28 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 20

cause you are an advanced devotee. People like you always carry Lord Visnu in
their hearts. You can revitalize all holy places after they have been polluted by the
pilgrimages of sinners.”

A sinful person goes to a holy place of pilgrimage to be purified. In a holy place,
there are many saintly people and temples of Lord Visnu; however, the holy place
becomes infected with the sins of many visitors. When an advanced devotee
goes to a holy place, he counteracts all the sins of the pilgrims. Therefore Maha-
raja Yudisthira addressed Vidura in this way.

Since an advanced devotee carries Lord Visnu within his heart, he is a moving
temple and a moving Visnu. An advanced devotee does not need to go to holy
places, for wherever he stays is a holy place. In this connection, Narottama dasa
Thakura states, tirtha-yatra parisrama, kevala manera bhrama: visiting holy places
is simply another type of bewilderment. Since an advanced devotee does not
need to go toa holy place, why does he go? The answer is that he goes simply to
purify the place.

TEXT 58
A CHVSSw_CAM) WWE: iss fara
SEY CHU GCS] AB’ FH CHT VAL QRH be |

na me ‘bhaktas catur-vedi
mad-bhaktah sva-pacah priyah
tasmai deyam tato grahyam
sa ca pujyo yatha hy aham

SYNONYMS

na—not; me—My; abhaktah—devoid of pure devotional service; catuh-
vedi—a scholar in the four Vedas; mat-bhaktah—My devotee; sva-pacah—even
from a family of dog-eaters; priyah—very dear; tasmai—to him (a pure devotee,
even though born in a very low family); deyam—should be given; tatah—from
him; grahyam—should be accepted (remnants of food); sah—that person; ca—
also; pujyah—worshipable; yatha—as much as; hi—certainly; aham—l.

TRANSLATION

‘“‘Even though a person is a very learned scholar of the Sanskrit Vedic
literatures, he is not accepted as My devotee unless he is pure in devotional
service. However, even though a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, he is
very dear to Me if he is a pure devotee who has no motive to enjoy fruitive ac-
tivity or mental speculation. Indeed, all respects should be given to him, and
whatever he offers should be accepted. Such devotees are as worshipable as |
am.’
