Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 11
Varṣa-devatā Worship in Jambūdvīpa: Hayagrīva/Hayaśīrṣa, Nṛsiṁha, Kāmadeva (Pradyumna), Matsya, Kūrma, and Varāha
यत्सङ्गलब्धं निजवीर्यवैभवं तीर्थं मुहु: संस्पृशतां हि मानसम् । हरत्यजोऽन्त: श्रुतिभिर्गतोऽङ्गजं को वै न सेवेत मुकुन्दविक्रमम् ॥ ११ ॥
yat-saṅga-labdhaṁ nija-vīrya-vaibhavaṁ tīrthaṁ muhuḥ saṁspṛśatāṁ hi mānasam haraty ajo ’ntaḥ śrutibhir gato ’ṅgajaṁ ko vai na seveta mukunda-vikramam
By associating with persons for whom the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda, is the all in all, one can hear of His powerful activities and soon come to understand them. The activities of Mukunda are so potent that simply by hearing of them one immediately associates with the Lord. For a person who constantly and very eagerly hears narrations of the Lord’s powerful activities, the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead in the form of sound vibrations, enters within his heart and cleanses it of all contamination. On the other hand, although bathing in the Ganges diminishes bodily contaminations and infections, this process and the process of visiting holy places can cleanse the heart only after a long time. Therefore who is the sane man who will not associate with devotees to quickly perfect his life?
Bathing in the Ganges can certainly cure one of many infectious diseases, but it cannot cleanse one’s materially attached mind, which creates all kinds of contaminations in material existence. However, one who directly associates with the Supreme Lord by hearing of His activities cleanses the dirt from his mind and very soon comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Sūta Gosvāmī confirms this in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.17) :
FAQs
This verse says a true tīrtha repeatedly cleanses the mind because its sanctity comes from contact with Mukunda; even association with such a holy place helps remove inner contamination.
While describing Bhārata-varṣa as uniquely suited for spiritual progress, Śukadeva emphasizes that the ultimate purifier is devotion to Mukunda, who enters the heart through śruti and destroys inner bondage.
Regularly hear and reflect on śāstra (śruti-smṛti), chant His names, seek saintly association, and visit/remember sacred places with devotion—using these to cleanse the mind and weaken cravings.