Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.80.33

nanv artha-kovidā brahman

varṇāśrama-vatām iha

ye mayā guruṇā vācā

taranty añjo bhavārṇavam

SYNONYMS

nanu — certainly; artha — of their true welfare; kovidāḥ — expert knowers; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; varṇāśrama-vatām — among those engaged in the varṇāśrama system; iha — in this world; ye — who; mayā — by Me; guruṇā — as the spiritual master; vācā — through his words; taranti — cross beyond; añjaḥ — easily; bhava — of material life; arṇavam — the ocean.

TRANSLATION

Certainly, O brāhmaṇa, of all the followers of the varṇāśrama system, those who take advantage of the words I speak in My form as the spiritual master and thus easily cross over the ocean of material existence best understand their own true welfare.

PURPORT

One's father is a natural object of reverence, as is a religious leader who initiates one into sacred ceremonies and instructs one in general wisdom. But ultimately the bona fide spiritual master, learned in the transcendental science and thus able to take one across the ocean of birth and death to the spiritual world — such a guru is most deserving of worship and respect, for he is the direct representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as stated here.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
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