24.98
sat-sangan mukta-duhsango
hatum notsahate budhah
kirtyamanam yaso yasya
sakrd akarnya rocanam
SYNONYMS
sat-sangat—by the association of pure devotees; mukta—freed; duhsangah—the association of materialistic persons; hatum—to give up; na—not; utsahate—is able; budhah—one who is actually learned; kirtyamanam—being glorified; yasah—the glories; yasya—of whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); sakrt—once; akarnya—hearing; rocanam—very pleasing " ’The intelligent, who have understood the Supreme Lord in the association of pure devotees and have become free from bad materialistic association, can never avoid hearing the glories of the Lord, even though they have heard them only once.’
PURPORT
This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.10.11).
All the members of the Kuru dynasty offered respects when Krsna was leaving Hastinapura after the Battle of Kuruksetra.
Krsna was going to His own kingdom, and all the members of the Kuru dynasty were overwhelmed by His departure.
This verse was spoken in that connection by Sukadeva Gosvami.
A pure devotee becomes attached to Krsna by hearing the Lord’s glories.
The Lord’s glories and the Lord Himself are identical.
One has to be qualified to understand this Absolute Truth; therefore one should be given a chance to associate with a pure devotee.
Our Krsna consciousness movement is meant for this purpose.
We want to create pure devotees so that other people will benefit by their association.
In this way the number of pure devotees increases.
Professional preachers cannot create pure devotees.
There are many professional preachers of Srimad-Bhagavatam who read this work to earn their livelihood.
However, they cannot convert materialistic people to devotional service.
Only a pure devotee can convert others to pure devotional service.
It is therefore important for all the preachers in our Krsna consciousness movement to first become pure devotees and follow the regulative principles, refraining from illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication.
They should regularly chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra on their beads, follow the devotional process, rise early in the morning, attend mangala-arati and recite Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita regularly.
In this way, one can become purified and free from all material contamination sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate (Narada-pancaratra) To make a show of devotional service will not help one.
One must be a pure devotee following the devotional process; then one can convert others to devotional service.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu practiced devotional service and preached (apani acari’ bhakti karila pracara).
If a preacher behaves properly in devotional service, he will be able to convert others.
Otherwise, his preaching will have no effect.