FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.23.55

सङ्गो य: संसृतेर्हेतुरसत्सु विहितोऽधिया । स एव साधुषु कृतो नि:सङ्गत्वाय कल्पते ॥ ५५ ॥
saṅgo yaḥ saṁsṛter hetur
[sango yah samsriter hetur]
asatsu vihito ’dhiyā
[asatsu vihito ’dhiyaa]
sa eva sādhuṣu kṛto
[sa eva saadhushu krito]
niḥsaṅgatvāya kalpate
[nihsangatvaaya kalpate]
Word-for-word
saṅgaḥ — association yaḥ — which saṁsṛteḥ — of the cycle of birth and death hetuḥ — the cause asatsu — with those engaged in sense gratification vihitaḥ — done adhiyā — through ignorance saḥ — the same thing eva — certainly sādhuṣu — with saintly persons kṛtaḥ — performed niḥsaṅgatvāya — to liberation kalpate — leads.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
saṅgo yaḥ saṁsṛter hetur
saṅgaḥ
association
yaḥ
which
saṁsṛteḥ
of the cycle of birth and death
hetuḥ
the cause
asatsu vihito ’dhiyā
asatsu
with those engaged in sense gratification
vihitaḥ
done
sa eva sādhuṣu kṛto
adhiyā
through ignorance
niḥsaṅgatvāya kalpate
saḥ
the same thing
eva
certainly
sādhuṣu
with saintly persons
kṛtaḥ
performed
niḥsaṅgatvāya
to liberation
kalpate
leads.
Association for sense gratification is certainly the path of bondage. But the same type of association, performed with a saintly person, leads to the path of liberation, even if performed without knowledge.
Purport

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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Association with materialists done in ignorance is a cause of bondage and association with devotees done in ignorance leads to liberation. Association with devotees such as you should not at all be in vain. “In ignorance” should be applied to both phrases.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse treats sense gratification as the path of least resistance, not as evil. The work is to introduce a little resistance — a small rule, kept — and let the soul re-emerge.
Reflection Questions
  • Which sense, if you watched it for one day, would surprise you with how often you indulge it?
  • What small regulation of routine would free up the most attention for inner life?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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