Room Conversation – October 21, 1977, Vṛndāvana

The more we read Srimad-Bhagavatam, the knowledge becomes clarified

Prabhupada: We restrict the tongue, practicing. Anything can be done by practice. So if we take krsna-prasadam, the tongue is restricted, locked to some limited... Then our all other senses become controlled. And spiritual life means sense control. We are not going to kill the senses. The yogis, they artificially want to stop the activities of the senses, but that is not possible. Senses are there. Life means senses. Aprakrta. Prakrta, and when senses are engaged in Krsna's service, that is aprakrta, transcendental. That is described, sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc Madhya 19.170].

Our senses are now upadhi-"I am Indian," "I am American," "I am this," "I am that." Senses are there, everywhere, but it is designated. So we have to free the senses from this material designation. And when the designations are washed away, at..., with that senses, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. Purified senses without any designation, when we engage in the service of Krsna, that is called bhakti.

So senses without designation engaged in the service of Krsna is called bhakti, or transcendental activity. Is that clear?

Devotees: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: You have given little oil? Eh?

Bhakti-caru: Yes, [Transl. I give you] Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: No, no, not so...

[break] [Transl. What kind of oil is this?]

Bhakti-caru: [Transl. Mustard oil Srila Prabhupada.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Okay.]

Bhakti-caru: [Transl. Little more.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Is it pure mustard oil?]

Bhakti-caru: [Transl. It is pure Srila Prabhupada.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. The Mastana brand is good.]

Bhakti-caru: [Transl. Is this Mastana brand?]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Then?]

Bhakti-caru: [Transl. This one is Postman Srila Prabhupada.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Eh?]

Bhakti-caru: [Transl. Postman brand.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Mastana is good.]

Bhakti-caru: [Transl. Mastana is not available here. We got it in Bombay.]

Upendra: Your hands might have had that previous oil on them.

Bhakti-caru: No, not that.

Prabhupada: [Transl. Whose product is Postman? Anyway, whatever. Got some relief.] So, you want to stop here?

Jayadvaita: If you want to go on, we can go on, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Yes, I have no objection.

Jayadvaita: You've been speaking so strongly just now that I was sorry that I suggested that we stop. So now I'm glad that you're continuing. Flashlight?

Prabhupada: Yes. [break] Aprakrta, transcendental. Whatever we discuss, that is on the transcendental platform, nothing to do with this material world. The Mayavadi impersonalist, they cannot understand this. They think this is also material. Then? Read. You are going to read?

Pradyumna: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. There is just one more point on that verse. He says there are some verses that say upanisada purusah or namo vedanta vedyaya krsnaya. So Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana has raised a question that it says Krsna is not seen by the Upanisads, but then there's some verses that say He is known by the Vedas, He is known by Upanisads. He says it is proved that the Absolute is able to be known by Vedas, veda-gamyatvam kintu... Then he quotes other verses, he says, but sakalyena avedatvam, He cannot be known completely through Vedas, only through devotional service

Prabhupada: Yes. When one is purified by Vedic knowledge, then mad-bhaktir labhate param. Then he is allowed entrance in devotional understanding. Bhaktya sruta-grhitaya [SB 1.2.12]. There is a...? Eh? In Bhagavatam?

Jayadvaita: First Canto.

Prabhupada: Sruta-grhitaya. And sruta-grhitaya is Vedanta knowledge, not sentimental. Sruta-grhitaya. That is sound knowledge. Discuss Bhagavatam daily, as much as possible. Everything will be clarified. Because Bhagavata is the essence. Nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam idam [SB 1.1.3]. And vyasadeva-krta. Kim anyaih sastraih. When he's self-realized, he made this. Maha-muni-krte. The more we read Srimad-Bhagavatam, the knowledge becomes clarified. Each and every verse-transcendental. Is this clear?

Devotees: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.

Pradyumna: So should I read the next verse, Srila Prabhupada? [break]

Prabhupada: Ah, how are you?

