Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
म्योद्वयं हृदयं शीर्षे वषड्वौषट्कमध्यमः । यस्य स्याद्भेदितो मंत्रस्त्याज्यः क्लिष्टफलप्रदः ॥ ३४ ॥
myodvayaṃ hṛdayaṃ śīrṣe vaṣaḍvauṣaṭkamadhyamaḥ | yasya syādbhedito maṃtrastyājyaḥ kliṣṭaphalapradaḥ || 34 ||
Si un mantra place les deux syllabes « myo » à la fin, met le « hṛdaya » (graine du cœur) en tête et insère au milieu la formule vaṣaṭ/vauṣaṭ, alors ce mantra, brisé et mal agencé, doit être écarté, car il ne donne que des fruits pénibles et tourmentés.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedanga/ritual context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It stresses that spiritual practice must be grounded in śāstric correctness: a mantra that is structurally “broken” (bhedita) is not merely ineffective, but can produce obstructed or distressing outcomes, so discernment and proper transmission are essential.
By implication, it teaches that devotion is strengthened—not replaced—by right method: a sincere bhakta should rely on a properly received and correctly formed mantra rather than improvising ritual elements that distort the practice.
A practical mantra-śāstra point tied to Vedanga-style technicality: the placement of mantra components (head/śīrṣa, heart/hṛdaya, and vaṣaṭ/vauṣaṭ oblation formulas) matters, and improper sequencing is treated as a ritual defect (doṣa).