Room Conversation
Ghosh came, we were obligated to try these allopathic medicines.
Bhavānanda:
Dosage on this medicine, do you know?
Bhakti-caru:
That he’ll prescribe when he comes, according to the condition.
Bhavānanda:
I thought he had said once a week.
Bhakti-caru:
He said something like that. Then he said…
Bhavānanda:
We can speak to him, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
[break] Not sure of what the dosage is. We can speak to him, find out.
[break] [indistinct fragments with breaks, as tape is tested.]
Dr. Gopal:
…what is the dose of *makara-dhvaja, if he can tell you how much.
Indian man:
[Transl. You have Vanamāli Bābu’s contact?]
Dr. Gopal:
[Transl. You ask him] …however, it will not interfere with my medicine. You understand?
Bhavānanda:
Yes.
Dr. Gopal:
It will not interfere with my medicine.
Indian man:
We have prepared some golden and pearl and musk.
Dr. Gopal:
Oh, moti-vṛṣṭi. Oh, that he can have.
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. No. This is not moti-vṛṣṭi.] This is makara-dhvaja. There are three different ingredients of makara-dhvaja.
Dr. Gopal:
The makara-dhvaja is different, but…
Indian man:
[Transl. Golden, musk given by Vanamāli Bābu.]
Bhakti-caru:
This is gold, musk and pearl.
Indian man:
[Transl. Pearl.]
Bhavānanda:
That was this.
Dr. Gopal:
[Transl. Is this the moti-vṛṣṭi?]
Indian man:
[Transl. I don’t know.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. This is makara-dhvaja rasāyaṇa.]
Dr. Gopal:
Moti-dṛṣṭi as well as makara-dhvaja are prepared with the same thing.
Bhakti-caru:
No, in makara-dhvaja, musk and gold and pearl is used.
Dr. Gopal:
Moti-dṛṣṭi gold and pearls are there.
Bhakti-caru:
But in makara-dhvaja, rasāyaṇa.
Dr. Gopal:
I don’t know about that. But we can ask Vaidyaji what is the dose and which one is better, whether moti-dṛṣṭi or this. Moti-dṛṣṭi is usually given… [Transl. I thought, it is given daily with honey.] I don’t know about this.
Bhavānanda:
We can find out. And that can be given. It won’t interfere with your treatment at all.
Dr. Gopal:
No.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
What about appetite?
Dr. Gopal:
Anything more?
Prabhupāda:
What I can say? You belong to some Vaiṣṇava sampradāya? Eh?
Dr. Gopal:
Yes, of course I am Vaiṣṇava, but not by initiation.
Prabhupāda:
No, your family belongs to which Vaiṣṇava sampradāya? There are four sampradāya.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
There are four sampradāyas: Madhvācārya, Rāmānujācārya, Viṣṇu Svāmī…
Dr. Gopal:
I don’t know myself, because I know only this much, that I am a man and a Hindu, that’s all, bāniyā by caste, by born in their family. Profession, my serve you.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Where is your family originally from? Which area of the country?
Dr. Gopal:
Mostly belongs to district Mathurā itself, in village near Mathurā.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
For many centuries? Do you know?
Dr. Gopal:
No, my father migrated from this place to district Agra, Firozabad, in 1945.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Before that time?
Dr. Gopal:
Before that, I was hardly two years old.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
I mean, your forefathers were from any part of India besides this?
Dr. Gopal:
No. They’re always from this U.P.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Ācchā. [break]
Bhavānanda:
…in Vṛndāvana. That perhaps he could stop there and just inquire whether they had any kavirāja there, because that’s Rāmānuja-sampradāya. Shall he do that? [break]
Prabhupāda:
Eh? What is that? No. This doctor’s treatment is failure.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Yes, he’s starting to guess.
Prabhupāda:
Now… Where is Bhakti…?
Bhavānanda:
Bhakti-caru is just waiting to go and get the kavirāja in the front. Do you want me to bring him?
Prabhupāda:
Call him.
Bhavānanda:
He’s up in the aradesko.[?]
Prabhupāda:
They will simply guess.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Oh, he’s guessing.
Bhavānanda:
On and on.
Prabhupāda:
So it is failure. Now take makara-dhvaja, one dose, and leave everything for Kṛṣṇa.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Hmm?
