भुवि पुरुपुण्यतीर्थसदनान्यृषयो विमदा-
स्त उत भवत्पदाम्बुजहृदोऽघभिदङ्घ्रिजला: ।
दधति सकृन्मनस्त्वयि य आत्मनि नित्यसुखे
न पुनरुपासते पुरुषसारहरावसथान् ॥
bhuvi puru-puṇya-tīrtha-sadanāny ṛṣayo vimadās
ta uta bhavat-padāmbuja-hṛdo’gha-bhid-aṅghri-jalāḥ |
dadhati sakṛn manas tvayi ya ātmani nitya-sukhe
na punar upāsate puruṣa-sāra-harāvasathān ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.87.35)
“Dwelling in the numerous sacred tīrthas on the earth, free from delusion [alt., pride], their hearts fixed on your lotus feet, and the water from their feet dispelling sin, the ṛṣis who once fix their mind on you, the Self, Eternal Happiness, do not again dwell in homes, which steal away the essence of human beings.”
Commentary
‘Ṛṣis’ (ṛṣayaḥ) refers to those who know the nature of the all the subjects in the Veda (sarva-vedārtha-tattvaṁ jānantaḥ) according to Śrī Jīva Gosvāmīpāda, and to bhaktas according to Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartīpāda.
‘The essence of human beings’ (puruṣa-sāra) refers to discernment, steadiness, sagacity, forgiveness, peace, and so forth of human beings (puruṣāṇāṁ sāraṁ viveka-sthairya-dhairya-kṣamā-śānti-pramukhaṁ) according to Śrī Śrīdhara Svāmīpāda.
‘The Self’ (ātmani) refers to the Supreme Self who is thus Eternal Happiness (nitya-sukhe), that is, the embodiment of everlasting happiness, on account of [his] being the object of paramount, unconditional affinity (ātmani paramātmani, ata eva nirupādhi-parama-premāspadatvān nitya-sukhe niravadhi-sukha-svarūpe), or, to he who is the supreme friend because he is eternally happy (ātmani parama-suhṛdi nitya-sukhe nityaṁ sukhaṁ yasmāt) according to Śrī Jīva Gosvāmīpāda.