770524 - Conversation B - Vrndavana

Conversations by Date, 1977

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

770524R2-VRNDAVAN - May 24, 1977 - 11:21 Minutes

Prabhupāda: . . . London. Guru Mahārāja sending him regularly seven hundred rupees per month. In those days seven hundred means at least . . .

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Twenty times?

Prabhupāda: That was in 1936. Rice has increased after 1940.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: At least it was twenty thousand rupees' value now.

Prabhupāda: All of a sudden rice has increased in 1942 by Churchill's artificial increasing his bribe to recruit soldiers. I have seen. Within two hours the price of rice, from six rupees it came to fifty rupees.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Phew. Completely artificial.

Prabhupāda: I was in the grocer's shop purchasing, and all of a sudden the grocer says: "No, no, I am not going to sell any more." He got some information. So that time, six rupees per mound, first class . . .

Bhavānanda: Per mound.

Prabhupāda: Per mound. Very first class rice. So he was not going to sell. A few hours after, I went to purchase—fifty rupees. From six rupees. Government appointed agents to purchase it and stock it. So people, being harassed, they'll come to military. This was Churchill's . . .

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Those British were very clever.

Prabhupāda: Artificially created a famine in India. I have seen.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So Bon Mahārāja was getting seven hundred rupees monthly. That's amazing. Your Guru Mahārāja had to send the money from India to the West. We . . . you're bringing the money, but for Bon Mahārāja he had to send the money the other way.

Prabhupāda: Every month, regularly. He was playing harmonium. And the report, "Swāmījī is playing on harmonium." Therefore Guru Mahārāja became very much disgusted, "Call him back."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He said they had to serve meat.

Prabhupāda: I do not know that. But he was a waste of money, that's all. He's still wasting money. What he has done? Has he published any books like that?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, he has a big degree now.

Prabhupāda: (laughs) Nonsense degree. Who cares for his degree?

Bhavānanda: You've got many nice young, staunch Bengali brahmacārīs, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two years old.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: They joined?

Prabhupāda: Where?

Bhavānanda: At different times. Now all, they have become very strong. Finally it's happened. We have a brahmacārī core. And they're all anxious . . . this week they're all going out preaching, everyone.

Prabhupāda: Gītār Gān selling nice?

Bhavānanda: Gītār Gān is selling nice. Bhagavāner Kathā is selling nice. Bhāgavata Darśana. We sell two Bhāgavata Darśana, Gītār Gān and Bhagavāner Kathā. The people take it.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: All. They take the whole set.

Bhavānanda: They like the set, you know. One rupee for one book, they stop and think, but if they pay four rupees, 4.50, for four books, they think they're getting a lot for their money. But one rupee for one book is more difficult.

Prabhupāda: And Bangladesh?

Bhavānanda: Now Jayapatākā Mahārāja is here. He's filled with glowing reports, glowing. "The new frontier, new preaching frontier."

Prabhupāda: Muhammadans also.

Bhavānanda: Yes, he said Muhammadans invited him to speak, and they're very . . . they don't even know, he said, who is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It's been so long since Partition, and they've been cut off. They don't even . . . one Muhammadan lawyer bought a Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Wanted to read about Him, he said.

Prabhupāda: Full set? Full set?

Bhavānanda: I think one book.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I was just inquiring whether you were drinking fruit juice.

Prabhupāda: Fruit juice is very good.

Bhavānanda: I noticed, Śrīla Prabhupāda, your complexion is yellowish. Liver is . . .

Prabhupāda: There is no hope of life. Therefore we have called you. This condition is hopeless. We have given our will. Now we can . . . if I die in Vṛndāvana, there is no harm. But Kṛṣṇa can play anything wonderful. But from physical condition there is no hope.

Bhavānanda: But Kṛṣṇa is Parameśvara.

Prabhupāda: (laughs) Yes. That is another thing.

Bhavānanda: That is all of our prayer.

Prabhupāda: I have become very, very weak. No appetite. The brain is not working. Brain is working, but body is not allowing . . . don't worry. Everyone will die, today or tomorrow. I am also old man. There is nothing to be regrettable. So as far as possible in my body, I am complete . . . now it is up to Kṛṣṇa to judge. I have no objection.

Bhavānanda: What can we do, Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: You can pray Kṛṣṇa. That's all. Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful. My only request is that whatever I have done, you don't spoil it. That's all. Think this. I am getting report, very hopeful, as you gave report from Māyāpur, very good.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Want to take a little rest now, Śrīla Prabhupāda? (break) (end)