गोविन्द भाष्य (श्रील बलदेव विद्याभूषण - अचिन्त्यभेदाभेद वेदान्त ब्रह्मसूत्र भाष्य सटीक)

bhagavāṁs tv eva me kāmaṁ brūyāt "O master, please teach me the truth." In the same way Upakośala (Chāndogya Upaniṣad 4.10.1-4.14.3), even though he had already attained spiritual knowledge from the sacred fires, nevertheless approached his spiritual master for instruction. In these two passages of the Chāndogya Upaniṣad it is clearly seen that the mercy of the spiritual master is the most important. Here someone may say: If that is so, then what is the need of doing anything at all? One should not think in that way. One should still study the scriptures and follow the spiritual path. In the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (6.23) it is said: yasya deve parā bhaktiḥ "One should engage in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead." In the Śruti-śāstra it is said: śrotavyaḥ mantavyaḥ "One should meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead and hear His glories." In the Smṛti-śāstra it is said: guru-prasādo balavān na tasmād balavattaram tathāpi śravaṇādiś ca kartavyo mokṣa-siddhaye "The spiritual master's mercy is most important. Nothing is more important. Still, in order to attain liberation one should certainly hear the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and serve Him in many ways."