Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 49
न कुर्यादात्मनः श्रेयस्तेनात्मा वंचतश्चिरम् । देवासुराणां सर्वेषां मानुष्यमतिदुर्लभम्
na kuryādātmanaḥ śreyastenātmā vaṃcataściram | devāsurāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ mānuṣyamatidurlabham
ଯଦି ମଣିଷ ନିଜ ଶ୍ରେୟସ୍ ସାଧନ କରେନାହିଁ, ତେବେ ସେ ଦୀର୍ଘକାଳ ନିଜକୁ ନିଜେ ଠକେ। ଦେବ ଓ ଅସୁର—ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମାନବଜନ୍ମ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁର୍ଲଭ।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa frame)
Scene: A scale labeled ‘śreyas’ and ‘preyas’; a person reaches toward fleeting pleasures while a shadowy figure labeled ‘pramāda’ misleads them; above, devas and asuras gaze longingly at a human cradle, signifying rarity.
FAQs
Neglecting spiritual welfare (śreyas) is self-deception; human birth is rare and must be used wisely.
No site is mentioned; the verse stresses the rarity and responsibility of human life.
No explicit ritual; it prescribes earnest pursuit of śreyas—one’s highest good.