नमः शिवायेति मंत्रं सतारं विधिना तु यः । चतुर्विशतिलक्षं वै जपेत्साक्षात्सशंकरः ॥ ३० ॥
namaḥ śivāyeti maṃtraṃ satāraṃ vidhinā tu yaḥ | caturviśatilakṣaṃ vai japetsākṣātsaśaṃkaraḥ || 30 ||
Siapa yang menurut tata-ritus mengulang mantra “namaḥ śivāya” beserta praṇava (Oṃ) hingga dua puluh empat lakṣa japa, ia menjadi Śaṅkara sendiri secara nyata.
Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga context of tirtha/mahatmya and vows)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: vira
It elevates disciplined mantra-japa (with proper vidhi and the praṇava) as a direct means to attain Śiva-like realization—identity with Śaṅkara through sustained practice.
It presents bhakti as steady, count-based remembrance of the deity through mantra repetition, where devotion is expressed as continuous nāma-mantra absorption leading to divine proximity and likeness.
Ritual discipline (kalpa/vidhi) is implied: correct procedure, inclusion of praṇava (tāra), and regulated japa-saṅkhyā (count) as a technical practice of mantra-sādhana.