Guru

To one who has supreme devotion to God, and the same devotion to the guru as to God — to that great soul the meanings here declared shine forth.

By the grace of Vyasa I heard this supreme secret, this yoga, directly from Krishna, the Lord of yoga, speaking it Himself.

Arise, awake, and learn by approaching the great teachers. Like the sharp edge of a razor, the path is difficult to cross — the wise declare it hard to tread.

Having examined the worlds earned through action and seen that the uncreated cannot be obtained through mere deeds, a seeker of truth should approach a teacher who is learned in the scriptures and grounded in Brahman, bearing fuel in hand as a sign of discipleship.

The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is the great Lord Shiva. The Guru alone is the supreme Absolute — to that Guru I offer my reverent salutations.

This supreme secret of Vedanta, set forth in an earlier age, should not be given to one who is not tranquil, nor to one who is not a son or a worthy student.

By the power of austerity and by the grace of God, the wise Shvetashvatara then proclaimed this supreme purifying wisdom — duly honoured by the assembly of sages — to those who had gone beyond all stages of life.

To that student who came duly, whose mind was fully stilled, who possessed inner tranquillity, the knower taught in its essence the truth of Brahma-vidya—by which one comes to know the imperishable, true Purusha.

Brahma, the first among the gods, arose as the creator of the universe and the guardian of all worlds. He transmitted the knowledge of Brahman—the very ground of all knowledge—to Atharva, his eldest son.

Learn that knowledge by prostrating yourself before the wise, by sincere questioning, and by service. Those who have seen the truth will teach it to you.

If Shiva is displeased, the Guru can save you; but if the Guru is displeased, not even Shiva can save you. Therefore seek refuge in the Guru with every means at your disposal.

You are my father, you are my mother, you are my kinsman, and you are my divinity. Salutations to the Guru who awakens the soul to the true nature of this world.

Salutations to the Guru who, with the salve of wisdom applied like a fine brush, opens the eyes of one left sightless by the darkness of ignorance.

This Self is not obtained by many who hear; many who hear do not know it. Wonderful is the teacher who can reveal it; wonderful is the one who receives it; wonderful is the knower taught by a capable master.

O Krishna, you alone are fit to cut this doubt of mine completely away. Truly, no one other than you is capable of dispelling this uncertainty.

I remember the glorious Guru who is the Supreme Brahman. I speak of the glorious Guru who is the Supreme Brahman. I bow to the glorious Guru who is the Supreme Brahman. I worship the glorious Guru who is the Supreme Brahman.

The root of meditation is the Guru's form; the root of worship is the Guru's feet; the root of all mantra is the Guru's word; and the root of liberation is the Guru's grace.

Guru is the gateway to transcendental Truth-Consciousness.

They honoured him, saying: You are our father — you who ferry us beyond the far shore of ignorance. Reverence to the supreme seers! Reverence to the supreme seers!

This truth cannot be well understood when taught by an inferior person. Even much pondering does not lead there without a true teacher. It is subtler than the subtlest, beyond all logic.