Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
आदिमध्यावसानेषु सकारो दृश्यते यदि । स मन्त्रो बधिरः प्रोक्तः कष्टेनाल्पफलप्रदः ॥ २५ ॥
ādimadhyāvasāneṣu sakāro dṛśyate yadi | sa mantro badhiraḥ proktaḥ kaṣṭenālpaphalapradaḥ || 25 ||
Bila pada awal, tengah, atau akhir mantra tampak suku kata ‘sa’, mantra itu disebut ‘badhira’ (tuli); ia memberi hasil kecil dan itu pun dengan susah payah.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/Mantra-śāstra context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It teaches that mantra-power depends on precise phonetic structure; certain sound-patterns are treated as doṣas (defects) that reduce spiritual and ritual efficacy.
It implies that devotion expressed through japa and ritual praise should be done with care in śabda (sacred sound); sincere bhakti is supported by correct recitation rather than careless chanting.
Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-śāstra: the verse flags a technical “mantra-doṣa” involving the placement of the syllable “sa,” warning that such a mantra becomes weak and yields limited results.