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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 3, Ch. 25]
purpose. Our attachment for material things perpetuates our conditional state, but the same attachment, when transferred to the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His devotee, is the source of liberation.
Here it is recommended that attachment should be transferred to the self-realized devotees, the  sādhus . And who is a  sādhu ? A  sādhu  is not just an ordinary man with a saffron robe or long beard. A  sādhu  is described in  Bhagavad-gītā  as one who unflinchingly engages in devotional service. Even though one is found not to be following the strict rules and regulations of devotional service, if one simply has unflinching faith in  Kṛṣṇa , the Supreme Person, he is understood to be a  sādhu .  Sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ . A  sādhu  is a strict follower of devotional service. It is recommended here that if one at all wants to realize Brahman or spiritual perfection, his attachment should be transferred to the  sādhu  or devotee. Lord Caitanya also confirmed this.  Lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya : simply by a moment's association with a  sādhu  one can attain perfection.
Mahātmā  is a synonym of  sādhu . It is said that service to a  mahātmā  or elevated devotee of the Lord is  dvāram āhur vimukteḥ , the royal road of liberation.  Mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam . Rendering service to the materialists has the opposite effect. If anyone offers service to a gross materialist or a person engaged only in sense enjoyment, then by association with such a person the door to hell is opened ( Bhāg.  5.5.2). The same principle is confirmed here. Attachment to a devotee is attachment to the service of the Lord because if one associates with a  sādhu , then the result will be that the  sādhu  will teach him how to become a devotee, a worshiper and a sincere servitor of the Lord. These are the gifts of a  sādhu . If we want to associate with a  sādhu  we cannot expect him to give us instructions on how to improve our material condition, but he will give us instructions on how to cut the knot of the contamination of material attraction and how to elevate ourselves in devotional service. That is the result of associating with a  sādhu . Kapila Muni first of all instructs that the path of liberation begins with such association.
TEXT 21
तितिक्षवः कारुणिकाः सुहृदः सर्वदेहिनाम् ।
अजातशत्रवः शान्ताः साधवः साधुभूषणाः ॥२१॥
titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām