Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73
The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others
Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna
दशाक्षरोऽयं मंत्रोऽस्य मुनिर्ब्रह्मा विराट् पुनः । छन्दस्तु देवता प्रोक्तो रामो राक्षसमर्दनः ॥ ७३ ॥
daśākṣaro'yaṃ maṃtro'sya munirbrahmā virāṭ punaḥ | chandastu devatā prokto rāmo rākṣasamardanaḥ || 73 ||
ഇത് ദശാക്ഷര മന്ത്രമാണ്. ഇതിന്റെ മുനി ബ്രഹ്മാ; ഛന്ദസ് വിരാട്; ദേവതയായി രാക്ഷസമർദ്ദനനായ ശ്രീരാമൻ പ്രസ്താവിതൻ।
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on mantra-śāstra markers: ṛṣi–chandas–devatā)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It formalizes the mantra’s identity through the classical triad—ṛṣi (seer), chandas (metre), and devatā (presiding deity)—showing that mantra-recitation is meant to be aligned with its revealed source, Vedic cadence, and divine focus.
By naming Rāma as the devatā, the verse directs devotion toward Rāma as the mantra’s living center, framing japa as personal worship of the Lord who removes demonic obstacles (inner and outer).
Chandas (metre) and mantra-lakṣaṇa: the practitioner is taught to know a mantra’s seer (ṛṣi), its metrical form (Virāṭ), and its deity (Rāma) before employing it in japa or ritual recitation.