46 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
Siksd-guruke ta’ jani krsnera svarupa
antaryami, bhakta-srestha, —ei dui rupa

SYNONYMS

Siksa-guruke—the spiritual master who instructs; ta’-indeed; jani—| know; Arsnera
—of Kysna; sva-rupa—the direct representative; antaryadmi—the indwelling Supersoul ;
bhakta-srestha—the best devotee; e/—these; dui—two; ruipa—forms.

TRANSLATION

One should know the instructing spiritual master to be the Personality of Krsna.
Lord Krsna manifests Himself as the Supersoul and as the greatest devotee of the
Lord.

PURPORT

Srila Kpsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami states that the instructing spiritual master is a
bona fide representative of Sri Krsna. Sri Krsna Himself teaches us as the instructing
spiritual master from within and without. From within He teaches as Paramatma,
our constant companion, and from without He teaches from Bhagavad-gitd as the
instructing spiritual master. There are two kinds of instructing spiritual masters.
One is the liberated person fully absorbed in meditation in devotional service, and
the other is he who invokes the disciple’s spiritual consciousness by means of relevant
instructions. Thus the instructions in the science of devotion are differentiated in
terms of the objective and subjective ways of understanding. The dcarya in the true
sense of the term, who is authorized to deliver Krsna, enriches the disciple with full
spiritual knowledge and thus awakens him to the activities of devotional service.

When by learning from the self-realized spiritual master one actually engages
himself in the service of Lord Visnu, functional devotional service begins. The
procedures of this devotional service are known as abhidheya, or action one is duty-
bound to perform. Our only shelter is the Supreme Lord, and one who teaches
how to approach Kysna is the functioning form of the Personality of Godhead. There
is no difference between the shelter-giving Supreme Lord and the initiating and
instructing spiritual masters. If one foolishly discriminates between them, he commits
an offense in the discharge of devotional service.

Srila Sanatana Gosvami is the ideal spiritual master, for he delivers one the shelter
of the lotus feet of Madana-mohana. Even though one may be unable to travel on
the field of Vrndavana due to forgetfulness of his relationship with the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, he can get an adequate opportunity to stay in Vrndavana
and derive all spiritual benefits by the mercy of Sanatana Gosvami. Sri Govindaji
acts exactly like the siksd-guru (instructing spiritual master) by teaching Arjuna
Bhagavad-gita. He is the original preceptor, for He gives us instructions and an
opportunity to serve Him. The initiating spiritual master is a personal manifestation
of Srila Madana-mohana vigraha, whereas the instructing spiritual master is a personal
representative of Srila Govindadeva vigraha. Both of these Deities are worshiped at
Vrndavana. Srila Gopinatha is the ultimate attraction in spiritual realization.
