Difficult is the abandonment of sensory objects, difficult is the vision of reality, difficult is the spontaneous state, without the compassion of the true guru.

This verse reinforces the importance of the guru by pointing out three seemingly insurmountable obstacles:

Viṣaya-tyāga — renounces sense objects.The viṣayas are the objects that attract our attention: shapes, sounds, flavors, textures, smells.Attachment to them keeps the mind scattered.

Tattva-darśana — vision of reality as it is.It is not conceptual understanding but direct perception of the ultimate nature of things.

Sahajāvasthā — the spontaneous or natural state.Sahaja means “born together”, innate.It is the original condition before any acquisition or mental construction.

Sad-guroḥ karuṇāṃ vinā — “without the compassion of the real guru.”Sat-guru is the authentic guru, not merely nominal.His karuṇā (compassion) is the catalytic factor that makes the seemingly impossible possible.

The Bihar School points out that the guru operates at subtle levels, removing obstacles that the disciple does not even recognize.Without this intervention, spiritual progress remains theoretical.