FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.29.51

स वै प्रियतमश्चात्मा यतो न भयमण्वपि । इति वेद स वै विद्वान्यो विद्वान्स गुरुर्हरि: ॥ ५१ ॥
sa vai priyatamaś cātmā
[sa vai priyatamash chaatmaa]
yato na bhayam aṇv api
[yato na bhayam anv api]
iti veda sa vai vidvān
[iti veda sa vai vidvaan]
yo vidvān sa gurur hariḥ
[yo vidvaan sa gurur harih]
Word-for-word
saḥ — He vai — certainly priya-tamaḥ — the most dear ca — also ātmā — Supersoul yataḥ — from whom na — never bhayam — fear aṇu — little api — even iti — thus veda — (one who) knows saḥ — he vai — certainly vidvān — educated yaḥ — he who vidvān — educated saḥ — he guruḥ — spiritual master hariḥ — not different from the Lord.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa vai priyatamaś cātmā
saḥ
He
vai
certainly
priya-tamaḥ
the most dear
ca
also
ātmā
Supersoul
yato na bhayam aṇv api
yataḥ
from whom
na
never
bhayam
fear
aṇu
little
api
even
iti veda sa vai vidvān
iti
thus
veda
(one who) knows
saḥ
he
vai
certainly
vidvān
educated
yaḥ
he who
yo vidvān sa gurur hariḥ
vidvān
educated
saḥ
he
guruḥ
spiritual master
hariḥ
not different from the Lord.
One who is engaged in devotional service has not the least fear in material existence. This is because the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supersoul and friend of everyone. One who knows this secret is actually educated, and one thus educated can become the spiritual master of the world. One who is an actually bona fide spiritual master, representative of Kṛṣṇa, is not different from Kṛṣṇa.
Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says, sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ: the spiritual master is described in every scripture as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The spiritual master is accepted as identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead because he is the most confidential servant of the Lord ( kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya ). The purport is that both the Supersoul and the individual soul are very dear to everyone. Everyone loves himself, and when he becomes more advanced, he loves the Supersoul also. A person who is self-realized does not recommend the worship of anyone but the Supersoul. He knows that to worship the 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 Purāṇa it is said:

ṣaṭ-karma-nipuṇo vipro mantra-tantra-viśāradaḥ avaiṣṇavo gurur na syād vaiṣṇavaḥ śva-paco guruḥ

“Even if a brāhmaṇa is very learned in Vedic scriptures and knows the six occupational duties of a brāhmaṇa, 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 Godhead personally present. According to the words mentioned here ( gurur hariḥ ), consulting a bona fide spiritual master means consulting the Supreme 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 Kṛṣṇa as the only supreme beloved personality. One should worship such a confidential devotee of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Lord is most beloved, though the jīva is also dear, because from worshipping the Lord there is not the least fear or suffering. He who knows the two ātmās is learned. Such a learned person should be considered your guru and should be worshipped like the Lord. The Lord is dearest thought the jīva (ātmā) is dear, because from worshipping devatās and receiving Svarga there is only suffering for the jīva (and from worshipping the Lord there is no suffering or fear). You should know that he who knows the two ātmās to be distinct (iti veda) is learned. He who is that learned person is your guru, someone to take shelter of. He is the Lord. That means the guru is to be worshipped by you (like the Lord).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Devotee has no material fear because the Lord is Supersoul and friend; this educated person can be a universal spiritual master. Knowledge of this secret is itself a credential; you can teach what you know experientially.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I afraid still, despite knowing this secret?
  • What teaching from my own experience could I now share publicly?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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