sevaka gatÄgati kare, nÄhi avasara
tÄra sparÅ›a haile, sarva-nÄÅ›a habe mora"

 sevaka - servants; gatÄgati kare - come and go; nÄhi avasara - there is no interval; tÄra sparÅ›a haile - if I touch them; sarva-nÄÅ›a habe mora - I shall be ruined.


Text

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

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. SanÄtana GosvÄmÄ« and HaridÄsa ṬhÄkura, thinking themselves mlecchas and yavanas because of their past association with Muslims, did not enter the temple or 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 or enter the Deity room after having been touched. This is a very important item in temple worship.