Dayananda: Very nice, Srila Prabhupada. Thank you.

Prabhupada: So everything is going nice?

Dayananda: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. I brought you some fruits. Atreya Rsi told me to bring you some oranges and some lemons.

Prabhupada: Oh, you are all so kind. How is your family?

Dayananda: Very nice, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: So...

Dayananda: It's very encouraging to hear that you're...

Prabhupada: Restaurant.

Upendra: Restaurant.

Dayananda: Yes, it's doing very nicely, Srila Prabhupada. We're getting a lot of nice...

Prabhupada: You are all happy?

Dayananda: Yes. We are also happy to hear that you're translating, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: [laughs] Trying. So at night there is no need of giving juice. Tomorrow. Eh?

Upendra: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. No. Tomorrow. Fruit juice at night is not good.

Prabhupada: No. People are appreciating our Movement?

Dayananda: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. We are trying to speak to people who are more intelligent, people who are more...

Prabhupada: There are many intelligent persons, Iran. Eh? Is it not?

Dayananda: Yes.

Prabhupada: Everywhere dull-headed, intelligent... You are working at computer?

Dayananda: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: So, what salary they gave?

Dayananda: About little over a thousand dollars in a month, about 1,200 dollars.

Prabhupada: Hmm. So how you are spending that money?

Dayananda: I'm giving... Now I live in my own apartment, I'm giving fifty percent to the ISKCON Tehran projects, and fifty percent I keep for maintenance.

Prabhupada: So there is no scarcity? Eh?

Dayananda: No, there's no scarcity, Srila Prabhupada. And in my spare time I am working in the restaurant, helping to manage the restaurant.

Prabhupada: It is a big company?

Dayananda: Yes, Srila Prabhupada, all over the world.

Prabhupada: That's all right.

Dayananda: They have offered me a position in Russia. They said that I can go and work in Russia, but I am very much attached to Tehran project. So in companies like this we can go. I can go...

Prabhupada: Anywhere.

Dayananda: Yes.

Prabhupada: What is the company?

Dayananda: It's a computer company. Univac, it's called. It's like IBM. It's a competitor of IBM.

Prabhupada: American? No. The company originated from America?

Dayananda: Yes, yes, American company.

Prabhupada: IBM also American, eh?

Dayananda: Yes.

Prabhupada: Yes, when there is opportunity you can go for preaching. But here you are situated nice, Tehran, eh?

Dayananda: Yes. Atreya Rsi would rather have me stay. Atreya Rsi wants me to stay at least for this, for now. Maybe in the future I can go to some other place for preaching.

Prabhupada: That is good.

Dayananda: Jaya.

Prabhupada: Jaya.

Dayananda: Hare Krsna.

Prabhupada: Jaya. [break]

Jaya Krsna-Balarama. [break]

Giriraja: ...says that we hadn't met anyone with so many wonderful transcendental qualities.

Prabhupada: [laughs] This... It has to be developed. Transcendental qualities are already there. Only when we are designationless it manifests. Svayam eva sphuraty adah. Sevonmukhe jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah: when we are sincerely in service mode, this is manifest. It is already there. By maya's veil it is now covered, but when we become prone to give service to Krsna, it becomes revealed. It is already there. Nothing is imported. Now print book and distribute. In Australia they have sold all the Gitas. They will require more. Jaya Krsna-Balarama.

Tamala Krsna: Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Jaya Krsna-Balarama. Ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan nanavataram akaroti... [Bs 5.39]. That's all right.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada. [break]

Prabhupada: Baradraj, you are helping the Society in so many ways. So we are indebted to you. So Los Angeles, what is going on there?

Baradraj: Now they are...

Prabhupada: You gave me the other day plan, very nice. If you put into shape it will be wonderful.

Baradraj: By your blessings, Srila Prabhupada, it can become possible.

Prabhupada: So who is looking after now?

Baradraj: Now? Adi-deva.

Prabhupada: The room, formerly Deity room, this is now complete?

