Antya-līlā

Chapter 4: Sanātana Gosvāmī Visits the Lord at Jagannātha Purī

Verse 127 of 236
Cc Antya 4.127

সেবক গতাগতি করে, নাহি অবসর তার স্পর্শ হৈলে, সর্বনাশ হবে মোর"

सेवक गतागति करे, नाहि अवसर तार स्पर्श हैले, सर्वनाश हबे मोर"

sevaka gatāgati kare, nāhi avasara tāra sparśa haile, sarva-nāśa habe mora"

Synonyms

sevakaservants; gatāgati karecome and go; nāhi avasarathere is no interval; tāra sparśa haileif I touch them; sarva-nāśa habe moraI shall be ruined..

Translation

"The servants are always coming and going without interval. If I touch them, I shall be ruined."

Purport

Herein it is very clearly indicated that priests performing Deity worship should be careful to keep themselves completely pure and not be touched by outsiders. Sanātana Gosvāmī and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, thinking themselves mlecchas and yavanas because of their past association with Mohammedans, did not enter the temple nor even travel on the path in front of the temple gate. It is customary for the priests of temples in India not even to touch outsiders nor enter the Deity room after having been touched. This is a very important item in temple worship.

Verse 127 of 236
Prabhupāda Says