Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.17.27
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyHonor the Ācārya as Kṛṣṇa’s Dear Servant
“One should know the ācārya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa teaches that one should know the ācārya as Himself and never disrespect or envy him as an ordinary man. The spiritual master’s care enables the disciple to rise to transcendental service.
- A bona fide spiritual master teaches Vedic knowledge, follows its principles and always engages in unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Someone lacking this attitude of service is disqualified from being an ācārya.
- The spiritual master is honored as a manifestation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa because he is the Lord’s very dear and confidential servant. He is not identical with Kṛṣṇa in every respect and is never authorized to imitate His transcendental pastimes.
Try this today
Write down the purport’s test of a bona fide spiritual master: unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Ask yourself
How does recognizing the spiritual master as Kṛṣṇa’s servant deepen both respect and discernment?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.