1.63
bhavad-vidha bhagavatas
tirtha-bhutah svayam vibho
tirthi-kurvanti tirthani
svantah-sthena gada-bhrta
SYNONYMS
bhavat—your good self; vidhah—like; bhagavatah—devotees; tirtha—holy places of pilgrimage; bhutah—existing; svayam—themselves; vibho—O almighty one; tirthi-kurvanti—make into holy places of pilgrimage; tirthani—the holy places; sva-antah-sthena—being situated in their hearts; gada-bhrta—by the Personality of Godhead “Saints of your caliber are themselves places of pilgrimage.
Because of their purity, they are constant companions of the Lord, and therefore they can purify even the places of pilgrimage.”
PURPORT
This verse was spoken by Maharaja Yudhisthira to Vidura in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.13.10).
Maharaja Yudhisthira was receiving his saintly uncle Vidura, who had been visiting sacred places of pilgrimage.
Maharaja Yudhisthira told Vidura that pure devotees like him are personified holy places because the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always with them in their hearts.
By their association, sinful persons are freed from sinful reactions, and therefore wherever a pure devotee goes is a sacred place of pilgrimage.
The importance of holy places is due to the presence there of such pure devotees.