Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 51
Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
न यद् वचश्चित्रपदं हरेर्यशो जगत्पवित्रं प्रगृणीत कर्हिचित् । तद् ध्वाङ्क्षतीर्थं न तु हंससेवितं यत्राच्युतस्तत्र हि साधवोऽमला: ॥ ५१ ॥
na yad vacaś citra-padaṁ harer yaśo jagat-pavitraṁ pragṛṇīta karhicit tad dhvāṅkṣa-tīrthaṁ na tu haṁsa-sevitaṁ yatrācyutas tatra hi sādhavo ’malāḥ
Those words that do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows, and are never resorted to by those situated in transcendental knowledge. The pure and saintly devotees take interest only in topics glorifying the infallible Supreme Lord.
FAQs
This verse says such speech—however artistic—becomes a “dhvāṅkṣa-tīrtha,” a place enjoyed by crowlike tastes, because it does not purify the world by praising Hari’s fame.
In the Bhāgavatam’s devotional aesthetic, crows symbolize attraction to impure or mundane topics, while swans symbolize saints who relish pure spiritual essence; thus, speech without Hari-kathā fails to attract realized devotees.
Prioritize hearing, reading, and sharing content that increases remembrance of Krishna/Hari—kīrtana, scripture, and uplifting conversations—so your words and media diet become purifying rather than merely entertaining.