Guru Lakshana
Hari-bhakti-vilasa 1.38-40.
• avadAtAnvayaH – He should be born in a spotless (avadAta) family (anvaya). In other words, there should be no scandal associated with the family.
• zuddha – He himself should be without blemish of character.
• svocitAcAra-tat-paraH – He is faithful to his own religious duties, as they have been ordained by his spiritual master.
• AzramI – Though situated in any one of the four classes of Varnashram society, he should be a devotee of Krishna, fully devoted to his exclusive service.
• krodha-rahita – He should be free from anger.
• vedavit – He is a knower of the Vedas.
• sarva-zAstravit -- The guru knows all the scriptures.
• zraddhAvAn. The guru is a man with strong faith.
• anasUyaH – The guru is free from envy.
• priya-vAk – The guru’s speech is endearing.
• priya-darzanaH – The guru has a pleasing appearance.
• zuciH – The guru is pure, both within and without.
• suvezaH – The guru wears the appropriate dress for someone worshiping the Lord.
• taruNaH – The guru is young. In other words, in his enthusiasm to serve the Lord, he is a vigorous as a youth.
• sarva-bhUta-hite rataH – He is engaged in the welfare of all living beings.
• dhImAn – The spiritual master is intelligent.
• anuddhata-matiH – The guru possesses a steadiness of will.
• pUrNaH – The guru is full. In other words, his heart is so full of the wealth of devotion and divine love that he senses no need for the values of this world—profit, adoration or prestige.
• ahantA – The guru is non-violent.
• vimarzakaH – He has good judgment.
• sa-guNaH – He is virtuous, that is, he possesses virtuous like kindness to those who come to take shelter of him.
• arcAsu kRta-dhIH – He is expert and faithful in his practice of worship.
• kRtajJaH – He is grateful.
• ziSya-vatsalaH – He is as affectionate to his disciples as he would be to a son or daughter, and does everything to further their advancement in devotional life.
• nigrahAnugrahe zaktaH – He knows how to both chastise and bestow mercy on his disciples.
• homa-mantra-parAyaNaH – He is devoted to the performance of sacrifice and the recitation of mantras.
• UhApoha-prakAra-jJaH – He is expert in the art of debate.
• zuddhAtmA – His heart is pure, for he is always thinking of Krishna.
• kRpAlayaH – He is a reservoir of compassion.
• garimA-nidhiH – He is as deep as an ocean.
• avadAtAnvayaH – He should be born in a spotless (avadAta) family (anvaya). In other words, there should be no scandal associated with the family.
• zuddha – He himself should be without blemish of character.
• svocitAcAra-tat-paraH – He is faithful to his own religious duties, as they have been ordained by his spiritual master.
• AzramI – Though situated in any one of the four classes of Varnashram society, he should be a devotee of Krishna, fully devoted to his exclusive service.
• krodha-rahita – He should be free from anger.
• vedavit – He is a knower of the Vedas.
• sarva-zAstravit -- The guru knows all the scriptures.
• zraddhAvAn. The guru is a man with strong faith.
• anasUyaH – The guru is free from envy.
• priya-vAk – The guru’s speech is endearing.
• priya-darzanaH – The guru has a pleasing appearance.
• zuciH – The guru is pure, both within and without.
• suvezaH – The guru wears the appropriate dress for someone worshiping the Lord.
• taruNaH – The guru is young. In other words, in his enthusiasm to serve the Lord, he is a vigorous as a youth.
• sarva-bhUta-hite rataH – He is engaged in the welfare of all living beings.
• dhImAn – The spiritual master is intelligent.
• anuddhata-matiH – The guru possesses a steadiness of will.
• pUrNaH – The guru is full. In other words, his heart is so full of the wealth of devotion and divine love that he senses no need for the values of this world—profit, adoration or prestige.
• ahantA – The guru is non-violent.
• vimarzakaH – He has good judgment.
• sa-guNaH – He is virtuous, that is, he possesses virtuous like kindness to those who come to take shelter of him.
• arcAsu kRta-dhIH – He is expert and faithful in his practice of worship.
• kRtajJaH – He is grateful.
• ziSya-vatsalaH – He is as affectionate to his disciples as he would be to a son or daughter, and does everything to further their advancement in devotional life.
• nigrahAnugrahe zaktaH – He knows how to both chastise and bestow mercy on his disciples.
• homa-mantra-parAyaNaH – He is devoted to the performance of sacrifice and the recitation of mantras.
• UhApoha-prakAra-jJaH – He is expert in the art of debate.
• zuddhAtmA – His heart is pure, for he is always thinking of Krishna.
• kRpAlayaH – He is a reservoir of compassion.
• garimA-nidhiH – He is as deep as an ocean.
kRpA-sindhuH susampUrNaH sarva sattvopakArakaH
niHspRhaH sarvataH siddhaH sarva vidyA vizAradaH
sarva saMzaya saMchettA nalaso gurur AhRtaH
niHspRhaH sarvataH siddhaH sarva vidyA vizAradaH
sarva saMzaya saMchettA nalaso gurur AhRtaH
The true guru is an ocean of mercy, complete in himself, engaged in helping every living creature, without personal aspiration, successful in every way, conversant in all fields of knowledge, able to cut through all doubts, and not lazy. (HBV 1. 46)
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