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
Nul ne peut nier qu’il existe des lieux saints aux rivières sacrées, ni que les dieux se manifestent en formes de culte faites de terre et de pierre. Mais ceux-ci ne purifient qu’au bout d’un long temps, tandis que les saints purifient dès qu’on les voit.
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.