Prabhupada’s immense compassion arose from his deep love for Krishna. He not only crossed the physical boundaries of India, but he even crossed the boundaries of a traditional sannyasi to help devotees.

I was just thinking how Srila Prabhupada went to such lengths to arrange the marriages of his disciples! Where did he learn all the mantras required to perform the yajṣa? At first, I thought—even if he had chanted the Śikṣāṣṭakam or some verses from the scriptures, that would have still been alright, because no one would have ever come to know. And what did his disciples even know about Indian marriages, what to speak of Vaiṣṇava marriages?

I don’t think Prabhupada carried some books on Vaiṣṇava-smṛtis and marriage ceremonies when he went to America. He just had a small suitcase, which surely contained more important things than a book like that!

But then I remembered reading – it was the same Prabhupada who, when he performed the marriage of Guru Dāsa and Yamunā, told them that their marriage would have a very slow start. How could he understand that? He knew everything. He was the master of all sorts.

We don’t find any specific mention in his life where it says he learned mantras, etc., for performing such ceremonies, but he was the master of all ceremonies.

Therefore, HH Satsvarūpa Dāsa Gosvāmī Mahārāja has written a book: Life with the Perfect Master.

He was a master in his business. An astrologer had once said that if he had continued in business, he would have become one of the most successful businessmen in India. But he was on a different business – His family business: to support his eternal father, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, in the real business of propagating Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

He was a master in spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The extent, the length and breadth to which Prabhupāda spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness, hardly anyone could have accomplished that in an entire lifetime.

He was a master in making devotees and caring for them. From the vyāsāsana, he once gave a prescription to a devotee whom he saw limping from an injury on his knee.

He was a master of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. His purports contain the essence of the commentaries of all the ācāryas, plus everything else needed for us to perfect our lives—not only our lives, but the lives of people for the next 10,000 years. He poured his spiritual ecstasies into Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

He was a master in cultivating people. HH Girirāja Mahārāja’s father once remarked to him, “Your spiritual master is a brilliant organizer, and he knows how to deal with people.” And Maharaja said that in his father’s value system, those were the highest compliments.

He was a master in cooking. He would single-handedly cook a feast of 13 items for 30 devotees in an hour! He taught cooking to many of his disciples.

He was a master in engaging devotees. How he empowered people and gave them challenges is worth contemplating. He sent three couples to London, from where London preaching began. He would send one or two devotees to different centers in America and have them begin preaching. He sent his disciples to different countries and asked them to open a center there. Not only in preaching—he engaged devotees according to their talents. He encouraged Jadurānī in painting, Yamunā Devī in cooking and Deity service, Tripurāri in book distribution, Gargamuni in managing the finances, and so many devotees in so many areas. He accepted everyone’s service as special.

He was a master in chanting. How many times did he chant for the strength and determination to fulfill the desire of his Guru Mahārāja? When he chanted in Tompkins Square Park with his eyes closed, it was in deep union with Kṛṣṇa. He was the one who began street saṅkīrtana all over the world. He made the whole world chant. How would that have been possible if he didn’t have taste in chanting?

He was a master in playing musical instruments. His father wanted him to learn mṛdaṅga right from his childhood.

Therefore, he was rightly called Śrīla Prabhupāda—the person at whose lotus feet many masters sit.

If we just take shelter of his lotus feet, where else do we need to go? There lies the perfection of our entire existence.

śrī-guru-caraṇa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma
The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service.

śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei se uttama-gati,
ye prasāde pūre sarva āśā
Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires.