Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
ज्ञातव्यो भ्रांत इत्येष यः स्यादष्टा दशाक्षरः । पुनर्विशतिवर्णो वा यो मंत्रः स्मरसंयुतः ॥ ३८ ॥
jñātavyo bhrāṃta ityeṣa yaḥ syādaṣṭā daśākṣaraḥ | punarviśativarṇo vā yo maṃtraḥ smarasaṃyutaḥ || 38 ||
Ketahuilah sebagai mantra ‘bhrānta’ (menyimpang): mantra yang berjumlah delapan belas suku kata, atau dua puluh huruf, bila disertai kata-kata yang berkaitan dengan Smara (Kāma).
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/Mantra-śāstra context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It warns that mantra-efficacy depends not only on form (syllable/letter count) but also on purity of intent and content; mantras tied to erotic passion (Smara) are classified as ‘bhrānta’ and are to be recognized as unsuitable for sāttvika spiritual aims.
By implying that devotion requires mental purity and God-centered remembrance; mantras mixed with passion distract the mind from steady bhakti and therefore are treated as defective for devotional practice.
A technical mantra-śāstra point: mantras are analyzed by akṣara/varṇa count and by semantic association; content linked with Smara is flagged as a defect (doṣa) affecting ritual/spiritual suitability.