Real Meaning of the term “Prabhupāda”

First Interpretation:

“prabhuḥ pādyate (prāpyate) anena iti prabhupādaḥ” – This means, “Prabhupāda” refers to one who is potent to enable others to attain the lotus feet of “Prabhu”. Here, “Prabhu” denotes the ‘Visaya’ i.e. the Supreme Absolute, and “pāda” refers to His lotus feet. Thus, “Prabhupāda” signifies one capable of facilitating the jivas to reach the lotus feet of the Lord.

Second Interpretation:

“prabhoḥ padam eva prabhupādaḥ” – This interpretation states that “Prabhupāda” can also refer to the lotus feet of the Lord Himself. “Prabhu” refers to the ‘Visaya’ i.e. the Supreme Being, and “Pāda” means feet. Hence, “Prabhupāda” denotes the lotus feet of the Lord.

Third Interpretation:

“prabho pādapadmayor sevā yaḥ prayacchati iti prabhupāda” – This means “Prabhupāda” refers to one who teaches the world to serve the lotus feet of the ‘Prabhu’ ie the Supreme Absolute. Whose lotus feet are referred to here? In this regard Sri Caitanya Bhagavata says: 

“eka mahāprabhu āra prabhu dui jana
dui prabhu sebe mahāprabhura caraṇa“

Translation: There is one Mahāprabhu and two other prabhus. Both the prabhus serve the lotus feet of Mahāprabhu. 

Here, “Mahāprabhu” refers to Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and “dui prabhu” refers to Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Advaita Acarya Prabhu. These two Prabhus teach the world how to serve Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Furthermore, through Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Mahāprabhu propagated the practice of congregational chanting of the holy names (Hari-nama sankirtana), spread the divine love, and refuted the deviant philosophies and their practitioners. Srila Prabhupāda was the first to reveal the mood of these two Prabhus, specifically the propagation of the ‘yuga-dharma’ ie ‘Hari-nama sankirtana’, spreading divine love, and removing the deviant philosophies. This is why he is called “Prabhupāda”.

Fourth Interpretation:

The conditioned souls have the instinct to exert improper dominion over the material world or other beings due to a false sense of being the enjoyer (bhokta abhimana). It is Prabhupāda, who uproots this false sense of being an enjoyer and bestows the original lordship, where one is no longer oppressed by Māyā, but favored by the Supreme Lord Himself. This is why all the brahmacharis (celibate students), householders, and vanaprastha (retirees) servants of the Gaudiya Math are addressed as “Prabhu.”

Without giving up the false ego of authority and attaining the true authority of lordship, one can not be eligible to serve the lotus feet of the Lord. In this regard, Niti Sastra states, “na devāya devamarcayet,”: that without being established in divinity, one cannot worship the divine. This is because the word “Prabhu” signifies someone who exerts his authority upon others with or without any cause; he can bestow grace (anugraha) or inflict punishment (nigraha) upon others either with reason or without reason—causelessly or purposefully. Srila Prabhupāda first established the Gaudiya Math in the world and delivered countless fortunate souls from the grip of Māyā. He brought them under the grace of the Lord. By his mercy, everyone can abandon the false ego of illegitimate authority and establish themselves in true authority. For this reason, he is established as the sole and unparalleled refuge of all the prahus of the Gaudiya Math. This is why he is addressed as “Prabhupāda”.

Explanation of Śrīla:

The term ‘Śrīla’ is a Sanskrit word. “Śriyam lāti dadāti iti Śrīla”- This means that the word ‘Śrīla’ is derived from the prefix ‘Śrīyam’ combined with the root ‘la’ and the suffix ‘ti’. The word ‘Śrīyam’ appears in the descriptions of “unnata ujjvala-rasāṁ” (the most sublime and radiant mood of bhakti) in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta.

“anarpita-carīṁ cirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau
samarpayitum unnata ujjvala-rasāṁ sva-bhakti-śriyam

hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandīpitaḥ
sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śacī-nandana”

Translation: “May that Lord, who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacīdevī, be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation ever offered; the most sublime and radiant spiritual knowledge of the mellow taste of His service.” (CC 1.1.4)

The word “śriyam” here refers to the topmost effulgent spiritual treasure i.e. ‘krsna prema’ delivered by Śrī Chaitanya Mahaprabhu only. He generously bestows this sublime and rare treasure upon all beings without the discrimination of qualification. Therefore He is the supreme benefactor. This supreme and rare spiritual treasure is “mādhurya-ujjvala-premāḍhya-rūpānuga-bhakti,” (devotion enriched with the radiant sweetness of loving devotion following the footsteps of Sri Rupa). One who is capable of bestowing this supreme and rare treasure is worthy of being adorned with the title “Śrīla.”