998 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 23
soul gets the facility to lord it over material nature in various types of
bodies, which are known as yantra, or the moving vehicle offered by the
total material energy, maya. Although the individual living entity (jiva)
and the Lord are both situated within the material energy, the Lord is
directing the movements of the jiva soul by offering him different types
of bodies through the material energy, and thus the living entity is wander-
ing throughout the universes in various forms of body and becomes
implicated in different situations, partaking of the reactions of fruitive
activities.

When Prthu Maharaja became spiritually powerful by the enhancement
of his spiritual knowledge, jiadna and renunciation of material desires,
he became a prabhu, or master of his senses (sometimes called gosvami or
svami). This means that he was no longer controlled by the influence of
material energy. When one is strong enough to give up the influence of
material energy, he is called prabhu. In this verse the word svarupasthah is
also very significant. The real identity of the individual soul lies in under-
standing or attaining the knowledge that he is eternally a servant of Krsna.
This understanding is called svarupopalabdhi. By culturing devotional
service, the devotee gradually comes to understand his actual relationship
with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This understanding of one’s
pure spiritual position is called svarupopalabdhi, and when one attains that
stage he can understand how he is related with the Supreme Personality of
Godhead as a servant or friend, or as a parent or conjugal lover. This stage
of understanding is called svarupasthah. Prthu Maharaja realized this
svarupa completely, and it will be clear in the later chapters that he per-
sonally left this world, or this body, by riding on a chariot sent from
Vaikuntha.

In this verse the word prabhu is also significant. As stated before, when
one is completely self-realized and acts according to that position, he can
be called prabhu. The spiritual master is addressed as “‘Prabhupada”’ because
he is a completely self-realized soul. The word pada means “position,” and
Prabhupada 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. He is authorized by the Supreme Prabhu,
or Lord Krsna. In his verses praising the spiritual master, Srila Vigvanatha
Cakravarti Thakura writes:

saksad-dharitvena samasta-sas trair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
“The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he
