FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.17.33

न वर्तितव्यं तदधर्मबन्धो धर्मेण सत्येन च वर्तितव्ये । ब्रह्मावर्ते यत्र यजन्ति यज्ञै- र्यज्ञेश्वरं यज्ञवितानविज्ञा: ॥ ३३ ॥
na vartitavyaṁ tad adharma-bandho
[na vartitavyam tad adharma-bandho]
dharmeṇa satyena ca vartitavye
[dharmena satyena cha vartitavye]
brahmāvarte yatra yajanti yajñair
[brahmaavarte yatra yajanti yajnair]
yajñeśvaraṁ yajña-vitāna-vijñāḥ
[yajneshvaram yajna-vitaana-vijnaah]
na — not vartitavyam — deserve to remain tat — therefore adharma — irreligiosity bandho — friend dharmeṇa — with religion satyena — with truth ca — also vartitavye — being situated in brahma-āvarte — place where sacrifice is performed yatra — where yajanti — duly perform yajñaiḥ — by sacrifices or devotional services yajña-īśvaram — unto the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead yajña — sacrifice vitāna — spreading vijñāḥ — experts.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na vartitavyaṁ tad adharma-bandho
na
not
vartitavyam
deserve to remain
tat
therefore
adharma
irreligiosity
bandho
friend
dharmeṇa satyena ca vartitavye
dharmeṇa
with religion
satyena
with truth
ca
also
vartitavye
being situated in
brahmāvarte yatra yajanti yajñair
brahma-āvarte
place where sacrifice is performed
yatra
where
yajanti
duly perform
yajñaiḥ
by sacrifices or devotional services
yajñeśvaraṁ yajña-vitāna-vijñāḥ
yajña-īśvaram
unto the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead
yajña
sacrifice
vitāna
spreading
vijñāḥ
experts.
Therefore, O friend of irreligion, you do not deserve to remain in a place where experts perform sacrifices according to truth and religious principles for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Yajñeśvara, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the beneficiary of all kinds of sacrificial ceremonies. Such sacrificial ceremonies are prescribed differently in the scriptures for different ages. In other words, sacrifice means to accept the supremacy of the Lord and thereby perform acts by which the Lord may be satisfied in all respects. The atheists do not believe in the existence of God, and they do not perform any sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Lord. Any place or country where the supremacy of the Lord is accepted and thus sacrifice is performed is called brahmāvarta. There are different countries in different parts of the world, and each and every country may have different types of sacrifice to please the Supreme Lord, but the central point in pleasing Him is ascertained in the Bhāgavatam, and it is truthfulness. The basic principle of religion is truthfulness, and the ultimate goal of all religions is to satisfy the Lord. In this Age of Kali, the greatest common formula of sacrifice is the saṅkīrtana-yajña. That is the opinion of the experts who know how to propagate the process of yajña. Lord Caitanya preached this method of yajña, and it is understood from this verse that the sacrificial method of saṅkīrtana-yajña may be performed anywhere and everywhere in order to drive away the personality of Kali and save human society from falling prey to the influence of the age.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
You cannot stay in Brahmāvarta where dharma and truth suitably reside, and where knowers of sacrifice worship the lord of sacrifice with sacrifice.
Commentary

The word dharma covers everything. The word satya is added as an indicator of dharma, the main element. Without branches and twigs the root alone cannot accomplish the goal. Dharma and truth are suitable to exist in Brahmāvarta.

Therefore, friend of irreligion, you do not deserve to remain where experts perform sacrifices for the Supreme Lord. Some places must be kept clean. Dirty energies have no place near pure work.
Reflection Questions
  • What place in my life should be kept clean from a certain energy?
  • Where am I letting impurity into sacred space?
📝 My note

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