Vivekachudamani 35

svamin namaste natalokabandho
karunya sindho patitam bhavabdhau |
mam uddharatmiyaka takÿadrstya
rjvyati karunya sudha abhivrstya ||
(Sankaracarya's Vivekachudamani 35)

O Master, O friend of all who reverently surrenders unto thee, thou ocean of mercy, I salute thee; save me, fallen as I am into this sea of worldly existence, with a direct glance from thy eyes which shower nectarine Grace Supreme.

In the darkness, we cannot see anything. But if there is matches or candle, if the candle is ignited, then we can see. Similarly, the guru's business is to open the eyes. To open the eyes means to give him the knowledge that "You are not purusa. You are prakrti. Change your views."

Prahlada says further:

prayena deva munyah sva-vimukti-kama maunam caranti vijane na parartha-nistah naitan vihaya krpanan vimumuksa eko nanyam tvadasya saranam bramato 'nupasye

"My dear Lord, there are many saintly persons and sages who are very interested in their own liberation." Munayah means saintly persons or philosophers. Prayena deva munayah sva-vimukti-kama: they are very interested in their own liberation. They try to live in solitary places like the Himalayan mountains. They do not talk to anyone, and they are always afraid of mixing with ordinary people in the city and becoming disturbed or maybe even falling down. They think, "Better let me save myself."

Prahlada Maharaja regrets that these great saintly persons do not come to the city, where people have manufactured a civilization of very hard work all day and night. Such saints are not very compassionate. He says, "I am anxious for these fallen people who are unnecessarily working so hard simply for sense gratification."

Gurus are very expert in scrutinizingly studying the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings. They are always absorbed in the mood of the gopis and are engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Supreme Lord."

Pariksit Maharaja says to Sukadeva Gosvami, "You have described the different types of hellish conditions of life. Now, tell me how those who are suffering can be delivered. Kindly explain this to me." Adhuneha maha-bhaga yathaiva narakannarah/ nanograyatan-anneyattanme. Nara means human beings, those who are fallen. Narakannarah nanograyatananneyattan me : "How can they be delivered from their fierce miseries and horrible pains?" Maharaja Pariksit says, "Somehow or other they have fallen down to this hellish life. But that does not mean that they should remain in that condition. There must be some means by which they can be delivered.

Guru is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. By his mercy, every one of us can be delivered. Only by bonafide guru not by fashionable gurus.