Text 18] Lord Rsabhadeva’s Teachings 189

guruh—a spiritual master; na—not; sah—he; syat—should become;
sva-janah—a relative; na—not; sah—such a person; syat—should
become; pita—a father: na—not; sah—he; sydt—should become:
Janani—a mother; na—not; sd—she; syat—should become; daivam—
the worshipable deity; na—not; tat—that; syat—should become; na—
not; patih—a husband; ca—also; sah—he; syat—should become; na—
not; mocayet—can deliver; yah—who; samupeta-mrtyum—one who is
on the path of repeated birth and death.

TRANSLATION

“One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of re-
peated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a
father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.

PURPORT

There are many spiritual masters, but Rsabhadeva advises that one
should not become a spiritual master if he is unable to save his disciple
from the path of birth and death. Unless one is a pure devotee of Krsna.
he cannot save himself from the path of repeated birth and death.
Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so ’rjuna. One can stop birth
and death only by returning home, back to Godhead. However. who can
go back to Godhead unless he understands the Supreme Lord in truth?
Janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah.

We have many instances in history illustrating Rsabhadeva’s instruc-
tions. Sukracarya was rejected by Bali Maharaja due to his inability to
save Bali Maharaja from the path of repeated birth and death.
Sukracdrya was not a pure devotee, he was more or less inclined to fru-
itive activity, and he objected when Bali Maharaja promised to give
everything to Lord Visnu. Actually one is supposed to give everything to
the Lord because everything belongs to the Lord. Consequently. the
Supreme Lord advises in Bhagavad-gita (9.27):

yat karosi yad asnasi
yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusva mad-arpanam