Baradraj: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: What has been done there?

Baradraj: It has been made into a museum, complete museum. There is twelve different exhibits. And the first exhibit is exhibit of Your Divine Grace writing books at Radha-Damodara temple, introduction. The next exhibit is Krsna-Arjuna on the battlefield, and Krsna begins to explain dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara [Bg 2.13] to Arjuna.

And the third exhibit is showing changing bodies, showing how the body is changing but the soul remains the same. The fourth exhibit shows the chariot of the body-the five horses, the five senses. The driver is the intelligence; the soul is the passenger. Then there is the fifth exhibit. It shows how a man can become degraded and how he can become elevated from a neutral position in life. And the sixth exhibit shows that when a man becomes elevated by Vedic wisdom he becomes sama-darsinah, panditah sama-darsinah [Bg 5.18].

He sees everyone equal-dog, elephant, a cow, even brahmana-everyone, the same spirit soul. And he also sees Paramatma in the heart of everyone. Then the seventh exhibit shows how Paramatma, the original Paramatma, is Krsna, Govinda, and that He comes... Then different incarnations are shown. Then the eighth exhibit shows Krsna's visva-rupa, explaining how everything is created, is maintained and is annihilated, all within the potency of the Supreme Lord. Then the ninth exhibit shows how Krsna personally comes on Garuda to deliver those who are faithful from the ocean of birth and death. It shows a man struggling in the ocean, swimming, but he cannot save himself. And then Krsna comes down on Garuda. The Lord Himself intervenes. In this way the man is saved. And the tenth exhibit shows the incarnation of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, how He is delivering the whole world by this chanting of Hare Krsna. The eleventh exhibit explains how the soul... It shows Krsna in Vrndavana surrounded by eight gopis and different animals and peacocks and birds and flowers. And it explains that the soul has eternal form and that it can enjoy, that the soul enjoys in eternal loving pastimes with Krsna.

Prabhupada: Eleven.

Baradraj: Then the last exhibit is being..., it's not yet complete. It's a film. It shows Krsna and Arjuna at the end talking, and then Krsna says,

Then Krsna asks Arjuna, "Have you heard all this with your mind at full attention, and is your doubt and illusion now dispelled, and are you prepared to act according to My instructions?" And Arjuna says, "Yes, I shall do whatever You like."

Prabhupada: Very good. So it is not yet officially open.

Baradraj: No.

Prabhupada: Huh?

Baradraj: Officially it is not open yet. The reason is because there's still some minor difficulties in the computer, and so everything is not... When I left, everything was not yet functioning smoothly. So, many important people have been taken through, but it is not open to the public yet. But it will be open very soon. Actually, when I left, everything had already been... The computer is now working, but there was some lights being checked out, some wiring. And as soon as that is finished, then the programming will be done. I have sent a letter back to Los Angeles, asking them to complete the programming while I'm here in Vrndavana, at least a temporary program. So it is not difficult to do; it is complicated to do it. And I've asked them to make a film of the exhibition and send it here so that you could see it.

Prabhupada: I cannot go there?

Baradraj: [chuckles] You can do whatever you like.

Satadhanya: After Bombay, Srila Prabhupada, if you're strong enough, then we could go.

Prabhupada: There is... And who is making khol?

Baradraj: Soul?

Prabhupada: Khol, khol.

Baradraj: Oh, khol. Isana. Isana dasa.

Prabhupada: He's doing nice?

Baradraj: Yes. They are producing many, and they are very, very strong.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Baradraj: They are very strong, and they sound good.

Satadhanya: They say that you can throw them on the floor and they will not break.

Baradraj: Made for Kali-yuga.

Prabhupada: How many khols he has already prepared?

Baradraj: I don't know exactly, but I think it was close to about two hundred when I left.

Prabhupada: Where he is making?

Baradraj: Well, they are having most of the parts done outside, by outside people, professionals, and Isana is assembling, and he's working very hard.

