FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.2

महत्सेवां द्वारमाहुर्विमुक्ते- स्तमोद्वारं योषितां सङ्गिसङ्गम् । महान्तस्ते समचित्ता: प्रशान्ता विमन्यव: सुहृद: साधवो ये ॥ २ ॥
mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes
[mahat-sevaam dvaaram aahur vimuktes]
tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam
[tamo-dvaaram yoshitaam sangi-sangam]
mahāntas te sama-cittāḥ praśāntā
[mahaantas te sama-chittaah prashaantaa]
vimanyavaḥ suhṛdaḥ sādhavo ye
[vimanyavah suhridah saadhavo ye]
Word-for-word
mahat-sevām — service to the spiritually advanced persons called mahātmās dvāram — the way āhuḥ — they say vimukteḥ — of liberation tamaḥ-dvāram — the way to the dungeon of a dark, hellish condition of life yoṣitām — of women saṅgi — of associates saṅgam — association mahāntaḥ — highly advanced in spiritual understanding te — they sama-cittāḥ — persons who see everyone in a spiritual identity praśāntāḥ — very peaceful, situated in Brahman or Bhagavān vimanyavaḥ — without anger (one must distribute Kṛṣṇa consciousness to persons who are hostile without becoming angry at them) suhṛdaḥ — well-wishers of everyone sādhavaḥ — qualified devotees, without abominable behavior ye — they who.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimuktes
mahat-sevām
service to the spiritually advanced persons called mahātmās
dvāram
the way
āhuḥ
they say
vimukteḥ
of liberation
tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam
tamaḥ-dvāram
the way to the dungeon of a dark, hellish condition of life
yoṣitām
of women
saṅgi
of associates
saṅgam
association
mahāntas te sama-cittāḥ praśāntā
mahāntaḥ
highly advanced in spiritual understanding
te
they
sama-cittāḥ
persons who see everyone in a spiritual identity
praśāntāḥ
very peaceful, situated in Brahman or Bhagavān
vimanyavaḥ suhṛdaḥ sādhavo ye
vimanyavaḥ
without anger (one must distribute Kṛṣṇa consciousness to persons who are hostile without becoming angry at them)
suhṛdaḥ
well-wishers of everyone
sādhavaḥ
qualified devotees, without abominable behavior
ye
they who.
One can attain the path of liberation from material bondage only by rendering service to highly advanced spiritual personalities. These personalities are impersonalists and devotees. Whether one wants to merge into the Lord’s existence or wants to associate with the Personality of Godhead, one should render service to the mahātmās. For those who are not interested in such activities, who associate with people fond of women and sex, the path to hell is wide open. The mahātmās are equipoised. They do not see any difference between one living entity and another. They are very peaceful and are fully engaged in devotional service. They are devoid of anger, and they work for the benefit of everyone. They do not behave in any abominable way. Such people are known as mahātmās.
Purport

The human body is like a junction. One may either take the path of liberation or the path leading to a hellish condition. How one can take these paths is described herein. On the path of liberation, one associates with mahātmās, and on the path of bondage one associates with those attached to sense gratification and women. There are two types of mahātmās — the impersonalist and the devotee. Although their ultimate goal is different, the process of emancipation is almost the same. Both want eternal happiness. One seeks happiness in impersonal Brahman, and the other seeks happiness in the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As described in the first verse: brahma-saukhyam. Brahman means spiritual or eternal; both the impersonalist and the devotee seek eternal blissful life. In any case, it is advised that one become perfect. In the words of Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 22.87) :

asat-saṅga-tyāga, — ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra ‘strī-saṅgī’ — eka asādhu, ‘kṛṣṇābhakta’ āra

To remain unattached to the modes of material nature, one should avoid associating with those who are asat, materialistic. There are two kinds of materialists. One is attached to women and sense gratification, and the other is simply a nondevotee. On the positive side is association with mahātmās, and on the negative side is the avoidance of nondevotees and women-hunters.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Service to saintly persons is the cause of two types of liberation, whereas association with men who associate with women is the cause of bondage. The impersonalist sees no differences and is peaceful whereas the devotee has a sincere heart and his intelligence is fixed in me. Both types of saintly persons are devoid of anger, are friendly to all and do not see faults in others. From the human body, one can gain deliverance or fall down. The cause for both lies in the human body. Association with the saintly is the door to different types (vi) of liberation. It was mentioned in the previous verse that one attains the infinite happiness of Brahman. The Brahman has two types: impersonal and personal. Thus the word vi indicates a variety of liberations: merging and becoming an associate of the Lord. Mahantaḥ also means two varieties of saints: worshippers of the impersonal Brahman and worshippers of Bhagavān. Their differing qualities are described in double language. Samacittāḥ means one who sees no differences (impersonalist) and one whose heart is sincere (the devotee). Praśāntāḥ means one who is peaceful and the devotee whose intelligence is fixed in the Lord. Śamo man-niṣṭhatā buddheḥ: śama means intelligence fixed in me. (SB 11.19.36) Vimanyavaḥ, suhrḍaḥ and sādhavaḥ have the same meaning for the impersonalist and the devotee. Sādhavaḥ means “those who do not see fault in others.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Liberation comes through serving advanced spiritual personalities. Your trajectory is determined by whose company you keep — sādhus pull you toward freedom; sense-attached associates pull you toward bondage. Choose company with the seriousness of choosing a destination.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose company is currently shaping your direction most strongly, and where is that direction headed?
  • What concrete step could you take this week to deepen association with mahātmās?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 5