Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95
Sanatkumāra’s Bhāgavata Tantra: Tattvas, Māyā-Bonds, Embodiment, and the Necessity of Dīkṣā
तत्रापि भारते खण्डे ब्राह्मणादिकुलेषु च । महापुण्यवशेनैव जनिर्भवति दुर्लभा ॥ ९५ ॥
tatrāpi bhārate khaṇḍe brāhmaṇādikuleṣu ca | mahāpuṇyavaśenaiva janirbhavati durlabhā || 95 ||
Even among those realms, in the land of Bhārata—and specifically in families such as those of brāhmaṇas—birth is rare, attainable only through the force of great accumulated merit (puṇya).
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It emphasizes that an auspicious human birth—especially in Bhārata and in dharmic lineages—is not accidental but the fruit of great puṇya, and therefore should be used for dharma, study, and liberation-oriented practice.
By declaring such a birth “rare,” the verse implicitly urges one to not waste it and to employ it for higher sādhana—classically including Hari/Vishnu-bhakti—since the human condition is the most effective ground for deliberate spiritual effort.
The verse supports the Vedāṅga framework indirectly: birth in Bhārata and among brāhmaṇa-ādi families is presented as conducive to Vedic learning and disciplined practice (śikṣā, vyākaraṇa, kalpa, etc.), which traditionally require a supportive cultural and ritual environment.