Bhavānanda:
Take that medicine and leave everything to Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda:
That makara-dhvaja.
Bhavānanda:
Yes. We felt that your dream, Śrīla Prabhupāda, was very significant.
Prabhupāda:
Doctor treatment is finished. Don’t try any… They will simply guess and make huge complication.
Bhavānanda:
Here is Bhakti-caru, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda:
So… [Transl. Come here. If Rāmānuja-sampradāya kavirāja is there, you bring him and also bring our Kavirāja.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. Okay Śrīla Prabhupāda, I should bring both of them. Okay Śrīla Prabhupāda.]
Prabhupāda:
Doctor treatment, failure.
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. But your urine has become clear Śrīla Prabhupāda from last few days. Before taking that medicine the urine color was different. Half of it was… But now it is clear.] I was telling that it worked as far as urine was concerned.
Bhavānanda:
We’re not sure that that was the result of the medicine or the result of liquid intake.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
The urine has been clear for five months in a row, so when it got unclear for three days and Prabhupāda wasn’t drinking anything, then as soon as he drank it became clear. So I can’t conclude that it was the doctor.
Bhakti-caru:
Ācchā. [Transl. So Śrīla Prabhupāda I go now and bring the Kavirājas.] [pause]
Prabhupāda:
What he has said? Hmm?
Ādi-keśava:
What did he say, the doctor?
Bhavānanda:
Well, he was stumped as to why you had no appetite, and he said that possibly because you are taking less air in your left lung than in your right lung, there may be some infection in the lung—he said that generally is denoted also by lack of appetite—of some tubercular or pleurisy or pneumatic nature.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
So he’s prescribing that anti-tuberculin drug called Isotoxin. That’s also called Isoniazid. That is anti-tuberculin drug that he’s prescribing.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
But he doesn’t even know. He doesn’t really know if it’s tuberculous.
Bhavānanda:
He didn’t prescribe any medicine.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
One of the medicines is that Isotoxin. I asked…
Ādi-keśava:
That is a very, very strong drug, very, very strong drug. It has a very heavy effect.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Isotoxin is also called Isoniazid. It’s the chemical name. I know that; I discussed with the authority.
Prabhupāda:
Then he’ll say, “Remove to the hospital.”
Bhavānanda:
“Then they’ll say move to the hospital.”
Prabhupāda:
Then who will take care of me? Hmm?
Bhavānanda:
We will never allow them to remove you to a hospital, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda:
You’ll have to, gradually, according to his advice.
Bhavānanda:
Therefore we asked you yesterday for your guidance.
Prabhupāda:
No, I’ll guide. Don’t move me to the hospital. Better kill me here.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
We won’t, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Bhavānanda:
Never.
Prabhupāda:
But if you are disgusted, that is another thing.
[whispering among devotees about Prabhupāda’s statement]
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
One thing, though, if we take the x-rays, that will pretty much clearly tell whether there is any tubercular infection in the lungs.
Prabhupāda:
They are expecting.
Bhavānanda:
[in disbelief] If we are disgusted?
Prabhupāda:
Yes?
Bhavānanda:
No.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Never, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Bhavānanda:
Service at your divine lotus feet is the perfection of life. Our only fear is that Your Divine Grace may become disgusted.
Prabhupāda:
No, I have no dis… Doctor treatment failure.
Bhavānanda:
Doctor treatment is finished.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Taking these strong medicines without eating is very difficult. Many side effects.
Bhavānanda:
Yes. Anyway, we gave him chance. Your Divine Grace gave him a fair chance to…
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Actually, the whole thing only began because Dr. Ghosh came. Actually, you didn’t want Dr. Ghosh to come, but it was too late. We had already sent Lokanātha. So once Dr. Ghosh came, we were obligated to try these allopathic medicines. It was Dr. Ghosh who brought Dr. Gopal. Otherwise, from your own choice, we would not have, you know… We were obligated because of Dr. Ghosh’s coming. Naturally… He came so long, such a distance. From the beginning you always don’t like the allopathic. You never like it very much.
Prabhupāda:
I’ll treat myself. Let the kavirājas come. And makara-dhvaja. One after another, they will make the things complicated. What is your opinion? Hmm?
