Remembering Srila Prabhupada - ISKCON Potomac, July 1976

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ISKCON Potomac, July 1976

 

 

It was evening, and Srila Prabhupada had been sitting

at the poolside until dark. Just as he was leaving to

walk toward the house, two disciples, Praghosa and

Subuddhi Raya, ran up to meet him.

 

"These are some of the boys who are distributing books

at the airport, Prabhupada," said Hari Sauri.

 

The boys had thrown themselves on the ground and were

uttering obeisances, while Srila Prabhupada greeted

them heartily: "Jaya!"

 

As the devotees stood up, Prabhupada asked them, "You

are coming back so late?"

 

"Yes, Prabhupada!"

 

"So, what was your score?" asked Prabhupada.

 

"Between Vaisesika and I," said Praghosa, "we did 130

books."

 

Prabhupada raised his hands and said "Jaya! Victory!"

He then began to walk slowly toward the house, and

Praghosa began telling Prabhupada about sankirtana at

the airport.

 

"Srila Prabhupada, I met one boy today who gave eighty

dollars."

 

Prabhupada stopped and looked at Praghosa. "Accha! How

many books you gave him?"

 

"Nine books."

 

Srila Prabhupada smiled, looked at Hari Sauri, and

said, "Quite a nice profit."

 

As they continued walking, Praghosa related that this

boy was a soldier, so Praghosa told him about Arjuna,

who was also a soldier and a family man, and who

rendered pure devotional service to Krsna.

 

"I explained to him, Srila Prabhupada, how you told

us."

 

By now Srila Prabhupada was at the door of his house.

A devotee took off Prabhupada's shoes.

 

"Do you want to come in?" Prabhupada asked Praghosa

and Subuddhi Raya.

 

"Yes, Srila Prabhupada. Of course!"

 

Inside, they sat on the rug as Srila Prabhupada sat on

the couch. Only a small light illuminated the room.

 

"So how are they liking the books?" asked Prabhupada.

 

Praghosa then told about a soldier from North Carolina

who said that there were nine soldiers in his base who

met every Wednesday night and read Bhagavad-gita

together.

 

"Our Bhagavad-gita?" Prabhupada asked innocently.

 

"Yes, Srila Prabhupada. Your Gita."

 

"Just see," said Prabhupada.

 

When Hari Sauri explained that Praghosa had been

working for years with Tripurari, Prabhupada asked

about Tripurari's well-being. He also asked about

Dhrstadyumna and said that he was a very good devotee.

When Praghosa said that he was connected with the New

York temple, Srila Prabhupada asked if they were

distributing prasadam there. He specifically asked if

they were selling kacauris. Srila Prabhupada asked

about Bali Mardan, who had left the movement for years

and had just returned. Prabhupada suggested that Bali

Mardan cook kacauris because "he makes the best."

 

Turning to Subuddhi Raya, Prabhupada asked where he

was from.

 

"I was working in India with Gargamuni Swami," said

Subuddhi Raya. "It was nice, but there wasn't much

time for reading."

 

Prabhupada replied, "Anyway, they are working hard,"

and he didn't seem to want to hear the criticism.

 

After a few moments, Prabhupada asked that the

devotees be given prasadam. His cook gave them cups of

mango ice cream.

 

Taking the ice cream outside, Praghosa and Subuddhi

Raya sat down by the temple and looked at the ice

cream in ecstasy, trying to remember the whole

experience and Prabhupada's reciprocation with them.

 

Praghosa dasa, interview. According to Praghosa, he

met Prabhupada a few days later when Prabhupada went

to the New York temple. There Praghosa entered a room

full of devotees where Prabhupada was giving darsana,

and when Prabhupada saw him, he said, "Ah," and

recognized him from their previous meeting. After that

darsana, Ramesvara Swami told Praghosa, "I saw the way

Prabhupada took notice when you came into the room. He

was remembering you from Washington. He was

remembering you as the devotee who was so happy to go

out and distribute his books."

 

 

- From the Prabhupada Nectar by HH Satsvarupa dasa

Goswami Maharaj

 

 

 

 

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