Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 6
Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation
श्रीभगीरथ उवाच साधवो न्यासिन: शान्ता ब्रह्मिष्ठा लोकपावना: । हरन्त्यघं तेऽङ्गसङ्गात् तेष्वास्ते ह्यघभिद्धरि: ॥ ६ ॥
śrī-bhagīratha uvāca sādhavo nyāsinaḥ śāntā brahmiṣṭhā loka-pāvanāḥ haranty aghaṁ te ’ṅga-saṅgāt teṣv āste hy agha-bhid dhariḥ
バギーラタは言った。「バクティの奉仕により清められた聖者、出家して静まり、ブラフマンに堅く住する者たちは世を浄める。彼らがあなたの水に入れば、積もった罪は必ず打ち消される。彼らの心奥には、罪を滅するハリが常に宿るからだ。」
Mother Ganges is available to everyone for bathing. Therefore, not only will sinful persons bathe in the Ganges water, but in Hardwar and other holy places where the Ganges flows, saintly persons and devotees will also bathe in the waters of the Ganges. Devotees and saintly persons advanced in the renounced order can deliver even the Ganges. Tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni svāntaḥ-sthena gadābhṛtā ( Bhāg. 1.13.10 ). Because saintly devotees always keep the Lord within the core of their hearts, they can perfectly cleanse the holy places of all sinful reactions. Therefore, people in general must always respectfully honor saintly persons. It is ordered that as soon as one sees a Vaiṣṇava, or even a sannyāsī, one should immediately offer respects to such a holy man. If one forgets to show respect in this way, one must observe a fast for that day. This is a Vedic injunction. One must be extremely careful to refrain from committing offenses at the lotus feet of a devotee or saintly person.
FAQs
This verse says that saintly renunciants remove sin simply by personal association, because Hari—the destroyer of sin—dwells within them.
While seeking the descent of the Gaṅgā for the purification of his ancestors, Bhagīratha emphasizes that the presence of realized saints is itself powerfully purifying, since the Lord resides in them.
Seek regular association with genuine devotees and spiritually steady teachers; their company inspires remembrance of Hari and helps cleanse harmful habits and tendencies.