Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 26
Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation
यस्य साक्षाद्भगवति ज्ञानदीपप्रदे गुरौ । मर्त्यासद्धी: श्रुतं तस्य सर्वं कुञ्जरशौचवत् ॥ २६ ॥
yasya sākṣād bhagavati jñāna-dīpa-prade gurau martyāsad-dhīḥ śrutaṁ tasya sarvaṁ kuñjara-śaucavat
ຄູຈິດວິນຍານຄວນຖືວ່າເປັນພຣະເຈົ້າໂດຍກົງ ເພາະທ່ານມອບປະທີບແຫ່ງປັນຍາເຫນືອໂລກ; ແຕ່ຜູ້ໃດທີ່ຄິດວ່າທ່ານເປັນຄົນທົ່ວໄປ ການຟັງ ການຮຽນພຣະເວດ ແລະຄວາມຮູ້ທັງໝົດຈະເປັນໄຮ້ຜົນ ດັ່ງຊ້າງອາບນ້ຳ
It is recommended that one honor the spiritual master as being on an equal status with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sākṣād dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ . This is enjoined in every scripture. Ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyāt. One should consider the ācārya to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of all these instructions, if one considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being, one is doomed. His study of the Vedas and his austerities and penances for enlightenment are all useless, like the bathing of an elephant. An elephant bathes in a lake quite thoroughly, but as soon as it comes on the shore it takes some dust from the ground and strews it over its body. Thus there is no meaning to the elephant’s bath. One may argue by saying that since the spiritual master’s relatives and the men of his neighborhood consider him an ordinary human being, what is the fault on the part of the disciple who considers the spiritual master an ordinary human being? This will be answered in the next verse, but the injunction is that the spiritual master should never be considered an ordinary man. One should strictly adhere to the instructions of the spiritual master, for if he is pleased, certainly the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi .
FAQs
This verse teaches that the guru should be understood as directly representing the Supreme Lord and as the giver of the lamp of knowledge; treating the guru as merely a mortal makes one’s hearing of scripture fruitless.
Prahlāda is instructing about true dharma and bhakti; he warns that without honoring the guru’s divine role, even extensive scriptural study does not transform the heart and therefore fails to produce genuine devotion.
Approach spiritual learning with humility and service, seek guidance from a bona fide teacher, and avoid a casual, dismissive attitude toward the guru—otherwise spiritual study may remain theoretical and not purify character.