Rome

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet."

namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pasatya-desa-tarine

"Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvati Gosvami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya-deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism."

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge."

aksnoh phalam tvadrsa-darsanam hi
tanoh phalam tvadrsa-gatra-sangah
jihva- phalam tvadrsa-kirtanam hi
sudurlabha bhagavata hi loke

"O devotee, the purpose of the eyes is to see you, the purpose of the touch is to touch you. The purpose of the tongue is to glorify you, because in this world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee like you." (Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 13.2)

We are most unfortunate that we are now bereft of your physical presence, Srila Prabhupada, and even more unfortunate that we never had the opportunity (for many of us, not at all). But, in another sense we are fortunate, because we have always had to be dependent upon your divine instructions. And certainly now, no adherence to your instructions means no association with you. That is only fair. Your physical presence was a luxurious delicacy which we never deserved anyway. It is an opportunity lost; we can no longer hope. How we would become overwhelmed with your kindness when you would answer our questions. How our hearts broke when you spoke of your departure and we realized that we had not yet done anything substantial for you.

Now we must be serious to attract your divine attention, so that when it comes our turn to leave, we will again touch your lotus feet and see you face to face. That is our hope anew.

Dedicated to your service eternally,

your devotees in Italy.