Importance Of Association With Pure Devotees

Dear Lord, when the bee approaches the celestial parijata tree, it remains there because all its desires are fulfilled. Similarly, when we have approached Your lotus feet and taken shelter of them, what further benediction could we ask of You? Dear Lord, as long as we have to remain within this material world due to our material contamination and continue to wander from one body to another and from one planet to another, we pray that we may associate with those devotees who are always discussing Your pastimes. We pray for this benediction life after life, in different bodily forms and on different planets. Even a moment’s association with a pure devotee cannot be compared to being transferred to the heavenly planets or even merging into the Brahman effulgence in complete liberation. For living entities who are destined to give up the body and die, association with pure devotees is the highest benediction.

yatreḍyante kathā mṛṣṭās
tṛṣṇāyāḥ praśamo yataḥ
nirvairaṁ yatra bhūteṣu
nodvego yatra kaścana

Whenever pure topics of the transcendental world are discussed, the members of the audience forget all kinds of material hankerings, at least for the time being. Not only that, but they are no longer envious of one another, nor do they suffer from anxiety or fear. The Supreme Lord, Narayana, is present in that place where the devotees are hearing and chanting of His holy name. Lord Narayana is the ultimate goal of those in the renounced order of life. He is perfectly worshiped by those who are liberated from material contamination through the saṅkīrtana movement. Indeed, they recite the holy name again and again. Dear Lord, Your personal associates – Your devotees- wander around the world to purify even the holy places of pilgrimage. Is not such activity pleasing to those who are actually afraid of material existence?

— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (BhāgavataPurāṇa) » Canto 4: The Creation of the Fourth Order » SB 4.30: The Activities of the Pracetas » Verses:1-51.