Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
त्र्यक्षरो हंसहीनो यः सुषुप्तः कीर्तितस्तु सः । विद्या वाप्यथवा मंत्रो भवेत्सप्तदशाक्षरः ॥ ३५ ॥
tryakṣaro haṃsahīno yaḥ suṣuptaḥ kīrtitastu saḥ | vidyā vāpyathavā maṃtro bhavetsaptadaśākṣaraḥ || 35 ||
जो त्र्यक्षरी असून ‘हंस’रहित आहे, तो ‘सुषुप्त’ म्हणून कीर्तित आहे; परंतु विद्या अथवा (खरा) मंत्र सतराक्षरी सांगितला आहे.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It contrasts a deficient, ‘haṃsa’-less three-syllable utterance—linked here with the inertness of deep sleep—with the completeness of a properly formed vidyā/mantra, characterized as seventeen-syllabled, emphasizing precision in mantra-śāstra.
By implying that effective spiritual practice requires correctly constituted mantra-vidyā rather than incomplete sound-forms; in Bhakti contexts, this supports disciplined japa and accurate recitation as a support for devotion.
Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-akṣara (syllable) analysis—counting and preserving exact syllables for correct chanting, a core technical concern in Vedic recitation and mantra application.