Remnants of a Pure Devotee, Association!

Verse 1.5.25: Srila Naradamuni is continuing to tell Srila Vyasadeva, as to how he came into devotional service. He is saying: Once only, by their permission, I took the remnants of their food, and by so doing all my sins were at once eradicated. Thus being engaged, I became purified in heart, and at that time the very nature of the transcendentalist became attractive to me.

Key point: Unless one is purified in heart, one cannot be attracted to the transcendentalists.

Srila Prabhupada is saying, key thing is the association of pure devotees. He also says we should be careful of pseudo devotees.

Qualifications of a Pure Devotee
- Attracted to name, form, pastimes of Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Not at all attracted to material things
- steady in nature, perfect taste, transcendental emotions

All this is developed by association of pure devotees of the Lord. So what is this association? A: Key thing is one should approach a pure devotee, inquire submissively and serving humbly. We need to tune ourselves to their words. Unless we are tuned in, we cannot receive anything from them.

Association does not mean only physical association. Eg: Srila Prabhupada saying, so many big big Sannyasi's associating with his Guru Maharaj...

Nectar of Instruction: Srila Rupa Goswami in Text 5, talks on how to associate with devotees.

Finally, associating with the Holy Name. Each one of us has so many bad qualities like lust greed etc. Until and unless we associate with a person who does not have these qualities, we cannot purify ourselves. And who is the purest, Krishna. And He is in His Holy Name. So associating with Krishna through His Holy Name, will get rid of all these bad qualities.