Prabhupada: It is plastic?

Baradraj: Yes, completely, everything. And it can be tuned also on the spot. There is a key, and with this key you can tune it up. The heads never break, but if they happen to break, they can be immediately replaced within... They can get extra heads, and it takes about two minutes to change, to put a new head on.

Prabhupada: Hmm!

Baradraj: So Isana has worked very hard to fulfill your order, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Now he's successful.

Baradraj: Yes.

Prabhupada: Where is his wife?

Baradraj: She is in New York with the child. She is working with Yogesvara there on children's books.

Prabhupada: Huh?

Baradraj: Isana has taken to vanaprastha. He is living in New Dvaraka, but he's living in a shack, in a very simple room, and living just like in Vrndavana. He has given up comforts.

Prabhupada: Hmm. Go on chanting. [break] ...of Ramanuja-sampradaya, with that big, big...

Tamala Krsna: Tilaka?

Prabhupada: Hmm. He is preparing makara-dhvaja.

Tamala Krsna: What kind of jala?

Prabhupada: Makara-dhvaja.

Tamala Krsna: Makhara dal?

Prabhupada: Makara-dhvaja is a Ayurvedic medicine. So this kaviraja was preparing makara-dhvaja.

Tamala Krsna: Is that the one with musk in it?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Oh, yes, we have that medicine.

Bhavananda: That we have, Srila Prabhupada. He has prepared it. We have it here.

Prabhupada: So, why not try it?

Tamala Krsna: What did the kaviraja say about it?

Bhavananda: Er, I'll get Bhakti-caru.

Tamala Krsna: You dreamt that.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Hmm.

Prabhupada: What is the time now?

Tamala Krsna: It's seven o'clock now, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Tamala Krsna: Yesterday you were really on fire, lecturing and translating.

Bhavananda: Bhakti-caru has gone to the kitchen to bring some... But I recall that when we went to see the kaviraja he said... We had showed him your urine when it was muddy, filled with pus. He said he wanted that before this medicine could be given, he wanted to see that your urine had cleared up. But he had prepared the medicine, and we have it here.

Prabhupada: What is the dose?

Tamala Krsna: [aside:] Do you know the dosage?

Bhavananda: Here is Bhakti-caru. Bhakti-caru? Prabhupada had a dream last night that there was a Vaisnava from the Madhva-sam...

Tamala Krsna: No, Ramanuja.

Bhavananda: Ramanuja-sampradaya, and he was preparing that medicine, the musk medicine? What is it called?

Bhakti-caru: Makara-dhvaja.

Bhavananda: He was preparing it. So Prabhupada has asked about that medicine the kaviraja... What had the kaviraja told us when we went and got that medicine?

Bhakti-caru: He said that he didn't want to give the medicine right now because he's too weak for that. So when he gets little strength, when the weather turns a little cold, that would be applicable to him.

Tamala Krsna: He says that the kaviraja is waiting for you to get a little stronger, and the weather should be a little colder.

Bhavananda: Srila Prabhupada, so I have some grape juice here, and a little bit of ice cream. If you could take that now it will help you become strong.

Prabhupada: Yes, I can take. [break]

Visvambhara: This is also M.D., also physician, but that is Ayurvedic and this is allopathic. The only difference is this. Both are physicians. Might not be the combination... [break]

Prabhupada: So he...

Tamala Krsna: It's not... I don't think that it's a problem. What we have to do is simply send a letter to the bank with...

Prabhupada: No, no, he says you do not require. He said you collect through bank. Bas.

Tamala Krsna: But just like when you collect through a bank, you first of all have to sign.

Visvambhara: You have to sign.

Tamala Krsna: Yes, that's what I'm trying to say. You have to give the signed certificates to the bank, and they'll make collection. But you have to sign them. So the signers are here in Vrndavana.

Visvambhara: No.

Tamala Krsna: No, I say the people who have to sign are here in Vrndavana.

Visvambhara: So you have got bank account here.

