Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 31
Kṛṣṇa Visits Trivakrā; Akrūra’s Praise and the Hastināpura Mission
न ह्यम्मयानि तीर्थानि न देवा मृच्छिलामया: । ते पुनन्त्युरुकालेन दर्शनादेव साधव: ॥ ३१ ॥
na hy am-mayāni tīrthāni na devā mṛc-chilā-mayāḥ te punanty uru-kālena darśanād eva sādhavaḥ
No one can deny that there are holy places with sacred rivers, or that the demigods appear in deity forms made of earth and stone. But these purify the soul only after a long time, whereas saintly persons purify just by being seen.
FAQs
This verse says saintly devotees purify immediately simply by their darśana, whereas tīrthas typically purify gradually over time.
Krishna honors Akrura as a great devotee and teaches that the real sanctity of pilgrimage and worship is fulfilled through contact with sādhus—devotees like Akrura—whose presence brings instant purification.
Seek genuine devotee association—hear from them, serve, and take their guidance—because even brief contact with sincere sādhus can transform one’s consciousness faster than external rituals alone.