Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 10 - Chapter 1 - Verse 41


Sanskrit:

साधूनां समचित्तानां सुतरां मत्कृतात्मनाम् ।दर्शनान्नो भवेद् बन्ध: पुंसोऽक्ष्णो: सवितुर्यथा ॥ ४१ ॥

ITRANS:

sādhūnāṁ sama-cittānāṁsutarāṁ mat-kṛtātmanāmdarśanān no bhaved bandhaḥpuṁso ’kṣṇoḥ savitur yathā

Translation:

When one is face to face with the sun, there is no longer darkness for one’s eyes. Similarly, when one is face to face with a sādhu, a devotee, who is fully determined and surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one will no longer be subject to material bondage.

Purport:

As stated by Caitanya Mahāprabhu (Cc. Madhya 22.54): If by chance one meets a sādhu, a devotee, one’s life is immediately successful, and one is freed from material bondage. It may be argued that whereas someone may receive a sādhu with great respect, someone else may not receive a sādhu with such respect. A sādhu, however, is always equipoised toward everyone. Because of being a pure devotee, a sādhu is always ready to deliver Kṛṣṇa consciousness without discrimination. As soon as one sees a sādhu, one naturally becomes free. Nonetheless, persons who are too much offensive, who commit vaiṣṇava-aparādhas, or offenses to a sādhu, will have to take some time before being rectified. This is also indicated herein.