Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
शिव शक्त्यार्णहीनो वा निर्बीजः स मनुः स्मृतः । आद्यंतमध्ये फट्कारः षोढा यस्मिन्प्रदृश्यते ॥ ४३ ॥
śiva śaktyārṇahīno vā nirbījaḥ sa manuḥ smṛtaḥ | ādyaṃtamadhye phaṭkāraḥ ṣoḍhā yasminpradṛśyate || 43 ||
A mantra lacking the syllables of Śiva and Śakti is remembered as “nirbīja,” without seed. It is that mantra in which the utterance “phaṭ” is seen in sixfold form—at the beginning, at the end, and in the middle.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It defines a technical marker of mantra-structure: a mantra without the Śiva–Śakti syllabic components is termed nirbīja, and it is recognized by prescribed placements/forms of the protective “phaṭ” sound—showing how power is encoded through phonetics and arrangement.
Indirectly: it shows that devotion is supported by disciplined mantra-prayoga—properly formed sound (śabda) and traditional rules safeguard and focus the devotee’s worship, making japa and ritual offerings spiritually effective.
Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and mantra-vinyāsa: the verse emphasizes syllabic components (arṇa), “seed” theory (bīja/nirbīja), and the functional placement of a phonetic exclamation (phaṭ) used in ritual protection and mantra application.