"The spiritual master is addressed as 'Prabhupāda' because he is a completely self-realized soul. The word pāda means 'position,' and Prabhupāda indicates that he is given the position of prabhu, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for he acts on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unless one is a prabhu, or controller of the senses, he cannot act as spiritual master, who is authorized by the supreme prabhu, or Lord Kṛṣṇa. In his verses praising the spiritual master, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura writes:
sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
'The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord.' "
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.23.18, Purport)
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