Shloka 39
Tīrtha-yātrā-varṇana
Description of Pilgrimage to the Sacred Fords
भवेतामीदृशौ देवि सर्वसौख्यस्य भाजनौ । मानुष्यं दुर्लभं प्राप्य विद्युत्संपातचंचलम् ॥ ३९ ॥
bhavetāmīdṛśau devi sarvasaukhyasya bhājanau | mānuṣyaṃ durlabhaṃ prāpya vidyutsaṃpātacaṃcalam || 39 ||
O Goddess, may the two of them become such vessels of every happiness—having attained the rare human birth, which is as unsteady and fleeting as a flash of lightning.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It stresses that human birth is rare and momentary; therefore one should quickly orient life toward dharma, devotion, and liberation rather than delaying spiritual practice.
By calling human life “lightning-like” in its instability, the verse implies urgency: steady devotion and remembrance of the Divine should be taken up now, as worldly conditions can change abruptly.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is time-awareness and disciplined practice—using one’s limited lifespan to prioritize sadhana and righteous duties.