Tamala Krsna: Yes, we can collect through the bank here. But first of all we have to get the certificates in order to sign them. That you have to explain to Prabhupada. He's thinking that without signing...

Prabhupada: Yes. They'll collect here.

Tamala Krsna: But, Prabhupada, your sister first of all signed them. Her son collected, but she signed on the back first of all.

Prabhupada: Did she...

Visvambhara: [Transl. He means that in whose name the certificate is that person will have to sign first. His identity slip is there. The amount is big so the bank will collect.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. If that is the rule, hassle.]

Visvambhara: [Transl. Otherwise, whoever has the Power of Attorny he can sign on behalf and the bank can collect it.]

Tamala Krsna: Then how are we going to do it?

Visvambhara: If you have already power of attorney, then I think that...

Tamala Krsna: We already have power of attorney for signing any kind of..., these kind of businesses, joint power of attorney.

Prabhupada: In Mathura, why don't you go just now? He is also going?

Visvambhara: [Transl. There is no need to go to Mathura. It will be done here.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Is it?]

Visvambhara: [Transl. Once the certificates are here it will be done.]

Tamala Krsna: See, first you have to have the certificates. That's what I'm trying to explain to Prabhupada. This is only an identity slip. This has to be surrendered with the certificates.

Visvambhara: To any post office.

Tamala Krsna: Right.

Visvambhara: Or any bank will collect.

Tamala Krsna: And they're going to want to see Prabhupada's signature. But since Prabhupada is not signing, then we will show them our power of attorney, yes, power of attorney, as well a copy of our notarized signatures, so that they see that these are the same people, and then we will sign on the back on behalf of Prabhupada. And we can do it through our bank. I won't directly approach the post office. We'll do it through our bank account.

Visvambhara: If you have power of attorney, that will be done.

Tamala Krsna: Through the bank. That's much easier.

Visvambhara: That's much easier. Moreover, you can ask much.

Tamala Krsna: At the post office. So you're going to Mathura now?

Visvambhara: Yes, I am going to Mathura.

Tamala Krsna: So you want to go with me to the post office there?

Visvambhara: Because I have no time.

Tamala Krsna: Oh, time is short. See, Prabhupada, I was planning to go to the post office.

Visvambhara: Or I can let you know everything to him about [Bengali].

Tamala Krsna: Yeah. The main question's just that... And actually there is no need to...

Visvambhara: But if you have power of attorney, then everything will be... But you have to collect it from bank. That would be easier.

Tamala Krsna: Yes. We will do it through the bank, not directly.

Prabhupada: So why don't you do that?

Tamala Krsna: That's what we're doing.

Prabhupada: It is going to be due within fortnight.

Visvambhara: [Transl. To do the banking transaction still there is fortnight left.]

Tamala Krsna: First thing that has... Prabhupada, one thing is that this power of attorney is to Giriraja and myself. So, one thing Giriraja is doing when he-he's reaching Bombay tomorrow-is that the power of attorney doesn't show our authorized signatures. In other words, a notary has to notarize our signatures, that these are actually the signatures.

Prabhupada: This Asnani has gone?

Tamala Krsna: Excuse me?

Prabhupada: Asnani already left? That...? Our lawyer friend?

Tamala Krsna: Mr. Asnani executed a power of attorney to Giriraja and myself for signing on your behalf. But our specimen signatures have to be notarized. So that, Giriraja is getting done by the same notary who notarized the power of attorney. Then Giriraja is sending me that document. Soon as he gets to Bombay, he'll have it done on Monday. Then he's sending it to me. Then I'll have the copy of the power of attorney plus the copy of the notarized signatures, and these two together I'll send with a letter to the bank to send the certificates here. When the certificates come here, then I'll present them to the local bank to make collection from the post office.

Visvambhara: Yes, that is the...

Tamala Krsna: That's the system. It's going to take a little time.

Visvambhara: By this time it will be..., it will be matured.

