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 ||
Ein zweisilbiges Mantra gilt als ohne Wirkkraft; ein viersilbiges, das „kekara“ ist, ist ebenfalls fehlerhaft. Ebenso ist ein sechssilbiges Mantra ohne Bīja, oder sogar eines mit siebeneinhalb Silben, als mangelhaft anzusehen.
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.