1024 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 25
purpose. Our attachment for material things perpetuates our conditional
state, but the same attachment, when transferred to the Supreme Person-
ality 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 sadhus. And who is a sddhu? A sddhu is not just
an ordinary man with a saffron robe or long beard. A sddhu is described in
Bhagavad-gita 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 Krsna, the
Supreme Person, he is understood to be a sddhu. Sddhur eva sa mantavyah.
A sadhu 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 sddhu or devotee. Lord Caitanya
also confirmed this. Lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya: simply by a
moment’s association with a sddhu one can attain perfection.

Mahatma is a synonym of sddhu. It is said that service to a mahatma or
elevated devotee of the Lord is dvdram ahur vimukteh, the royal road of
liberation. Mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes tamo-dvdram yositam sangi-
saiigam. 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 (Bhdg. 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 sddhu, then the result will be that the sadhu will teach him
how to become a devotee, a worshiper and a sincere servitor of the Lord.
These are the gifts of a sddhu. If we want to associate with a sddhu 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 sddhu. Kapila
Muni first of all instructs that the path of liberation begins with such
association.

TEXT 21
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fafaeat: areftrar: ge: aazieary |
AAMATAT Meas AIT APTI WR
titiksavah kadrunikah
suhrdah sarva-dehinadm
