetitions, typically using one’s own mālā.