Tamala Krsna: I hope that... It will be matured. It may take a week or so more, because we have to send from Bombay and then to Calcutta, then it has to come back here. Even if it takes an extra week, there's no great harm, I think. We'll try to have it done by the date, but I think it may take a few extra days.

Visvambhara: No, even it takes more time, they will give you the tax for tax deduction. [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: You can explain to Prabhupada that the system we are doing is the correct system.

Visvambhara: Because we cannot sign now.

Tamala Krsna: No. But you should explain to him that you agree.

Prabhupada: I can sign, but it will not be...

Tamala Krsna: The same.

Prabhupada: Therefore...

Tamala Krsna: In any case, Srila Prabhupada, we have to bring the certificates here. That's the first thing. Whether it's your signature or whether it's our signatures, the certificate has to be brought here.

Visvambhara: You may sign. If both of these will be given to me, that will do.

Tamala Krsna: Yes. We'll give in this plus the certificates to the bank, and they'll give us a receipt.

Visvambhara: The bank is guarantor of Prabhupada signature.

Prabhupada: So you can take the copy of the safe custody receipt and inquire into Bank of Baroda.

Tamala Krsna: You want me to give him the receipt?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: But then how will we be able to get the certificates out? The receipt has to be presented when you want to withdraw from a safe custody...

Prabhupada: No, give him the copy and let him explain to the bank manager that we want to check it.

Visvambhara: [Transl. What they are trying to do now will be the correct procedure. If you can sign then it is good and bank will accept it. But if you cannot sign then power of attorney is given to them, they will sign and present it to the bank and the bank will collect it. To this the post office will have no objection.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Whatever you do, there should be no complication.]

Visvambhara: [Transl. There will be no problem.]

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Tamala Krsna: Now, if I give you this... Prabhupada wants me to give you this, but it says here that "This memorandum will be returned to the bank when delivery of securities is required." So if I surrender this memorandum now, then I... Prabhupada wants me to give you this memorandum. My point is that if I give you the memorandum, then it's...

Prabhupada: No, no, he can take a copy.

Tamala Krsna: A copy.

Prabhupada: And inquire.

Tamala Krsna: I can give him the details.

Visvambhara: Yes. Details I have already understand.

Tamala Krsna: I can give you the details and the number, account number. You can make a specific inquiry. The main thing is just to inform them of the fact that there's a power of attorney coming, with a notarized specimen signatures are coming, and there will be a letter of direction with those two signatures, directing them to send the certificates by registered mail here, because Prabhupada can't sign the same signature. That's basically all you have to do.

Visvambhara: [indistinct]

Tamala Krsna: This bank has already accepted one copy. [indistinct] Either way... [indistinct]

[break] Srila Prabhupada? Gopala Krsna is here. He just returned from Bombay.

Prabhupada: What news?

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada said, "What news?"

Gopala Krsna: I have a new Hindi Back to Godhead for you, Srila Prabhupada. I had met the Home Minister about two months ago regarding permanent residency visas.

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Gopala Krsna: I got a letter from the Home Minister's secretary, saying that they're considering it very seriously, and he just asked me for some more information. And actually the answers to all the questions that they have asked are positive. In other words, they have asked questions like "For these foreign students, will ISKCON pay for their boarding and lodging? How many years' course is it?" So it appears... I'm going to see them again next week. We may get our permanent residency visas. This is the first positive sign.

Prabhupada: They have made some inquiry.

Gopala Krsna: Yes. I met the Home Minister two months ago, and I gave him an application. So that was the reply. I've just received a reply.

Tamala Krsna: Is it for permanent residency? Not for two or three years. Permanent.

Gopala Krsna: Yes. Even if they give for five years, that'd be good. So this would be very nice, because you always wanted this.

Prabhupada: So do it carefully.

Gopala Krsna: Yes. We just printed twenty thousand copies of a new Hindi Back to Godhead.

Prabhupada: Send to Fiji immediately.

