128 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 3

“sddhu-sanga”’, “sddhu-sanga”’ sarva-sdstre kaya
lava-matra sddhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya

and Madhya 22.5):

mahat-krpd vind kona karme ‘bhakti’ naya
krsna-bhakti dire rahu, samsara nahe ksaya

If one is serious about escaping mdya’s influence and returning home,
back to Godhead, one must associate with a sddhu (devotee). That is the
verdict of all scriptures. By the slight association of a devotee, one can be
freed from the clutches of maya. Without the mercy of the pure devotee,
one cannot get freedom by any means. Certainly a pure devotee’s asso-
ciation is necessary in order to obtain the loving service of the Lord. One
cannot be freed from maya’s clutches without sédhu-sariga, the benedic-
tion of a great devotee. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32) Prahlada
Maharaja says:

naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad arthah

mahiyasam pdda-rajo- *bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat

One cannot become the Lord’s pure devotee without taking the dust of a
great devotee on his head (pdda-rajo-’bhisekam). A pure devotee is
niskiricana; he has no material desire to enjoy the material world. One
has to take shelter of such a pure devotee in order to attain his qualities.
The pure devotee is always free from the clutches of mdyd and her
influence.

TEXT 15
TZ AM TA GA AHAE AULA AAT ARE TEaet Ba -
RATER ATA Baty MATA AAT TAT 124

yad u ha vava tava punar adabhra-kartar iha samaéhitas tatrartha-
dhiyam mandaénam nas tad yad deva-helanam deva-devarhasi simyena
sarvan prativodhum avidusam.
