Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39
Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna
Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata
स्वबीजाद्यो दशार्णोऽसौ अन्ये नवशिवाक्षराः । आद्यबीजद्वयेनासौ द्वितीयो मन्त्र ईरितः ॥ ३९ ॥
svabījādyo daśārṇo'sau anye navaśivākṣarāḥ | ādyabījadvayenāsau dvitīyo mantra īritaḥ || 39 ||
अपने बीज से आरम्भ होने वाला वह मन्त्र दशार्ण (दस अक्षरों) का है; अन्य मन्त्र नव-शिवाक्षर हैं। जब उसके आगे प्रथम दो बीज जोड़े जाएँ, तब वही दूसरा मन्त्र कहा गया है॥
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches that mantra-power is preserved through precise structure—seed-syllables (bīja) and syllable-count (akṣara/arṇa) are not decorative but define distinct mantra-forms and their intended ritual use.
Even when devotion is the aim, the Purana emphasizes disciplined practice: the devotee honors the deity (here, Śiva) through accurate japa and correct mantra formation, treating sound as sacred worship.
It highlights a technical rule used in mantra-śāstra and recitation practice—counting syllables (akṣara) and applying bīja prefixes to generate an alternate (second) mantra form for ritual/japa.