Why is the Guru considered the ultimate protector for a disciple, even more so than God?

The Guru is held as the ultimate protector because of their supreme and intimate role in a devotee's life. Chapter 18 makes the powerful assertion that the Guru is the mother and the father, and serves as the protector when God is angry. This is immediately followed by the critical warning that if the Guru is angry, there is no protector whatsoever. This singular teaching establishes the Guru's favor as indispensable and absolute. This concept is further solidified by the description of the Guru as God manifest and the Supreme Lord, essentially placing the Guru as the most direct and crucial refuge for a disciple navigating the spiritual and worldly paths.