Shloka 123
Merit of Causeways and Crossings, Temple Construction Rewards, and the Rudrākṣa Mahātmya
संख्यातं यज्जपेन्मंत्रमसंख्यातं च निष्फलम् । सर्वेषामेव देवानां जपेन्मंत्रं स्वमालया
saṃkhyātaṃ yajjapenmaṃtramasaṃkhyātaṃ ca niṣphalam | sarveṣāmeva devānāṃ japenmaṃtraṃ svamālayā
منتر کو گنتی کے ساتھ جپنا چاہیے؛ بے گنتی جپ بے ثمر ہے۔ اس لیے اپنی مالا سے سب دیوتاؤں کے منتر جپنے چاہییں۔
Unspecified (narrative instruction within the Adhyaya; speaker not identifiable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Spiritual effort must be measured and intentional; counted japa embodies niyama and prevents heedless, distracted religiosity.
Application: Set a daily sankalpa (e.g., 1–4 rounds) and complete it attentively; use your own mālā consistently; track repetitions to cultivate steadiness and reduce mental wandering.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner sits before a small altar bearing multiple deity symbols—Vishnu’s śaṅkha-cakra, Shiva’s liṅga emblem, Gaṇapati’s modaka/ankusha motif, and Surya’s radiant disc—yet the focus remains on the mālā in the hands. Each bead is counted with care, and a written tally or palm-leaf note rests nearby, symbolizing ‘saṅkhyāta japa’.","primary_figures":["a householder devotee","(optional) subtle icon-forms of Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, Surya on the altar"],"setting":"Domestic shrine room with a low altar, incense, a copper water pot, and a neatly coiled mālā; atmosphere of orderly devotion.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["copper bronze","ivory white","saffron","peacock blue","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a householder devotee counting a tulasi mālā with meticulous hand posture; a compact altar with Vishnu’s śaṅkha-cakra, a small Shiva liṅga, Gaṇapati icon, and Surya disc; lavish gold leaf on halos and altar arch, rich reds/greens, jewel-like detailing on the mālā and vessels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate indoor shrine scene, delicate lines showing bead-by-bead counting; soft morning light through a lattice window; refined facial features, cool shadows, subtle textiles; small deity emblems painted with restraint and elegance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized hands emphasizing counting; altar icons simplified into emblematic forms; warm pigment palette with rhythmic repetition of beads; temple-wall aesthetic even in a domestic setting.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central devotee with mālā; surrounding border of repeating bead-and-lotus motifs; Vishnu-centered composition with secondary emblems in corners; deep blues and gold, intricate floral filigree, peacocks perched along the border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["counting beads (soft clicks)","incense crackle","temple bell (single strikes)","morning birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यज्जपेन्मंत्रम्→यत् जपेत् मन्त्रम्; मन्त्रमसंख्यातं→मन्त्रम् असंख्यातम्; सर्वेषामेव→सर्वेषाम् एव; स्वमालया treated as tatpuruṣa (‘own rosary’) in instr. sg.
FAQs
It teaches that disciplined, measurable repetition (saṃkhyāta-japa) is considered effective and goal-oriented, while casual, uncounted recitation is described as lacking focused spiritual yield.
A mālā functions as a practical tool to keep an accurate count and maintain attention during japa, supporting steadiness (niyama) and continuity of practice.
The wording gives a general procedural rule for mantra-recitation—especially that mantras (including those of various deities) should be performed with counted repetitions, typically using one’s own mālā.