Srila Prabhupada's opening words to SB Canto 8

[Guest guest]

First of all, let me offer my humble, respectful obeisances unto the lotus

feet of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta

Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada. Sometime in the year 1935 when His Divine

Grace was staying at Radha-kunda, I went to see him from Bombay. At that

time, he gave me many important instructions in regard to constructing

temples and publishing books. He personally told me that publishing books is

more important than constructing temples. Of course, those same instructions

remained within my mind for many years. In 1944 I began publishing my Back

to Godhead, and when I retired from family life in 1958 I began publishing

Srimad-Bhagavatam in Delhi. When three parts of Srimad-Bhagavatam had been

published in India, I then started for the United States of America on the

thirteenth of August, 1965.

 

I am continuously trying to publish books, as suggested by my spiritual

master. Now, in this year, 1976, I have completed the Seventh Canto of

Srimad-Bhagavatam, and a summary of the Tenth Canto has already been

published as Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Still, the Eighth

Canto, Ninth Canto, Tenth Canto, Eleventh Canto and Twelfth Canto are yet to

be published. On this occasion, therefore, I am praying to my spiritual

master to give me strength to finish this work. I am neither a great scholar

nor a great devotee; I am simply a humble servant of my spiritual master,

and to the best of my ability I am trying to please him by publishing these

books, with the cooperation of my disciples in America. Fortunately,

scholars all over the world are appreciating these publications. Let us

cooperatively publish more and more volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam just to

please His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.