मननात्राणधर्मत्त्वान्मन्त्र इत्यभिधीयते
Because it protects through contemplation and upholding of dharma, it is called 'mantra.'
स्त्रीमन्त्रास्तु द्विठान्ताः स्युः पुंमन्त्रा हुंफडन्तकाः
Mantras ending in long vowels are feminine; those ending in 'huṃ' or 'phaṭ' are masculine.
पुन्दैवतास्तु मन्त्रा स्युर्विद्याः स्त्रीदैवता मताः
Mantras whose deities are masculine are called mantras; those whose deities are feminine are called vidyās.
तारान्त्यरेफः स्वाहास्तु तत्राग्नेयाः समीरिताः
Those ending with 'tārā' or 'repha' and 'svāhā' are declared to be of the fire element.
अग्नीषोमात्मका ह्येवं मन्त्रा ज्ञेया मनीषिभिः
Thus, mantras are to be understood by the wise as having the nature of Agni and Soma.
सौमयाश्चैव प्रबुध्यन्ते वामे वहति मारुतेः
Some are awakened by the lunar energy, and some by the leftward-moving wind.
स्वापकाले तु मन्त्रस्य जपो ऽनर्थफलप्रदः
If a mantra is recited while drowsy, it yields fruitless results.
अनुलोभे बिन्दुयुक्तान्विलोभे सर्गसंयुतान्
When the breath flows naturally, mantras with a bindu are used; when it is disturbed, those connected with creation are employed.
अनया मालया जप्तो दुष्टमन्त्रो ऽपि सिद्ध्यति
Even a faulty mantra attains success when recited with this garland.
शान्तज्ञानेतिरौद्रेयशान्तिजाति समन्वितः
It possesses tranquility, knowledge, non-wrath, and a peaceful nature.
छिन्नादिदोषयुक्तास्ते नैव रक्षन्ति साधकम्
Those mantras afflicted by defects such as being broken do not protect the practitioner.
कर्महीनो नेत्रहीनः कीलितः स्तंभितस्तथा
Without ritual, without the eye, bound, immobilized likewise.
भेदितश्च सुषुप्तश्च मदोन्मत्तश्च मूर्च्छितः
Broken, dormant, intoxicated, mad, and fainted.
कुमारो ऽथ युवा प्रौढो वृद्धो निस्त्रिंशकस्तथा
A boy, a youth, mature, old, and also one without a sword.
सत्त्वहीनः केकरश्च बीजहीनश्च धृमितः
Without vitality, hoarse, without seed, and trembling.
अङ्गहीनो ऽतिक्रुद्धश्चातिक्रूरे व्रीडितस्तथा
Without limbs, excessively angry, extremely cruel, and ashamed.
अतिवृद्धो ऽतिनिःस्नेहः पीडितश्च तथा पुनः
Excessively aged, utterly devoid of affection, and again afflicted.
संयुक्तं वा वियुक्तं वा त्रिधा वा स्वरसंयुतम्
Whether joined, separated, or threefold, accompanied by sound.
चतुर्द्धा पञ्चधा वापि स मन्त्रश्छिन्नसंज्ञकः
In fourfold or fivefold ways, that mantra is called 'broken.'
स तु रुद्धो मनुज्ञेयो ह्यतिक्लशेन सिद्धिदः
That which is obstructed is to be known as giving success only with great difficulty.
शक्तिहीनः स विज्ञेयश्चिरकालफवप्रधः
That which is devoid of power is to be understood as granting fruit only after a long time.
असौ पराङ्मुखो ज्ञेयो भजतां चिरसिद्धिदः
That one, turned away, is known as granting success to worshippers only after a long time.
स मन्त्रो बधिरः प्रोक्तः कष्टेनाल्पफलप्रदः
That mantra, called deaf, is said to give little fruit with difficulty.
नेत्रहीनस्तु विज्ञेयः क्लेशेनापि न सिद्धिदः
The one without the eye is to be understood as not granting success even with hardship.
हंसेंदुर्वा सकारो वा फकारो वर्म वा पुन
Whether 'haṃsa', 'indu', with 'sa', with 'pha', or with armor again.
एवं मध्ये द्वयं मूर्घ्नि यस्मिन्नस्रलकारकौ
Thus, in the middle, the two on the head in which there are no 'la' and 'ka'.
अग्निः पवनसंयुक्तो मनोर्यस्य तु मूर्द्धनि
Fire, joined with wind, is upon the head of the one belonging to Manu.
अस्रं द्वाभ्यां त्रिभिः षड्भिरष्टाभिर्दृश्यते ऽक्षरेः
A tear is seen from two, three, six, or eight syllables.
हकारः शक्तिरथवा भीतो मन्त्रः स एव हि
The syllable 'ha' is power, or else the mantra is fearful—indeed, it is so.
मलिनस्तु स विज्ञेयो ह्यतिक्लेशेन सिद्धिदः
That which is impure should be understood as such; through great difficulty, it grants success.