234
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 8, Ch. 16]
PURPORT
Here the process of devotional service is further explained. Kaśyapa Muni wanted to instruct Aditi in the same process recommended to him by Brahmā for satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is valuable. The  guru  does not manufacture a new process to instruct the disciple. The disciple receives from the  guru  an authorized process received by the  guru  from his  guru . This is called the system of discipline succession ( evam paramparā-prāptam imam rājarṣayo viduḥ ). This is the bona fide Vedic system of receiving the process of devotional service, by which the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased. Therefore, to approach a bona fide  guru , or spiritual master, is essential. The bona fide spiritual master is he who has received the mercy of his  guru , who in turn is bona fide because he has received the mercy of his  guru . This is called the  paramparā  system. Unless one follows this  paramparā  system, the  mantra  one receives will be chanted for no purpose. Nowadays there are so many rascal  gurus  who manufacture their  mantras  as a process for material advancement, not spiritual advancement. Still, the  mantra  cannot be successful if it is manufactured.  Mantras  and the process of devotional service have special power, provided they are received from the authorized person.
TEXT 25
फाल्गुनस्यामले पक्षे द्वादशाहं पयोव्रतम् ।  
 अर्चयेदरविन्दाक्षं भक्त्या परमयान्वितः ॥२५॥
phālgunasyāmale pakṣe 
    dvādaśāham payo-vratam 
    arcayed aravindākṣam 
    bhaktyā paramayānvitaḥ
phālgunasya —of the month of Phālguna (February and March); 
 amale —during the bright;  pakṣe —fortnight;  dvādaśa-aham —for twelve days, ending with Dvādaśī, the day after Ekādaśī;  payaḥ-vratam —accepting the vow of taking only milk;  arcayet —one should worship;  aravinda-akṣam —the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead;  bhaktyā —with devotion;  paramayā —unalloyed;  anvitaḥ —surcharged.