A saintly person, just like fire, sometimes appears in a concealed form and at other times reveals himself. For the welfare of the conditioned souls who desire real happiness, a saintly person may accept the worshipable position of spiritual master, and thus like fire he burns to ashes all the past and future sinful reactions of his worshipers by mercifully accepting their offerings.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
क्वचिच्छन्नः क्वचित्स्पष्ट उपास्यः श्रेय इच्छताम् । भुङ्क्ते सर्वत्र दातॄणां दहन् प्रागुत्तराशुभम्
kvacicchannaḥ kvacitspaṣṭa upāsyaḥ śreya icchatām | bhuṅkte sarvatra dātṝṇāṃ dahan prāguttarāśubham
SB 11.7.46