How does Maya create bondage, and why is a Guru necessary to overcome it, even for a knowledgeable person?

According to the teachings in Chapter 50, Maya is the source of the entire illusion of name and form, and any pulse of imagination is its dwelling place. The very states of bondage and liberation are born from this imagination. The text warns that Maya is very difficult to cross and that even a supreme knower like Shuka can suffer loss due to doubt (vikalpa), which is a manifestation of ignorance. This is why a Guru is indispensable. The text states that ignorance "cannot be removed without a Guru." Doubt entering knowledge can spoil it, just as fermented gruel ruins milk. A Guru helps remove this corrupting doubt, purifying the mind so that infinite knowledge can manifest.