140 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 17

nor should one think that the spiritual master is an ordinary human
being.” One should strictly follow this sastric injunction and worship the
Deity, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without offenses. The
spiritual master is the direct representative of the Lord, and no one
should consider him an ordinary human being. By avoiding offenses
against the Deity and the spiritual master, one can advance in spiritual
life, or Krsna consciousness.

In this regard, the following quotation appears in the Laghu-
bhagavatamrta:

padme tu parama-vyomnah
purvadye dik-catustaye
vasudevadayo vyithas

catvarah kathitah kramat

tatha pada-vibhiitau ca
nivasanti kramddi me

Jalavrti-stha-vaikuntha-
sthita vedavati-pure

satyordhve vaisnave loke
nityakhye dvaraka-pure

Suddhodad uttare sveta-
dvipe cairdvati-pure

ksirambudhi-sthitante
kroda-paryanka-dhamani
sdtvatiye kvacit tantre
nava vyithah prakirtitah
catvadro vdsudevadya
nardyana-nrsimhakau

hayagrivo mahé-krodo
brahmé ceti navoditah

tatra brahmaé tu vijteyah
purvokta-vidhaya harih