Bhavānanda:
We all feel, Śrīla Prabhupāda, that your direction is absolutely perfect. It is coming directly from the spiritual platform. Therefore anything which you tell us to do, we want to do, and we have full faith and confidence that it is absolutely correct. But we don’t have full faith and confidence in people who are materially conditioned. Therefore we have taken you as our spiritual master. You have perfect knowledge of everything spiritual and you have perfect knowledge of everything material.
Prabhupāda:
So, all of you agree to this?
Bhavānanda:
Do we all agree?
Devotees:
Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda:
Then I will give direction. Simply I want to know about the makara-dhvaja, consulting both the kavirājas.
[pause] Why you stop kīrtana?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Go ahead, Pañca.
[kīrtana begins, Pañcadraviḍa sings slowly.]
Prabhupāda:
Mildly kīrtana.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
What, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda:
Mild kīrtana, tell him.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Mild kīrtana.
Prabhupāda:
Where is Haṁsadūta?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
You want Haṁsadūta’s kīrtana?
Prabhupāda:
Baradrāj or…
Bhavānanda:
Baradrāj.
Ādi-keśava:
He’s in his room. [whispering]
Prabhupāda:
Eh? They are avoiding?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
What, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda:
They are avoiding me.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
They are avoiding?
Prabhupāda:
Hmm?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
[chuckling] I don’t think so.
Brahmānanda:
Who is that?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Baradrāj and Haṁsadūta.
Pradyumna:
Haṁsadūta was here at lunchtime.
Upendra:
Baradrāj came also. He was here most of the morning.
Brahmānanda:
You were resting at that time.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
They sang for nearly two or three hours.
Upendra:
Baradrāj is a little ill.
Śatadhanya:
And he said that as soon as you wake up, then he will come.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
I don’t think anyone is avoiding, Śrīla Prabhupāda. [break]
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
I was just thinking that that doctor, it seems, doesn’t know very well.
Prabhupāda:
Then?
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
So whatever Your Divine Grace instructs us, we are ready to serve.
Prabhupāda:
If you move me from here, I will immediately die.
[pause] I cannot live.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
What, Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda:
I cannot live without your company.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
And we cannot live without your company, Śrīla Prabhupāda. So you stay here, and we’ll stay with you.
Prabhupāda:
Do that.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
We’ll stay forever, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda:
Do that. Take this, this allopathic treatment, failure.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Yes, it’s a failure, allopathic treatment.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Śrīla Prabhupāda, would you be interested in hearing any of the Bhāgavatam that they have edited? I think that would be nice.
Upendra:
I’d like to give Prabhupāda a bath.
Prabhupāda:
Yes. That will be nice. You sit down, all, and let us try.
Bhavānanda:
Śrīla Prabhupāda, Upendra wants to know if he can give you a bath.
Prabhupāda:
I have no objection.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
So after the bath we’ll have Bhāgavata.
Prabhupāda:
Hmm.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Okay.
Prabhupāda:
And stop all medicine. [laughter]
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
This is the real medicine.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
The trouble with the allopathic medicine is that they have so much side effects that it might make very uncomfortable to…
Prabhupāda:
This is already uncomfortable.
Bhavānanda:
I think that this doctor’s desire you have seen through. His desire was to remove you from here somehow or other. First to remove you for an x-ray, then…
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Another trick they have is that you have one trouble, so they give you a medicine, but the medicine causes a worse trouble. And eventually such bad trouble is created that they get you depending on them, and then they say, “Now the only thing left, you must come to the hospital for operation.” Then they kill you.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Yes, injection, operation.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
He was asking us, “Does your Guruji have any obj…? Will he take an injection?” So we said, “No.” He was hopeless. He was guessing.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Yes, he didn’t know the real cause.
Prabhupāda:
They do not know. They use machine. Their means of knowing—machine. They do not know.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
I have many medical friends. They frankly admit that oftentimes they kill the patients in the name of treating. It turns out that it was their own medicine that they gave.
Prabhupāda:
Yes. Recently that Dalmia secretary… What is his name?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Hitsaran Sharma.
Prabhupāda:
In pathology his prescription was replaced by another.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
I don’t follow. Recently whose?
Upendra:
His prescription was replaced by another.
Prabhupāda:
He had some trouble.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Hitsaran.
Prabhupāda:
So, what is called? Pathology?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Pathology? No.
