your servant

[Guest guest]

>When you read Srila Prabhupada's letter to his godbrothers, he does not use

>"your servant". I posted a similar question a while ago and never received

>any comment.

 

Srila Prabhupada on a few occasions used "yours obediently" or "I am yours

obediently" in his letters to Godbrothers. This sounds tantamount to saying

"your servant".

 

Interestingly, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati used to tell "daso 'smi" ("I

am your servant") even to his disciples in response to their obeisances - as

did Srila Prabhupada in the following letter, expounding the philosophy

behind "your servant":

 

>Letter to: Upendra

>—

>Los Angeles

>13 February, 1968

>68-02-13

>Your strong desire to serve me is very beautiful; your serving me means

>serving Krishna. I am also your servant so I cannot accept your service

>from you, or from any of my disciples. I accept service from my disciples

>on behalf of Krishna. Just like a tax collector must collect for the

>treasury, not for himself. If he himself touches so much as a farthing it

>would be unlawful. So I have no right to accept service from any disciple,

>but on behalf of Krishna I can accept.

 

Also, as you can see for yourself, in many letters Srila Prabhupada's

secretaries would sign "your servant such-and-such", followed by Srila

Prabhupada's approval and signature.

 

So "your servant" does not really seem completely out of use by Srila

Prabhupada and at least one previous acarya.

 

Begging to remain

 

yours obediently,

Madana-mohana das