Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 45
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
द्विवर्णः सत्त्वहीनः स्यात्केकरश्चतुरक्षरः । षड्वर्णो बीजहीनो वा सार्द्धसप्ताक्षरोऽपि वा ॥ ४५ ॥
dvivarṇaḥ sattvahīnaḥ syātkekaraścaturakṣaraḥ | ṣaḍvarṇo bījahīno vā sārddhasaptākṣaro'pi vā || 45 ||
രണ്ടുവർണ്ണമുള്ള മന്ത്രം സത്ത്വഹീനമെന്ന് പറയുന്നു; ‘കേകര’ ദോഷമുള്ള നാലക്ഷരമന്ത്രവും ദോഷപൂർണം. അതുപോലെ ബീജമില്ലാത്ത ആറുവർണ്ണമന്ത്രമോ, സാർദ്ധസപ്താക്ഷരമന്ത്രമോ ദോഷയുക്തമെന്നു കരുതുന്നു.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on mantra-lakshana within Vedanga-oriented teaching)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It teaches that mantra is a precise Vedic technology: when syllable-count, phonetics, and required bīja are defective, the mantra’s intended spiritual potency and ritual fruit are diminished.
It indirectly supports bhakti by emphasizing disciplined, correct japa and worship: devotion becomes steadier and more fruitful when the mantra used for Vishnu-upasana is properly formed and recited without doṣa.
Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-lakṣaṇa are highlighted—correct akṣara/varṇa structure, avoidance of pronunciation/formation defects (kekara-doṣa), and the necessity of bīja in certain mantras.