Prabhupāda:
No, laboratory testing?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
What’s laboratory test called?
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Pathology?
Bhavānanda:
Yes.
Prabhupāda:
So his case was transferred to another.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
[laughs] Oh, boy.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
One after another.
Bhavānanda:
Mixed up.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
No, mixed up. His diagnosis was given to someone else. They made a mistake, and then they treated the other person.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Oh!
Prabhupāda:
And he was being treated as tuberculosis.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Oh, boy.
Ādi-keśava:
Sometimes they make the operations, and they leave the knife in, and they sew the knife up inside after they make an operation. Or the scissors. They take some clamps and they sew them inside the wound. And then the man says, “Oh, I have a pain in my side.” And they say, “Oh, new disease,” and they make another operation and take out the clamps or the knife.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Sometimes they only depend on machines, these medical doctors. That’s why he’s mentioning about x-ray. Through these machines you cannot tell the correct diagnosis.
Prabhupāda:
I have got many experiences in my family life. One servant, Kashiram.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Kashiram.
Prabhupāda:
Yes, his name was Kashiram. So he was howling, howling. So we took him to the hospital, and so many student doctors surrounded. They diagnosed something, strangulation or something like that.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Strangulation.
Prabhupāda:
Yes. Then they were prepared to surgical operation. Then another experienced doctor came. He said, “Let us wait today.” So he was kept in the hospital, and we came back. That Kashiram… Another friend, servant of the neighborhood, and so he said, “Bābujī, he has drunk little.”
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
He got a little drunk.
Prabhupāda:
So I said, “Don’t … There are so many doctors…” And next morning he came back and said, “The doctor said, ‘You are all right. You can go.’ “
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
He was just drunk from liquor. [laughter]
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
I had a similar story. It is my own personal experience. In 1974 I came here in India. I got malaria in the United States in summer 1975. Then temperature was very high. I went to the Baptist Hospital in Atlanta. They thought it was a virus, viral infection. They couldn’t diagnose. Then they gave some medicine, and then I went. But it started again the following day, then I went to another doctor. He could not diagnose. So they gave me glucose injection, a big bottle, thinking that was a strange viral infection. So about six, seven doctors, they couldn’t diagnose for three-four days. Then one day there was a doctor who came from Vietnam, he had some experience in tropical disease. So he thought it might be malarial fever. Then, after that, I was surrounded by many doctors thinking that it was a strange disease before, but they diagnosed… But it was not right. They did all the wrong medicine, thinking it was a viral infection.
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
This is in America, just two years ago.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
I told you the story of my father recently, Śrīla Prabhupāda, how he had the arthritis in the hip, so they gave him a new hip. Then it moved to the other hip, and they replaced the other hip. So after eight weeks he was in the bed in the hospital, and then they said, “Now you can try to walk.” So they gave him crutches, and they stood him up, and after eight weeks of all these operations, as soon as he stood up he had a heart attack and died right on the spot. They were very sure. “Now you’re all right,” they told him.
Pañcadraviḍa:
My great-uncle, he had tonsillitis, so he went to a friend who was a doctor, and the friend said, “That’s all right. We’ll operate, and I will not charge you anything.” So he went into the hospital, and in the operation the doctor dropped a scalpel, and after that… He was very big, and he became very small, never could eat again. [break]
Prabhupāda:
No protection.
Bhavānanda:
There’s no protection. [break]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. I have found out the information about the Rāmānuji Kavirāja. In Jānaki-vallabha temple, they have a Charitable Dispensary where he works. Now he has gone somewhere across Yamunā. He will return at 6 o’clock. I told them that I will come back at 6 o’clock and take him with me. So should I bring Vanamālī Bābu at that same time also? From the description I understood that he puts Rāmanuji tilaka on his forehead. He is about 60 years old. An aged person. So I will go and bring him at 6 o’clock Śrīla Prabhupāda.] [leaves room]
Prabhupāda:
So? Bhāgavata?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Bhāgavatam translation? I’ll arrange now? [*kīrtana by Baradrāj] [break]
Trivikrama:
…cannot do its plundering business.
Prabhupāda:
The sun cannot take life during the Bhāgavata discussion. The more you discuss Bhāgavatam, you keep your life. Who is standing here?
