Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36
Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya
षट्कारपंचकादिर्यो मदोन्मत्तस्तु स स्मृतः । यस्य मध्ये स्थितं चास्रं स मंत्रो मूर्च्छितः स्मृतः ॥ ३६ ॥
ṣaṭkārapaṃcakādiryo madonmattastu sa smṛtaḥ | yasya madhye sthitaṃ cāsraṃ sa maṃtro mūrcchitaḥ smṛtaḥ || 36 ||
जो मंत्र ‘षट्कार’ व ‘पंचक’ ध्वनीसमूहाने आरंभतो, तो ‘मदोन्मत्त’ (डोलणारा) समजला आहे; आणि ज्याच्या मध्यभागी ‘अस्र’ (तीक्ष्ण/छेदन) ध्वनी आहे, तो मंत्र ‘मूर्च्छित’ स्मृत आहे.
Narada (teaching in a technical Vedanga-style context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
FAQs
It teaches that mantra-power depends on disciplined sound-structure (śabda-śuddhi); certain phonetic formations are treated as blemishes that disturb clarity and thus weaken ritual and contemplative efficacy.
Bhakti is strengthened by careful, respectful recitation; the verse implies that devotion expressed through mantra should be steady and well-formed, not distorted by faulty phonetics that scatter the mind and dilute focus on the deity.
Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-lakṣaṇa: it flags specific sound-group placements at the beginning or middle of a mantra as technical defects (doṣa) that practitioners should avoid in ritual recitation.