Srila Prabhupads Arrival in the USA

[Govindaram]

In August of 1965, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (later known to his

followers as Srila Prabhupada) boarded a cargo ship in Calcutta,

India bound for New York City. On board, the swami, aged 70, suffered

two heart attacks. Despite poor health and austere living conditions

on the ship, Srila Prabhupada continued his journey, dedicated to

fulfilling the order of his spiritual master, given some fifty years

prior, to present the teachings of Krishna consciousness to people in

the West.

 

On September 17, thirty-six days after leaving India, the ship docked

at Boston's Commonwealth Pier (today, the site of the World Trade

Center). The ship's captain took Srila Prabhupada on a brief walking

tour of the city. He had come to America with one suitcase, a bag of

cereal, seven dollars, an umbrella and a crate of books he had

translated and published. He had no institutional support and only a

two-month sponsorship from a relative of an acquaintance in India.

 

The following day, while still docked in Boston Harbor, Srila

Prabhupada wrote a poem in Bengali entitled Markine Bhagavata-dharma.

It is an evocative prayer of a genuine saint asking the Lord to

empower him to do the Lord's bidding.

 

My dear Lord Krishna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I

do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You

like with me.

 

But I guess You must have some business here, otherwise why would You

bring me to this terrible place?

 

Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of

ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think

themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste

for the transcendental message of Vasudeva. I do not know how they

will be able to understand it.

 

But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible because

You are the most expert mystic.

 

How will they understand the mellows of devotional service? O Lord, I

am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince

them about Your message.

 

All living entities have come under the control of the illusory

energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they

can also be released from the clutches of illusion.

 

I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore, if You so desire their

deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message.

 

The words of Srimad-Bhagavatam are Your incarnation, and if a sober

person repeatedly receives it with submissive aural reception, then

he will be able to understand Your message…

 

How will I make them understand this message of Krishna

consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and the most

fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can

convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own.

 

Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought me here to speak about

You. Now my Lord, it is up to You to make me a success or failure as

You like.

 

O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your

message, so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable

for their understanding.

 

Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure

that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts they

will certainly feel engladdened and thus become liberated from all

unhappy conditions of life.

 

O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought

me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me

dance as You like.

 

I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong

faith in the holy name of Krishna. I have been designated as

Bhaktivedanta, and now, if You like, You can fulfill the real purport

of Bhaktivedanta.

 

Signed - the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar

 

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

on board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

dated 18th of September, 1965