Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.48.30
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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mahā-bhāgāḥ
—
most fortunate, most eminent
Compound: mahā (great) + bhāga (portion, fortune). The classical epithet for advanced Vaiṣṇavas. Mahā-bhāgavata in Gauḍīya theology is the third and highest stage of devotee — the one who sees Kṛṣṇa everywhere; sādhus of this caliber are niṣevya.
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śreyaḥ-kāmaiḥ
—
by those who desire the highest good
Compound: śreyas (lasting welfare, the spiritual good) + kāma (desirer) + bhiḥ (instrumental plural). Bhāgavatam distinguishes preyas (immediate pleasure) from śreyas (ultimate good) — only those who want the second seek sādhu-saṅga.
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devaḥ-sva-arthāḥ
—
demigods (who are) self-interested
Contiguous pair: devaḥ (demigods) + sva-arthāḥ (concerned with their own purpose). Kṛṣṇa's blunt sociology: the deva-loka has its own agenda. Worship of demigods yields demigod-style results — Gītā 7.20–23. Sādhus, by contrast, are para-artha — concerned with another's welfare.
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sat-tamāḥ
—
most saintly
Compound: sat (real, good) + tama (superlative). Among the worshipable, the sādhus are the topmost — above tīrthas, above devatās. Gauḍīyas place the Vaiṣṇava at the apex of every comparative scheme.
Whereas demigods may award material benefit, saintly devotees of the Lord have the power to award the real perfection of life, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa reinforces the respectful mood He has adopted here toward His uncle Akrūra.
"O Akrura you are our guru, father. From the point of view of normal behaviour, you are worthy of respect by us." This is stated in verse 29. "From the spiritual point of view, you must be worshipped, since you are the highest devotee." This is stated in this verse. "Among those worthy of worship you are most worshipable (arha sattama)." "But worship of the devas is more famous." "The devatas are self interested, but the devotees are not. They are intent on giving mercy to others."
Because of your exalted qualities we should serve you. People similar to you are fortune to have attained the status of the greatest devotees (mahā-bhāgāḥ), what to speak of you directly having good fortune. Persons like you are even greater that the devatās. You should always be served with the greatest devotion (ni—sevyā) by men. You are most worthy of service (arha-sattamāḥ). Some versions have arhattamaḥ. All men should serve devotee like you because such service is the best means of advancement. And since among men you are a Yadu and my uncle, serving you is highest means of advancement. The plural is used (śreyas-kāmaiḥ) to indicate the goals of liberation and bhakti. Other than the Lord and his devotees, others such as devatās do not have such power. Besides giving meager results, there is another fault in the devatās. They have their self-interest. By being indifferent to becoming a devatā, persons like you are much greater than devatās. The qualities of the devotees are as follows. titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ Such devotees are tolerant, merciful, friendly to all beings, without enemies, gentle, straightforward and respectful to other devotees. mayy ananyena bhāvena bhaktiṁ kurvanti ye dṛḍhām mat-kṛte tyakta-karmāṇas tyakta-svajana-bāndhavāḥ They perform steady bhakti to me with exclusive devotion, giving up all actions to attain me, giving up friends and relatives. mad-āśrayāḥ kathā mṛṣṭāḥ śṛṇvanti kathayanti ca tapanti vividhās tāpā naitān mad-gata-cetasaḥ Taking shelter of me, they recite and listen to pure stories. They are not afflicted by material miseries, and thus fully absorb their minds in me. ta ete sādhavaḥ sādhvi sarva-saṅga-vivarjitāḥ saṅgas teṣv atha te prārthyaḥ saṅga-doṣa-harā hi te Those devotees are devoid of attachment to artha, dharma, kāma and mokṣa. You should desire their association. They destroy the faults of material association. SB 3.25.21-24
When a traveler is choosing whom to follow on a journey, the question is not which guide knows the most but which guide is not himself going somewhere else. Demigods, Kṛṣṇa says, are on their own errands; sādhus alone walk the path the seeker actually needs to walk.
My note
Source: vedabase.io