Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
मनोर्यस्यादिमध्यांते स्यान्मकारचतुष्टयम् । मलिनस्तु स विज्ञेयो ह्यतिक्लेशेन सिद्धिदः ॥ ३२ ॥
manoryasyādimadhyāṃte syānmakāracatuṣṭayam | malinastu sa vijñeyo hyatikleśena siddhidaḥ || 32 ||
Mantra yang pada awal, tengah, dan akhir memuat huruf “ma” sebanyak empat kali hendaknya dipahami sebagai ‘tidak murni’; ia memberi keberhasilan hanya melalui kesukaran yang berlebihan.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It gives a technical mantra-lakṣaṇa (diagnostic rule): certain phonetic patterns are considered “malina” (tainted), meaning results may come only with disproportionate strain—so discernment in mantra choice is emphasized.
Indirectly, it protects sādhakas from misguided practice: bhakti and japa should be supported by proper mantra-śāstra guidance so devotion becomes steady and fruitful rather than burdened by avoidable hardship.
Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa-oriented phonetic analysis—using letter occurrence (here, repeated “ma”) as a criterion in mantra evaluation for efficacy (siddhi) and suitability in practice.