Tripurāri:
Now Baradrāj is chanting.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Who is standing? Dhṛṣṭadyumna Mahārāja, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Tripurāri Mahārāja, Nayanābhirāma, Bhavānanda Mahārāja, Upendra, Trivikrama Mahārāja, Pañcadraviḍa Mahārāja, Brahmānanda Mahārāja.
Prabhupāda:
So, you are understanding?
Devotees:
Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Trivikrama:
By your mercy.
Prabhupāda:
Then we stop here?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Yes. We’ll have kīrtana now. Should I leave the light that’s on?
Prabhupāda:
Yes. [break]
Bhavānanda:
If you’d like.
Prabhupāda:
Because my that quarter is more ventilated.
Bhavānanda:
Yes, we can do.
Prabhupāda:
So last days I can stay there, and when I die, just bury me in the place where you are proposing to…
Bhavānanda:
Your house.
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Bhavānanda:
Yes, we can arrange.
Prabhupāda:
So think over the matter.
Bhavānanda:
Yes, I’ll discuss it with Tamāla, and we’ll…
Prabhupāda:
Hmm?
Bhavānanda:
It’s very nice there, well ventilated. I’ll speak to Tamāla Kṛṣṇa now.
Prabhupāda:
Call him.
Bhavānanda:
Yes.
Prabhupāda:
Who is here?
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Svarūpa Dāmodara, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda:
I am proposing to go to Māyāpur.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
You want to go to Māyāpur?
Prabhupāda:
What do you think?
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Just conditions, Śrīla Prabhupāda, will be proper?
Prabhupāda:
Huh?
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Traveling by train? It will be a little difficulty, Prabhupāda.
Upendra:
Of course, Prabhupāda came from London, and the doctor said he couldn’t come.
Prabhupāda:
Huh?
Upendra:
The doctor in London… You came from London, and then you came from Bombay to Vṛndāvana in very weak condition.
Prabhupāda:
So weak condition…
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
It will be little warmer in Māyāpur. In Māyāpur the weather will be a little warmer. Also, the air is fresher in that sense.
Bhavānanda:
Śrīla Prabhupāda, here is Tamāla.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
[offers obeisances] Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda:
So you think over transferring me to Māyāpur.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Well, actually it’s a great pleasure to take you to different places, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and we certainly never find any difficulty in transporting you. I was wondering that… As Vṛndāvana gets quite cold in the winter, I was just wondering how you would be able to pass the winter here, and I was thinking that Māyāpur was a very natural place to go. Now, just now, it is very nice here in Vṛndāvana. Probably for two or three more weeks it’s the topmost time. But shortly it will be getting cold.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
November.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
And at that time it might be the ideal opportunity.
Prabhupāda:
Why not do that?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
I don’t think you’re finding any difficulty here, are you?
Prabhupāda:
No. Māyāpur is still more open.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Yes.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Fresh air.
Prabhupāda:
Fresh air.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Māyāpur is wonderful at the winter season.
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
You get the benefit of the winter sun, which is tremendously healing in its effect.
Prabhupāda:
In November, December, January, February.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
I think you once said to us that if one sits for some time in the winter sun, he’ll never get sick.
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Bhavānanda:
Rub with oil and sit in the sun. I think it’s a sound proposal.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Yes, actually it gets very cold here in the wintertime. It wouldn’t be very good to stay here when it’s too cold, because we would have to keep the windows closed, and then there would be too stuffy. Fresh air is very healthy. Open.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
There’s a fast train from Delhi to Calcutta, just like the train you all came in. We can get a… Yes. It’s called Rajdhani. It’s a very fast train.
Bhavānanda:
And they have a sleeper on it also.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
It’s all air-conditioned.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
No. Just like this train you came by. It will be air-conditioned, but have some un–air-conditioned compartments.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Anyway, that won’t be difficult to take you. It’s not difficult. Any Jumbos flying from Delhi?
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
I can check on that.
[indistinct whispered comment]
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
No, it has to be a Jumbo.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
They have Airbus.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
That’s useless. There’s no benefit in Airbuses. The seats are the same on an Airbus. There’s no first class.
Bhavānanda:
When you’re feeling stronger, then the veranda is there for nice stroll.
Prabhupāda:
There is ample space.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
I think change is good also sometimes. So we should make that program?
