Guru-tyāga – Anuśīlana.in

avaiṣṇavopadiṣṭena mantreṇa nirayaṁ vrajet

avaiṣṇavopadiṣṭena mantreṇa nirayaṁ vrajet |
punaś ca vidhinā samyag grāhayed vaiṣṇavād guroḥ ||
(Nārada Pañcarātra; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 4.366 and the Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā on Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 1.54; Bhakti Sandarbha: 207)

“One shall go to hell as a result of [receiving] a mantra imparted by a non-Vaiṣṇava. [If one has received a mantra from a non-Vaiṣṇava] Again and properly according to rule, one should occasion reception [of a mantra] from a Vaiṣṇava guru.”

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jñāna-hīno gurus tyājyo mithyāvādī viḍambakaḥ

jñāna-hīno gurus tyājyo mithyāvādī viḍambakaḥ |
sva-viśrāntiṁ na jānāti para-śāntiṁ karoti kim ||
(Guru-gītā: 198; Siddha-siddhānta-saṅgraha: 5.38)

“A guru who is devoid of knowledge, a speaker of falsity, and a charlatan is to be rejected. How can one who does not know self-repose [i.e., mastery of the mind] create peace for others?”

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jano janasyādiśate’satīṁ gatiṁ

jano janasyādiśate’satīṁ gatiṁ
yayā prapadyeta duratyayaṁ tamaḥ |
tvaṁ tv avyayaṁ jñānam amogham añjasā
prapadyate yena jano nijaṁ padam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 8.24.51)

[Satyavrata Rāja to Matsya Avatāra:] “A person [i.e., a worldly guru] teaches the unrighteous path [i.e., the pursuit of artha, kāma, and so on] whereby a person shall attain to unsurmountable darkness [i.e., saṁsāra], but you [appear in the form of the guru and] teach imperishable and unerring knowledge whereby a person quickly attains your own abode [alt., your own feet].”

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sa guruḥ paramo vairī yo dadāti hy asan-matim

sa guruḥ paramo vairī yo dadāti hy asan-matim |
taṁ namaskṛtya sat-śiṣyaḥ prayāti jñānadaṁ gurum ||
(Nārada Pañcarātra: 1.10.21)

“A guru who propagates misconception is the greatest enemy. A sincere disciple should offer obeisance to him and [after abandoning him] go to a guru who gives [proper] knowledge.”

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guror apy avaliptasya kāryākāryam ajānataḥ

guror apy avaliptasya kāryākāryam ajānataḥ |
utpatha-pratipannasya parityāgo vidhīyate ||
(Nārada Pañcarātra: 1.10.20; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 238)

“Rejection is enjoined for even a guru who is arrogant, unaware of what is to be done and not to be done, and set out on a wrongful path.”

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tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam

tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.3.21; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 1.32; Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.97; Bhakti Sandarbha: 202, 238)

“Therefore [i.e., because there is no lasting fulfillment in saṁsāra and bhakti is the only means of crossing over saṁsāra], one who wishes to know the highest good should take shelter in a guru who is adept in śabda-brahman and Parabrahman, and is an abode of tranquility.”

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