Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
मानुषं जन्म संप्राप्य दुर्लभं सर्वजंतुषु । तत्रापि सत्कुले देवा दुष्प्राप्यं च मुनीश्वराः
mānuṣaṃ janma saṃprāpya durlabhaṃ sarvajaṃtuṣu | tatrāpi satkule devā duṣprāpyaṃ ca munīśvarāḥ
ในหมู่สรรพสัตว์ทั้งปวง การได้กำเนิดเป็นมนุษย์นั้นหาได้ยากยิ่ง; และแม้ในนั้นอีกเล่า โอ้เหล่าเทพและมุนีผู้ประเสริฐ การได้เกิดในตระกูลอันประเสริฐและมีศีลธรรมยิ่งยากนัก.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it is a dharmic reflection on the rarity of human birth and favorable conditions for sādhana.
Significance: Encourages urgency in sādhana: human birth and satkula are presented as scarce prerequisites for sustained Śiva-bhakti and disciplined practice.
FAQs
The verse emphasizes that human birth—and especially a virtuous upbringing—is a rare karmic opening meant to be used for dharma and Shiva-bhakti, turning the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation through the grace of Pati (Shiva).
By stressing the rarity of favorable birth, it implies urgency: one should use this human opportunity to take refuge in accessible Saguna worship—especially Shiva-linga devotion—which purifies karma and matures the soul toward realization.
The practical takeaway is to not waste human life: begin steady Shiva sadhana such as daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Linga-abhisheka with devotion, and adopting Shaiva marks like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) where appropriate.