Gopala Krsna: Yes. I got a very nice letter from Vasudeva. Every ship that goes to Fiji, we automatically send them books. Even if there is no order, we automatically send them, so they have a stock of Hindi books.

Tamala Krsna: Hari-sauri has finished distributing all the Gitas that you sent. They already ran out.

Gopala Krsna: Another ship just left. Well, I sent as much as he had ordered.

Tamala Krsna: They exhausted their stock.

Gopala Krsna: That's good. Also, this is the biggest woman's magazine in India, Eve's Weekly.

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Gopala Krsna: This... I have with me a copy of the biggest woman's magazine in India, called Eve's Weekly. And on the third page of that Eve's Weekly your advertisement for your Gita is there. I mean, we didn't pay for it; our distributors are paying for it. But these ads are working very, very well.

[background whispering]

Prabhupada: No Hindi book?

Gopala Krsna: Er, the Hindi 2.1 is being composed. There was a little slowdown in big Hindi books because Prem Yogi had left us for about two months. But we have reprinted all the small Hindi books again, like Beyond Birth and Death, Perfection of Yoga. They were all sold out.

Tamala Krsna: How many copies?

Gopala Krsna: So we have reprinted ten thousand copies each. The reprint is going to be ready tomorrow. And we just, two weeks ago, we reprinted the Scientific Basis of Krsna Consciousness, which I gave you a week ago, and now we just got this Hindi Back to Godhead.

Tamala Krsna: How many copies of this?

Gopala Krsna: Twenty thousand. Hindi Back to Godhead we are producing every second month now, twenty thousand copies.

Tamala Krsna: Different issues?

Gopala Krsna: Yes. Every second month a new Back to Godhead.

Tamala Krsna: It's nice this time.

Gopala Krsna: And the Hindi Gita is being composed. It will be ready by middle December, the latest. And also the Hindi Krsna book is being composed, plus we have eight books in Gujarati which are in various stages of production. And the Tamil Gita is being composed and printed, and we're doing a Gita in Kanarese language, and also a Back to Godhead in Kanarese.

Tamala Krsna: Is that enough stock? Ten thousand? Doesn't seem like a very big printing. Jayapataka came there. His van came there, and they couldn't get any books.

Gopala Krsna: Well, they were out of stock... They didn't have that much when they leave.

Tamala Krsna: It may happen again.

Gopala Krsna: Yes, but now we have reprinted many new titles. In total we have fifty thousand books.

Tamala Krsna: That's not much. You have so much distribution. [indistinct background discussion about quantities of books]

Gopala Krsna: Plus we are starting to construct a BBT godown. Surabhi Swami is working on that, because now we are printing so many books, and also we have a big shipment of books from America that we definitely need a very huge godown in Bombay. Last time you had approved, given a loan of four lakhs for the godown.

Tamala Krsna: No, three lakhs. One lakh for printing, three lakhs for the godown.

Gopala Krsna: [softly] No.

Tamala Krsna: Yes. You said that the godown would only cost three lakhs.

Gopala Krsna: Anyway, three to four is the estimate. I mean, we don't have an exact.

[to Prabhupada:] So we are going to start work on the godown in November.

Prabhupada: That's nice.

Gopala Krsna: Yeah, that's nice. Now, as soon as our six Gujarati books are ready, we are starting this mail order campaign even for Gujarati books and for Hindi books. Actually, by this mail order technique we will sell more books than we sell on the streets or in colleges. Just in two months I sold more Gitas...

Tamala Krsna: How many?

Gopala Krsna: Over a thousand..., than we did in two years of library party. And I'm expanding this to...

Tamala Krsna: No. They sell more. They have more than that, standing orders.

Gopala Krsna: What I'm saying it's very good. A thousand Gitas in two months is very good. Now I'm expanding this to the Bhagavatam.

Prabhupada: Yes. Unless you have good godown, it will be stolen and sold in the market at cheap price.

Gopala Krsna: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. A good godown is very, very necessary, so we're starting work on it right away. And in three to four months it will be completed.

