Devanagari
देवा: क्षेत्राणि तीर्थानि दर्शनस्पर्शनार्चनै: ।
शनै: पुनन्ति कालेन तदप्यर्हत्तमेक्षया ॥ ५२ ॥
Verse text
devāḥ kṣetrāṇi tīrthāni
darśana-sparśanārcanaiḥ
śanaiḥ punanti kālena
tad apy arhattamekṣayā
Synonyms
devāḥ
—
temple deities
;
kṣetrāṇi
—
pilgrimage sites
;
tīrthāni
—
and sacred rivers
;
darśana
—
by being seen
;
sparśana
—
being touched
;
arcanaiḥ
—
and being worshiped
;
śanaiḥ
—
gradually
;
punanti
—
purify
;
kālena
—
with time
;
tat api
—
the same
;
arhat
—
tama — of those ( brāhmaṇas ) who are most worshipable
;
īkṣayā
—
by the glance .
Translation
One can gradually become purified by seeing, touching and worshiping temple deities, places of pilgrimage and holy rivers. But one can attain the same result immediately simply by receiving the glance of exalted sages.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
One can gradually become purified by seeing, touching and worshiping temple deities, places of pilgrimage and holy rivers. But one can attain the same result immediately simply by receiving the glance of exalted sages.
KB 10.86.52
“People are accustomed to go to the temples of God. They also visit holy places of pilgrimage, and after prolonged association with such activities for many days by touch and by worship, they gradually become purified. But the influence of great sages and saintly persons is so great that by seeing them one immediately becomes completely purified.
“Moreover, the very purifying potency of pilgrimages or worship of different demigods is also achieved by the grace of saintly persons. A pilgrimage site becomes a holy place because of the presence of the saintly persons.
Purport
Rather than remaining in seclusion and concentrating on their own perfection, Vaiṣṇava
brāhmaṇas
of the highest order dedicate their lives to sharing the benediction of the Lord’s devotional service. In the words of the sons of King Prācīnabarhi:
teṣāṁ vicaratāṁ padbhyāṁ
tīrthānāṁ pāvanecchayā
bhītasya kiṁ na roceta
tāvakānāṁ samāgamaḥ
“Dear Lord, Your personal associates, Your devotees, wander all over the world to purify even the holy places of pilgrimage. Is not such activity pleasing to those who are actually afraid of material existence?” (
Bhāg.
4.30.37
) And Prahlāda Mahārāja says:
prāyeṇa deva munayaḥ sva-vimukti-kāmā
maunaṁ caranti vijane na parārtha-niṣṭhāḥ
naitān vihāya kṛpaṇān vimumukṣa eko
nānyaṁ tvad asya śaraṇam bhramato ’nupaśye
“My dear Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himālayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence [
mauna-vrata
]. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.” (
Bhāg.
7.9.44
)
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
"Moreover, the brahmana is superior to the devatas. Those things gradually purify but the brahmanas purify immediately. That purification takes place simply by the glance of the worshipful brahmanas. If people obtain that glance they immediately become purified."
As is said, "Dear Lord, Your personal associates, devotees, wander all over the world to purify even the holy places of pilgrimage. " sb4.30.37
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
He explains the greater power of the devotees. The deity forms of the devatās or their direct appearance, and holy land (kṣetrāṇi) or water (tīrthāni) gradually purify, and over a long time.
But by the glance of those who wander about (mentioned in the previous verse)-- the devotees, more worthy of worship (arhattama) than the deity forms or tīrthas, one becomes purified at once. This is the main cause of purification. And thus even I am dependent on you.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
The excellence of the great devotees is described in two verses. Devāḥ refers to forms made of clay or stone, or direct worship of Indra and others in the sunlight. Ksetras refers to sacred places made of earth and tīrthas to those with water. Arhattama means the best among those who worship—the very greatest devotees. By them or by their glance alone, the tīrthas etc. purify gradually.