Bhagavatapurana 11.22.10

11.22.10

anādy-avidyā-yuktasya puruṣasyātma-vedanam /
svato na sambhavād anyas tattva-jño jñāna-do bhavet //

10. In the Jiva invested with nescience or ignorance from eternity, the understanding of self cannot arise of itself; therefore only another who perfectly knows the truth may impart that knowledge. Such a preceptor is Parameswara, distinct from the Jiva (and hence they hold that the principles are twenty-six).