Text 42] The Narayana-kavaca Shield 97

One must receive all kinds of mantras from a bona fide spiritual master;
otherwise the mantras will not be fruitful. This is also indicated in

Bhagavad-gita (4.34):

tad viddhi pranipatena
Pariprasnena sevaya

upadeksyanti te jianam
jfiéninas tattva-darsinah

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire
from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized
soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” All
mantras should be received through the authorized guru, and the disci-
ple must satisfy the guru in all respects, after surrendering at his lotus
feet. In the Padma Purana it is also said, sampradaya-vihina ye mantras
te nisphala match. There are four sampradayas, or disciplic successions,
namely the Brahma-sampradaya, the Rudra-sampradaya, the Sri-
sampradaya and the Kumara-sampradaya. If one wants to advance in
spiritual power, one must receive his mantras from one of these bona
fide sampradayas; otherwise he will never successfully advance in
spiritual life.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, Eighth
Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Narayana-kavaca
Shield.”
