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
iy e @ e
TZ FA TAGATAAIRNE AMEATRALINT AIA ARTA Ba -
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Sareea AeA aa MAAS AIT ANA 12411

yad u ha vava tava punar adabhra-kartar iha samaéhitas tatrartha-

dhiyam mandaénam nas tad yad deva-helanam deva-devarhasi simyena

sarvan prativodhum avidusam.
