Ādi-līlā, Chapter 1
43
manifestation of the Lord. With this conviction, a disciple can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The spiritual master is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa because he is a manifestation of Kṛṣṇa.
Lord Nityānanda, who is Balarāma Himself, the first direct manifestation or expansion of Kṛṣṇa, is the original spiritual master. He helps Lord Kṛṣṇa in His pastimes, and He is a servant of the Lord.
Every living entity is eternally a servant of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya; therefore the spiritual master cannot be other than a servant of Lord Caitanya. The spiritual master's eternal occupation is to expand the service of the Lord by training disciples in a service attitude. A spiritual master never poses as the Supreme Lord Himself; he is considered a representative of the Lord. The revealed scriptures prohibit one's pretending to be God, but a bona fide spiritual master is a most faithful and confidential servant of the Lord and therefore deserves as much respect as Kṛṣṇa.
TEXT 45
গুরু কৃষ্ণরূপ হন শাস্ত্রের প্রমাণে ।
গুরুরূপে কৃষ্ণ রূপা করেন গুরুগণে ॥ ৪৫ ॥
guru kṛṣṇa-rūpa hana śāstrera pramāṇe   guru-rūpe kṛṣṇa kṛpā karena bhakta-gaṇe
SYNONYMS
guru —the spiritual master;  kṛṣṇa-rūpa —as good as Kṛṣṇa;  hana —is;  śāstrera —of revealed scriptures;  pramāṇe —by the evidence;  guru-rūpe —in the form of the spiritual master;  kṛṣṇa —Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa;  kṛpā —mercy;  karena —distributes;  bhakta-gaṇe —unto His devotees.
TRANSLATION
According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.
PURPORT
The relationship of a disciple with his spiritual master is as good as his relationship with the Supreme Lord. A spiritual master always represents himself as the humblest servitor of the Personality of Godhead, but the disciple must look upon him as the manifested representation of Godhead.
TEXT 46
আচার্যং মাং বিজ্ঞানীয়ান্নাবমন্ত্রেত কর্হিচিৎ ।
ন মর্ত্যবৃদ্ধাস্থিয়েত সর্বদেবময়ে গুরু: ॥ ৪৬ ॥
ācāryam mām vijānīyān   nāvamanyeta karhicit