Shloka 55
Kardama Muni’s Mystic Opulence, Devahūti’s Rejuvenation, and the Turning Toward Fearlessness
सङ्गो य: संसृतेर्हेतुरसत्सु विहितोऽधिया । स एव साधुषु कृतो नि:सङ्गत्वाय कल्पते ॥ ५५ ॥
saṅgo yaḥ saṁsṛter hetur asatsu vihito ’dhiyā sa eva sādhuṣu kṛto niḥsaṅgatvāya kalpate
विषय-भोग के लिए किया गया संग निश्चित ही बंधन का मार्ग है; पर वही संग यदि साधु-संत के साथ किया जाए तो, अज्ञान में भी किया हुआ, वैराग्य और मुक्ति का मार्ग बन जाता है।
The association of a saintly person in any way bears the same result. For example, Lord Kṛṣṇa met many kinds of living entities, and some treated Him as an enemy, and some treated Him as an agent for sense gratification. It is generally said that the gopīs were attached to Kṛṣṇa for sense attractions, and yet they became first-class devotees of the Lord. Kaṁsa, Śiśupāla, Dantavakra and other demons, however, were related to Kṛṣṇa as enemies. But whether they associated with Kṛṣṇa as enemies or for sense gratification, out of fear or as pure devotees, they all got liberation. That is the result of association with the Lord. Even if one does not understand who He is, the results have the same efficacy. Association with a great saintly person also results in liberation, just as whether one goes toward fire knowingly or unknowingly, the fire will make one warm. Devahūti expressed her gratefulness, for although she wanted to associate with Kardama Muni only for sense gratification, because he was spiritually great she was sure to be liberated by his benediction.
FAQs
This verse teaches that association is the pivot: attachment to materialistic company produces saṁsāra, while the same tendency directed toward sādhus produces detachment and spiritual freedom.
Kapiladeva was instructing Devahuti in sāṅkhya-bhakti, showing her that the mind’s natural tendency to associate must be redirected from asat-saṅga to saintly devotees to awaken renunciation and devotion.
Reduce exposure to influences that intensify material craving, and intentionally seek devotee company—through satsanga, hearing Bhāgavatam, kīrtana, and service—so the same social impulse becomes a path to detachment and bhakti.