Bhagavan means the supreme authority

Expressions researched:
"Bhagavan means the supreme authority"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Bhagavān, this word, I have explained many times. Bhagavān means the supreme authority.

Lecture on BG 9.1 -- Vrndavana, April 17, 1975:

Bhagavān, this word, I have explained many times. Bhagavān means the supreme authority. So far authoritative power is concerned, that is analyzed by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Cent percent power or cent percent qualification is in Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam (SB 1.3.28). There is... This is called saviśeṣa, personal analysis, not that ...Even somebody is sometimes addressed as Bhagavān, that does not mean he is also equal to the Supreme Person. Just like sometimes Nārada Muni is also addressed as Bhagavān. Lord Śiva is also addressed as Bhagavān, not only viṣṇu-tattva, but also others. Sometimes they are addressed as Bhagavān.

But in order to particularly point out Kṛṣṇa, it has been said in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam. Kṛṣṇa... Actually, Bhagavān is Kṛṣṇa because He has got cent percent qualities of Bhagavān. That is analyzed in Caitanya-caritāmṛta. He is cent percent Bhagavān. Others, they are also Bhagavān, viṣṇu-tattva, Nārāyaṇa, He is also Bhagavān. But Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has analyzed; He is 94%, not cent percent. Or, in other words, you can take it that ṣaḍ-aiśvarya pūrṇaḥ, that is Kṛṣṇa. And They are also ṣaḍ-aiśvarya, but it is not displayed.