As quoted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 8.128) , Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said:

kibā vipra, kibā nyāsī, śūdra kene naya yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā sei ‘guru’ haya

A guru, or spiritual master, can be anyone who is well conversant with the science of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore although Prahlāda Mahārāja was a gṛhastha ruling over the demons, he was a paramahaṁsa, the best of human beings, and thus he is our guru. In the list of gurus, or authorities, Prahlāda Mahārāja’s name is therefore mentioned:

svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ prahlādo janako bhīṣmo balir vaiyāsakir vayam

( Bhāg. 6.3.20)

The conclusion is that a paramahaṁsa is an exalted devotee ( bhagavat-priya ). Such a paramahaṁsa may be in any stage of life — brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha or sannyāsa — and be equally liberated and exalted.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Thirteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Behavior of a Perfect Person.”