Ottawa

The land of Bharata-varsa was once a paradise, with truthfulness

cleanliness, compassion and mercy standing supreme.

Indeed even the threefold miseries of life were not to be seen

Yes, this land of Bharata-varsa was once very nice.

Advancing through Satya, Treta and Dvapara yugas,

man's good qualities were gradually diminished.

Kali was now suddenly upon us, flourishing with asuras.

Only truthfulness remained to be vanquished.

Oh, Gurudeva, even though the Age of Kali was just beginning,

the whole planet was so quickly degrading. The only trace

of civilization to be found in India, Krsna holy ground.

It was Lord Caitanya's desire to restore this sanatana-dharma

And this He came to inspire through the Hari-nama-sahkirtana.

But the Age of Kali was so insistent, that few men realized

its significance. What was inspired in the East, would

Ultimately flourish in the West.

And so it was that at an advanced age of life, you left the

holy dhama of Vrndavana to boldly confront Kali personified

like entering a cage of angry lions.

Your only weapon-faith in the words of your Guru Maharaja.

Your determination-to make Vaisnavas our of yavanas.

Your first year in America-filled with shortcomings and

frustrations. Few friends, poor shelter, cold weather.

Yet you stayed holding fast to the lotus feet of Krsna.

The tides must be turned, the battle must be won.

For ten years now you have fought relentlessly.

You are forever unflinching in your determination.

In this way you remain a source of inspiration.

Even this most reluctant soul is becoming a devotee.

But the battle has yet to be won.

Hence you are always pushing us on.

With the sword of Vedic knowledge shining bright.

You are cutting maya's ropes which are binding us tight.

Oh, Prabhupada you are most intimate when writing your books.

Indeed your very presence is felt on every page.

By diving deeply into that ocean of nectar

The whole world can gain the association of the greatest sage.

Our dearmost eternal father,

We are drowning in an ocean of misery.

You are the friend of the poor

Kindly bestow upon us a drop of your mercy.

Oh, Gurudeva, with you and Krsna on our side

We will restore this land of Bharata-varsa.

We will reestablish the principles of religion

We will overflood the universe with prema-bhakti.

Our beloved Prabhupada, please forgive us

For all the offenses we are committing at your lotus feet.

We offer our prostrated obeisances to you again and again.

We beg you to let us engage in your service for eternity.

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

You are present in your books, which are now being read everywhere around the world. Therefore you are as good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. In fact you are more merciful, because Supersoul directs everyone to satisfy their desires. Sometimes these desires drag them into hellish conditions of live, or sometimes to elevated levels of material enjoyment. But you, Srila Prabhupada, are a pure, unalloyed devotee of Krsna. You can plant in the heart of the conditioned soul the seed of bhakti. This is your real mercy. A conditioned soul may travel for millions and millions of births in all species and realms of the material world, but he can never come to the point of devotional service. It is only by association with a pure devotee such as Your Divine Grace that one can enter the field of devotional service. By reading your books and following your instructions, we can have your association twenty-four hours a day.

It is now up to us to realize your unlimited greatness. You are a dear friend and intimate associate of Krsna, as Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura prays:

Your greatness is that you are the acarya and by your perfect example you can show us how to become intimate as associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.

We can understand from your presentation of Caitanya-caritamrta that personal association with Krsna and sometimes separation from Krsna are the most transcendentally relishable mellows. Now you are allowing us to taste this fruit of love of God. By experiencing this mellow we, who have a long developed attraction for sense gratification, have give up the four pillars of sinful life, namely, intoxication, meat-eating, mental speculation, and illicit sex. It is your mercy, the taste of prema, that is allowing us to do so.

We pray to Krsna for the intelligence to understand your books. This understanding is the key to the shackle of the material energy. You are opening the storehouse of love of God and are freely distributing it to everyone.

This collection of praises from devotees around the world shows how you have made many different people unite and become resolute in purpose. Perhaps our humble attempts at broadcasting your fathomless glories will encourage you to be merciful upon us. Without your mercy we have noting, with it we have everything, Krsna.

All glories to you, Srila Prabhupada!

Your servants,