Shloka 50
Matsya-avatāra: The Lord as Fish Saves the Vedas and Guides Satyavrata
अचक्षुरन्धस्य यथाग्रणी: कृत- स्तथा जनस्याविदुषोऽबुधो गुरु: । त्वमर्कदृक् सर्वदृशां समीक्षणो वृतो गुरुर्न: स्वगतिं बुभुत्सताम् ॥ ५० ॥
acakṣur andhasya yathāgraṇīḥ kṛtas tathā janasyāviduṣo ’budho guruḥ tvam arka-dṛk sarva-dṛśāṁ samīkṣaṇo vṛto gurur naḥ sva-gatiṁ bubhutsatām
यथा अचक्षुरन्धः अन्धमेवाग्रणीं कृत्वा वर्तते, तथा अविदुषो जनस्य अबुधो गुरुर्भवति। त्वं तु अर्कदृक् सर्वदृशां समीक्षणः; अतः स्वगतिं बुभुत्सतां वयं त्वां गुरुम् वृणिमहे।
The conditioned soul, being wrapped in ignorance and therefore not knowing the goal of life, accepts a guru who can juggle words and make some display of magic that is wonderful to a fool. Sometimes a foolish person accepts someone as a guru because he can manufacture a small quantity of gold by mystic yogic power. Because such a disciple has a poor fund of knowledge, he cannot judge whether the manufacture of gold is the criterion for a guru. Why should one not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, from whom unlimited numbers of gold mines come into being? Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate. All the gold mines are created by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, why should one accept a magician who can manufacture only a small portion of gold? Such gurus are accepted by those who are blind, not knowing the goal of life. Mahārāja Satyavrata, however, knew the goal of life. He knew the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore he accepted the Lord as his guru. Either the Supreme Lord or His representative can become guru. The Lord says, mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te: “One can get relief from the clutches of māyā as soon as he surrenders unto Me.” Therefore it is the guru’s business to instruct his disciple to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he wants relief from the material clutches. This is the symptom of the guru. This same principle was instructed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa. In other words, one is advised not to accept a guru who does not follow the path of instruction given by Lord Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse compares worldly guidance without true knowledge to “the blind leading the blind,” warning that ignorant people often accept unqualified gurus, while the Lord alone fully sees the truth and the right path.
Manu seeks to understand his real course and destination (sva-gati). Recognizing the Lord as all-seeing like the sun, he accepts Him as the only reliable guide, unlike fallible human teachers.
Seek guidance from authentic spiritual sources rooted in realized knowledge and scripture, not mere charisma or social popularity—because life’s ultimate aim requires a guide who truly “sees” the goal.