Letter to: Pujyapada Kesava Maharaja, 27 March, 1949

[It is an extract from a 1949 letter of Srila Prabhupada. The original letter was in Bengali, and was reprinted, along with this translation, in the summer 2001 edition of Rays of the Harmonist, a magazine published by followers of HH Narayana Maharaja.
-Bhakti Vikas Swami]

Sri Gaudiya Patrika
By the revered Sriyuta Abhaya Carana De
Editor of Back to Godhead magazine

Pujyapada Kesava Maharaja,
Please accept my dandavat pranama.

Yesterday I became extremely pleased to receive Sri Gaudiya Patrika, which you sent me. Although the Patrikais of medium size, its presentation is very beautiful and its paper and printing is also good. Very few printing mistakes are seen, and can be considered negligible or almost nil. By this it seems that the supervision of the magazine is very well done. Your comprehensive and extensive preaching efforts always attract my heart.

That you always remember me indicates the greatness of character for which you were celebrated even in your previous asrama before joining the matha. But I am so unfortunate that I am unable to render any service to you. Therefore, please forgive my offences and discrepancies out of your magnanimous nature. You amply encouraged me at the time of the first printing of my Back to Godhead magazine. Though engaged in so many activities, you blessed my poor home by placing your foot dust in it.

You inspired us to remember Sripada Narahari Da* in the very first article of your Sri Gaudiya Patrika. We became grateful to you for this in every respect. The affectionate and sweet behavior of Sripada Narahari Da will remain illuminated in my heart forever. The pangs of separation from him are in no way less than the pangs of separation from Srila Prabhupada.

The articles in Sri Gaudiya Patrika are placed in proper order. You have done excellent work by starting with an article on Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana. Publishing life-sketches of our previous acayas, one by one, in the Patrika will be extremely beneficial for our sampradaya.

I saw a proposal that your Patrika will also present articles in other languages besides Bengali. By the order of Srila Prabhupada, I started Back to Godhead magazine to put forward discussions in the English language.

When you will print articles in your Patrika in English, please bless me by accepting a little service from me. I have written many articles and essays in English, and I can send them at your convenience.

Sri Abhaya Carana De
6 No. Sita Kanta Banerjee Lane
P.O. Hatakhola
Calcutta

27th March 1949

[Translated from Sri Gaudiya Patrika 1.2]

*Narahari Da is the affectionate address for Srila Narahari Sevavigraha Prabhu. In Bengali, Da means "elder brother."

Edited from the translation reprinted in the summer 2001 edition of Rays of the Harmonist, a magazine published by followers of HH Narayana Maharaja