Bhavananda: Srila Prabhupada? Can you turn onto your back again so I can do your other leg and your arms?

Prabhupada: Hmm. You can turn me any way. Deal with the Home Minister's letter very carefully.

Tamala Krsna: Deal with the Home Minister's letter very carefully.

Gopala Krsna: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. Actually, the first meeting I had with him was very, very nice, by your grace. He took great interest. He called me for one minute, and he sat down for twenty minutes with me. So... Now, actually, it is his secretary who is handling it. The big thing is getting his approval, which we already have. Now we are dealing with the secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Prabhupada: A set of books Hindi may be taken there to the secretary.

Gopala Krsna: To the Home Minister?

Prabhupada: To the secretary.

Tamala Krsna: The secretary.

Gopala Krsna: Yes. I gave your Hindi Bhagavatam to the Home Minister. I think we'll give it to the secretary also.

Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada? This kirtana that's in the temple, can you hear it?

Prabhupada: Yes, that's all right.

Tamala Krsna: I wanted to know whether... The person who's singing is Sveta-varaha from Mayapur. In Mayapur they use a small microphone, not for the drums but for his voice, and he has a very sweet voice. So normally we don't use mic at all, but sometimes the devotees don't know how to sing very sweetly. Whether we should use a small microphone for his voice?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: We can try it, and if it's not nice we can stop it.

Prabhupada: It is going on without microphone?

Tamala Krsna: The drums are... Right now the drumming is very loud.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Tamala Krsna: But the voice is hard to hear. Should I try a little microphone? I can take it off immediately if it's not good. I think you'll...

Bhavananda: Last year in Mayapur, Srila Prabhupada, during the festival and before when you were there, they would, this kirtana group of your disciples, they would be chanting over microphone so that Your Divine Grace could hear it in your room. I remember you commented many times on how sweet and nice it sounded.

Prabhupada: It is already very loud.

Gopala Krsna: It's very loud actually. [indistinct whispering] All the devotees were very happy when they heard that you have started translating again.

Tamala Krsna: Yesterday Prabhupada translated for nearly two hours. The edited work, Srila Prabhupada, sounds very beautiful. It's very first class when it's finally edited. The whole staff is here, and it sounds very nice.

Prabhupada: Tamala Krsna?

Tamala Krsna: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: In the horoscope we have dragged the life through so many catastrophes, but ultimately how long the life we have dragged?

Tamala Krsna: As far as I recall... I mean, each... The horoscope is written in such a way that if you survive these catastrophes, then it mentions that... He said that you would live for another five or six years.

Prabhupada: That's all.

Tamala Krsna: Well, there are different horoscopes. One... I can show you that some of them say that you will live for more than five or six years. One of them said you could live up to one hundred.

Prabhupada: So there is no...

Tamala Krsna: What, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: That is not standard.

Tamala Krsna: Well, according to this man, your life should have been over at the age of seventy-five. In other words, when someone is a pure devotee, then he is not conditioned by the laws of birth and death. For people who are conditioned, there is standard. But in your case they cannot... They admit openly that there's no question of material standard. They can simply tell you... According to your birthday they can predict which days will be difficult for you because of the position of the planets. But so far as your ability to conquer over these difficulties and to live, that they completely accept is completely within Krsna's hands, that you're not bounded by the material energy.

Prabhupada: Karmani nirdahati.

Gopala Krsna: What's that?

Tamala Krsna: Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam [Bs 5.54].

Prabhupada: That's all right.

Tamala Krsna: Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Anyway, do things very carefully. I am already dead. But still, I am giving you instruction as far as I can. And this is not life, [chuckles] a bundle of bones.

Gopala Krsna: You are still the inspiration for everything we do.

Prabhupada: Yes. That I shall go on till the last breathing. Hmm.

Tamala Krsna: Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna.

Tamala Krsna: What, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: [loud] Hare Krsna. [laughter] [end]