Speaker: Srila Prabhupada
Source: Kanista, Madhyama, Uttama
The spiritual master is the representative of Krsna. How he becomes representative? What is the test? The test is… Just like anyone can understand, representative. Suppose a business firm’s representative is going to canvass for business, what is his business? He will take the interest of the firm, not his personal interest. He will try to secure business for the firm he’s working, not for his personal… That is perfect representative. And if he goes, in the name of the firm’s representative, and he does his own business, then he’s a liar. Similarly, Krsna’s representative means one who speaks about Krsna as Krsna speaks. And if he adulterates, he’s a liar. He’s not a representative. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru (BG 18.65), and if the representative says, “Just become a devotee of Krsna. Just worship Krsna. Just offer your obeisances to Krsna,” then,he is a representative. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja (BG 18.66), and the representative will say that “You give up all other process. You simply surrender to Krsna.” He will never say that “I am Krsna.” He’ll never say. He’s not representative of Krsna. He’s a liar. He’s not representative.