1430 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 29

Supreme Personality of Godhead is easier than to worship various demigods
under the influence of lust and the desire for material enjoyment. The
devotee is therefore always engaged in the loving devotional service of the
Lord. Such a person is a true guru. In Padma Purana it is said:

sat-karma-nipuno vipro
mantra-tantra-visaradah

avaisnavo gurur na syad
vaisnavah sva-paco guruh

“Even if a brahmana is very learned in Vedic scriptures and knows the six
occupational duties of a brahmana, he cannot become a guru or spiritual
master unless he is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
However, if one is born in a family of dog-eaters but is a pure devotee of
the Lord, he can become a spiritual master.” The conclusion is that one
cannot become a spiritual master unless he is a pure devotee of the Lord.
One who is a spiritual master in accordance with the above descriptions of
devotional service is to be understood as the Supreme Personality of God-
head personally present. According to the words mentioned here (gurur
harih), consulting a bona fide spiritual master means consulting the Su-
preme Personality of Godhead personally. One should therefore take
shelter of such a bona fide spiritual master. Success in life means accepting
a spiritual master who knows Krsna as the only supreme beloved per-
sonality. One should worship such a confidential devotee of the Lord.

TEXT 52
Me TF

wa od fe afew aaa: geri |
wa aqm oe Fray afahraz 142!

ndrada uvdca
prasna evam hi safichinno
bhavatah purusarsabha
atra me vadato guhyam
nigamaya suniscitam

naradah uvaca— Narada said; prasnah—question; evam—thus; hi—certain-
ly; safichinnah—answered; bhavatah—your; purusa-rsabha—O great person-
ality; atra—here; me vadatah—as I am speaking; guhyam—confidential;
nisG4maya—hear ; su-niscitam— perfectly ascertained.
