Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36
The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari
कोटिजन्मसहस्रेषु स्थावरादिषु सत्तम । सम्भ्रान्तस्य तु मानुष्यं कथञ्चित्परिलभ्यते ॥ ३६ ॥
koṭijanmasahasreṣu sthāvarādiṣu sattama | sambhrāntasya tu mānuṣyaṃ kathañcitparilabhyate || 36 ||
Ô le meilleur des vertueux, après des milliers de naissances—voire des millions—parmi les êtres immobiles et les autres formes de vie, la naissance humaine ne s’obtient que rarement, et seulement pour celui dont l’âme s’est éveillée au dharma.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It emphasizes that human birth is extraordinarily rare across countless lifetimes, so it should be used for dharma and liberation-oriented practice rather than wasted in mere sense pursuits.
By stressing the rarity of human life and spiritual alertness, it implies urgency: once human birth is gained, one should turn the awakened mind toward Hari/Vishnu-bhakti and steady sādhana to reach the highest goal.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the sādhana-priority principle—use the human condition for disciplined practice (niyama, vrata, japa) aimed at moksha.