Bhagvatam: LORD BRAHMÄ POINTED OUT TO THE DEMIGODS THAT BY THE STRENGTH OF THE GURU ONE CAN BECOME MOST POWERFUL WITHIN THIS WORLD, AND BY THE DISPLEASURE OF THE GURU ONE CAN LOSE EVERYTHING.
TRANSLATION
Because of your misbehavior toward Brhaspati, you have been defeated by the demons. My dear demigods, since the demons were weak, having been defeated by you several times, how else could you, who were so advanced in opulence, be defeated by them?
PURPORT
The devas are celebrated for fighting with the asuras perpetually. In such fights the asuras were always defeated, but this time the demigods were defeated. Why? The reason, as stated here, was that they had offended their spiritual master. Their impudent disrespect of their spiritual master was the cause of their defeat by the demons. As stated in the shästras, when one disrespects a respectable superior, one loses his longevity and the results of his pious activities, and in this way one is degraded.
TRANSLATION
O Indra, your enemies, the demons, were extremely weak because of their disrespect toward Sukrächärya, but since they have now worshiped Sukrächärya with great devotion, they have again become powerful. By their devotion to Sukrächärya, they have increased their strength so much that now they are even able to easily seize my abode from me.
PURPORT
Lord Brahmä wanted to point out to the demigods that by the strength of the guru one can become most powerful within this world, and by the displeasure of the guru one can lose everything. This is confirmed by the song of Vishvanätha Chakravarti Thäkura:
"By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Krshna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement." Although the demons are insignificant in comparison to Lord Brahmä, because of the strength of their guru they were so powerful that they could even seize Brahmaloka from Lord Brahmä. We therefore pray to the spiritual master:
By the mercy of the guru, even a dumb man can become the greatest orator, and even a lame man can cross mountains. As advised by Lord Brahmä, one should remember this shästric injunction if one desires success in his life.
