72 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 1
yat pdda-samsrayah siita
munayah prasamayanah
sadyah punanty upasprstah
svar-dhunyapo ’nusevaya
yat—whose; pdada—lotus feet; sarmsrayah—those who have taken shelter
of; siitta—O Sita Gosvami; munayah—great sages; prasamayanah—absorbed
in devotion to the Supreme; sadyah— at once; punanti-— sanctify; upasprstah
—simply by association; svar-dhunya—of the sacred Ganges; apah—water;
anusevayd— bringing into use.
TRANSLATION
O Sita, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the
lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch
with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after
prolonged use.
PURPORT
Pure devotees of the Lord are more powerful than the waters of the
sacred river Ganges. One can derive spiritual benefit out of prolonged use
of the Ganges waters. But one can be sanctified at once by the mercy of a
pure devotee of the Lord. In Bhagavad-gita it is said that any person,
regardless of birth as siidra, woman, or merchant, can take shelter of the
lotus feet of the Lord and by so doing can return to Godhead. To take
shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord means to take shelter of the pure
devotees. The pure devotees whose only business is serving are honored
by the names Prabhupada and Visnupdda, which indicate such devotees to
be representatives of the lotus feet of the Lord. Anyone, therefore, who
takes shelter of the lotus feet of a pure devotee by accepting the pure
devotee as his spiritual master can be at once purified. Such devotees of
the Lord are honored equally with the Lord because they are engaged in
the most confidential service of the Lord, for they deliver out of the
material world the fallen souls whom the Lord wants to return home, back
to Godhead. Such pure devotees are better known as vice-lords according
to revealed scriptures. The sincere disciple of the pure devotee considers
the spiritual master equal to the Lord, but always considers himself to be
a humble servant of the servant of the Lord. This is the pure devotional
path.
