SB 7.14.27 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

अथ देशान्प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मादिश्रेयआवहान् । स वै पुण्यतमो देश: सत्पात्रं यत्र लभ्यते ॥ २७ ॥ बिम्बं भगवतो यत्र सर्वमेतच्चराचरम् । यत्र ह ब्राह्मणकुलं तपोविद्यादयान्वितम् ॥ २८ ॥

Verse text

atha deśān pravakṣyāmi dharmādi-śreya-āvahān sa vai puṇyatamo deśaḥ sat-pātraṁ yatra labhyate bimbaṁ bhagavato yatra sarvam etac carācaram yatra ha brāhmaṇa-kulaṁ tapo-vidyā-dayānvitam

Synonyms

atha — thereafter ; deśān — places ; pravakṣyāmi — I shall describe ; dharma — ādi — religious performances, etc. ; śreya — auspiciousness ; āvahān — which can bring ; saḥ — that ; vai — indeed ; puṇya — tamaḥ — the most sacred ; deśaḥ — place ; sat — pātram — a Vaiṣṇava ; yatra — wherein ; labhyate — is available ; bimbam — the Deity (in the temple) ; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (who is the support) ; yatra — where ; sarvam etat — of this entire cosmic manifestation ; cara — acaram — with all the moving and nonmoving living entities ; yatra — wherein ; ha — indeed ; brāhmaṇa — kulam — association with brāhmaṇas ; tapaḥ — austerities ; vidyā — education ; dayā — mercy ; anvitam — endowed with .

Translation

Nārada Muni continued: Now I shall describe the places where religious performances may be well executed. Any place where a Vaiṣṇava is available is an excellent place for all auspicious activities. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the support of this entire cosmic manifestation, with all its moving and nonmoving living entities, and the temple where the Deity of the Lord is installed is a most sacred place. Furthermore, places where learned brāhmaṇas observe Vedic principles by means of austerity, education and mercy are also most auspicious and sacred.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Now I shall describe the places where religious performances may be well executed. The most auspicious places are where there are Vaiṣṇavas, who are equal to the deity of the Lord who is the support of this entire cosmic manifestation, with all its moving and nonmoving living entities, or where there are learned brāhmaṇas endowed with austerity, education and mercy. Sat-pātram means the Vaiṣṇava, who is equal to the form of the Lord who is the universe of moving and non-moving beings.

Purport

In this verse it is indicated that a Vaiṣṇava temple where the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is worshiped, and where Vaiṣṇavas are engaged in the service of the Lord, is the best sacred place for performing any religious ceremonies. At the present day, especially in big, big cities, people live in small apartments and are not able to establish a Deity or temple. Under the circumstances, therefore, the centers and temples being established by the expanding Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are the best sacred places for performing religious ceremonies. Although people in general are no longer interested in religious ceremonies or Deity worship, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement gives everyone the chance to advance in spiritual life by becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious.