आचार्यं मां विजानीयान्नावमन्येत कर्हिचित् ।
न मर्त्यबुद्ध्यासूयेत सर्वदेवमयो गुरु: ॥
ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhicit |
na martya-buddhyāsūyeta sarva-devamayo guruḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.17.27; cited in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.99; Bhakti Sandarbha: 211)
“Know the ācārya to be me. One should never disrespect [him], and one should not engage in detraction [of him] out of consideration of [him being] a mortal. The guru is an embodiment of all the devas.”
Commentary
anyadā sva-gurau karmibhir api bhagavad-dṛṣṭiḥ kartavyety āha—‘ācāryaṁ māṁ …’ | brahmacāri-dharmāntaḥ-paṭhitam idam |
(Bhakti Sandarbha: 211)
“In another case, vision of Bhagavān is to be fostered even by followers of the path of karma in relation to their own guru. Thus, he says ācāryaṁ māṁ … [i.e., thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa teaches this in SB 11.17.27]. This [statement] is mentioned in the midst of [a description of] the duty (dharma) of a student (brahmacārī).”
ācāryaṁ māṁ madīyam | ata eva guru-varaṁ mukunda-preṣṭhatvena smarety ādy-uktir api saṅgacchate | sāmānya-manuṣya-buddhyā nāvamanyeta |
(Bhakti-sāra-pradarśinī-ṭīkā)
“[Know] The ācārya to be me, that is, my own [i.e.,. a person dear to and looked after by me]. Therefore, a statement such as [Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī’s in Manaḥ-śikṣā (2)], ‘Remember your beloved guru to be Mukunda’s favorite’ is also proper. One should not disrespect [him] out of consideration of [him being] an ordinary mortal.”
The root avaman in the verb avamanyeta from the phrase, “One should never disrespect” (na avamanyeta karhicit) can also convey that one should not depreciate, not undervalue, not despise, or not treat contemptuously. The root asūyati in the verb asūyeta from the phrase, “One should not engage in detraction” (na asūyeta) can also convey that one should not engage in calumny, not foster anger or indignation, not foster envy or jealousy, and not be discontented or angry with the guru.