According to the words of Lord Krishna mentioned in the text, what is the spiritual significance of a saint?

The text in Chapter 11 highlights the immense spiritual significance of saints through the words of Lord Krishna. Krishna himself declares, 'The saint is my own soul; the saint is my living image; the saint who is full of love is me.' This elevates the saint to a divine status, being a direct manifestation of God. Krishna further states, 'I proudly bear the burden of my devotees through them,' indicating that saints are the primary vehicle for divine grace and support. The ultimate reverence is shown when Krishna says, 'Whoever surrenders exclusively to the saints, I also bow to their feet,' signifying that devotion to a true saint is equivalent to the highest form of worship.