Prabhupada Continues:
Bhagavad-gita 7.19,
“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me”
One who has surrendered to Krishna, he’s actually jnanavan, (knowledgeable). And this jnanavan is possible after many, many births; not so easily, to surrender to Krishna. But if he’s there, such a person he is mahatma. That is mahatma, not by stamping, anyone, any person, can become mahatma. This is the symptom of mahatma, one who has surrendered to Krishna fully. So that is guru, mahatma, Bhagavad-gita 7.19,
“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me”
Such mahatma is guru. Bhagavad-gita 9.13,
“O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.”
The guru has no other business than Krishna-bhajana. So that you have to see. You have to learn. You have to appreciate with persons who are actually engaged in Krishna-bhajana. Then you’ll understand.
Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 23.14-15,
“In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus, one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sadhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Krishna consciousness.”
Bhagavad-gita 9.30,
“Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.”
He’s sadhu. Who has no other business than Krishna! Mix with such sadhu who are actually executing Krishna-bhajana. This is the description of the sadhu.
These things are there. There is no question of being misled. But if you purposefully mislead yourself, who can check? In the beginning you may commit some mistake, but when you study Bhagavad-gita—who is sadhu, who is mahatma, who is guru—then why shall we make, commit mistake again? If you have done mistake—you have gone to a rascal who is not Krishna conscious—then when you read Bhagavad-gita, you can understand. Why you are misled? Why you should be misled? If it is written on the road, “Keep to the left,” why should you be misled and go to the right? Go to the left. Then you are not misled.
So here it is said, in Bhagavad-gita 9.13,
“Those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.”
A mahatma means who is always engaged in Krishna consciousness. Why do you accept somebody as mahatma who does not speak about Krishna? Then you are misleading yourself.
Everything, direction, is there. Why you create your own mahatma? If you want to be cheated, who can check you? That is your fault. In Bhagavad-gita, 7.19, it is clearly said,
“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me.”
That is mahatma. He’s mahatma. He’s sadhu. We shall go to him. Why shall we go to a rascal? Simple directions. So, if you are misled, if you are cheated, whose fault it is? But if you want to be cheated, who can check? Even though somebody by mistake has gone to a rascal, the book is there. As soon as you find out, “Here is a rascal who does not know anything about Krishna, and I have come to him,” reject him. That is stated in the sastra. Even by mistake you have come to a rascal who does not know how to become guru, you can reject him. Why should you stick to him? Reject him. And by mistake I have come to rascal. Why shall I continue to accept him as guru? Canakya Pandita said,
‘Give up all rascals. Associate with sadhus.’
If you do not do that, that is your fault. We have to mix with sadhu. Sadhu means who are twenty-four-hours engaged in Krishna’s service. Things are there. Why should you mix with asadhu? Then how can you understand?
If you have got little faith, then next business is to associate with sadhus.”