44
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 6, Ch. 7]
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmā said: O best of the demigods, unfortunately, because of madness resulting from your material opulence, you failed to receive Brhaspati properly when he came to your assembly. Because he is aware of the Supreme Brahman and fully in control of his senses, he is the best of the brāhmaṇas. Therefore it is very astonishing that you have acted impudently toward him.
PURPORT
Lord Brahmā recognized the brahminical qualifications of Brhaspati, who was the spiritual master of the demigods because of his awareness of the Supreme Brahman. Brhaspati was very much in control of his senses and mind, and therefore he was a most qualified  brāhmaṇa . Lord Brahmā chastised the demigods for not properly respecting this  brāhmaṇa , who was their  guru . Lord Brahmā wanted to impress upon the demigods that one's  guru  should not be disrespected under any circumstances. When Brhaspati entered the assembly of the demigods, they and their king, Indra, took him for granted. Since he came every day, they thought, they did not need to show him special respect. As it is said, familiarity breeds contempt. Being very much displeased, Brhaspati immediately left Indra's palace. Thus all the demigods, headed by Indra, became offenders at the lotus feet of Brhaspati, and Lord Brahmā, being aware of this, condemned their neglect. In a song we sing every day, Narottama dāsa Thākura says,  cakṣu-dāna dila yei, janme janme prabhu sei : the  guru  gives spiritual insight to the disciple, and therefore the  guru  should be considered his master, life after life. Under no circumstances should the  guru  be disrespected, but the demigods, being puffed up by their material possessions, were disrespectful to their  guru . Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.17.27) advises,  ācāryaṁ māṁ vi-jānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit/ na martya-buddhyāsūyeta : the  ācārya  should always be offered respectful obeisances; one should never envy the  ācārya , considering him an ordinary human being.
TEXT 22
तस्यायमनयस्यासीत् परेभ्यो वः परामवः ।
प्रक्षीणेभ्यः स्ववैरिभ्यः समृद्धानां च यत् सुराः ॥२२॥