Prabhupāda:
I think so.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Yes, traveling with you is a great pleasure for us, Śrīla Prabhupāda. It’s always very exciting to travel with you.
Prabhupāda:
And in Māyāpur, if you keep me in my quarters, and take little care, that’s all. Take little care, that’s all.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
“Take little care, that’s all.”
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Lots of care.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
We’re all at your disposal, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
“No king was ever served like this,” you said.
Prabhupāda:
Here, in one room, always closed.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Yeah. That’s a fact. It’s closed. I felt it today, especially when you were translating. It’s very… It’s a claus… It got a little stuffy. When one can move around easily, then this house is very first class. But because the rooms are such design, if one has to stay in one room, then it can get a little bit stuffy. Just like here, the only opening is from one side. In Māyāpur we’ll get the cross ventilation.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
It’s very healthy.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Perhaps there are also some good vegetables or fruits that may be in season in the winter.
Prabhupāda:
Yes. Vegetable boiled. Fresh vegetable. I can take little.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Jaya.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
’Cause there everything that we eat is grown on our own land, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda:
Yes. Bindi.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Bindi. Okra.
Prabhupāda:
Yes. Whatever vegetable is grown there, so boil. I can take. What vegetable grown?
Bhavānanda:
Now we’re growing begun and tomato and potal.
Prabhupāda:
Where…?
Bhavānanda:
That was when I left. The potal were very tender.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
I think potal grows a lot of the time in Māyāpur, doesn’t it?
Bhavānanda:
And śim.
Prabhupāda:
Very good.
Bhavānanda:
Puṅi śāk.
Prabhupāda:
Everything is there.
Bhavānanda:
Everything is there.
Prabhupāda:
Brahmānanda, what does he…?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Brahmānanda, what do you think?
Brahmānanda:
I think it’s a very good idea, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Very good program.
Prabhupāda:
Gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi… Eh? What is that song?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi… One minute and we’ll find it.
Prabhupāda:
Tāra hoy braja-bhūmi bās.
Pradyumna:
Jebā jāne cintāmaṇi?
Prabhupāda:
Yes. Gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi, jebā jāne cintāmaṇi, tāra hoy braja-bhūmi bās.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Can you find it?
Prabhupāda:
And we have got such a nice place, open place, palatial building, such finer…
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
This will be added incentive to complete…, to build your house.
Bhavānanda:
Everyone will be in ecstasy, especially the gurukula boys most of all. They’re always asking, “When is Śrīla Prabhupāda coming? When he’s coming? Tomorrow?”
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
And I will cash those certificates when we get to Calcutta, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Then I don’t have to call for them. If we go there, then I’ll do everything there. It will be very easy.
Prabhupāda:
So that is my proposal. Now you think over seriously and arrange for.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Now you will shower your mercy upon the Vaiṣṇavas of Bengal, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Prabhupāda:
Or I shall go there to take their dust of feet.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
Take the dust…
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Of their feet. I think this is the right plan, Śrīla Prabhupāda, because then, by March or April, it will be time for you… The festival will be there. And then, with hundreds and hundreds, maybe thousands of ISKCON Vaiṣṇavas from all over the world, you will be better. And then with a great contingent we will travel around the world.
Bhavānanda:
Jaya.
Devotees:
Jaya. Haribol.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Here is Bhakti-prema Swami.
Prabhupāda:
Oh. So Bhakti-prema, you are also coming?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Prabhupāda’s thinking to go to Māyāpur. He says are you also coming with him?
Bhakti-prema:
Certainly, Mahārāja. I would like to come. [indistinct]
Prabhupāda:
So let us go in a team. [laughter]
Bhavānanda:
Team spirit. And you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, are the captain.
Devotee (2):
Captain of the ship.
Prabhupāda:
You have seen Māyāpur?
Devotees:
Have you seen Māyāpur?
Bhakti-prema:
No.
Prabhupāda:
So let me go. Enough place. You can have two rooms. [laughter] Yes. In new building.
Bhavānanda:
Yes. There is no dearth of rooms.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you’re so attractive that it’s very hard for everyone to remain in their services around the world. They simply want to come and be with you.
Prabhupāda:
And as I will remain in Māyāpur or Vṛndāvana—the same.
Devotee:
Same.
Prabhupāda:
Yes. Gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi, jebā jāne cintāmaṇi, tāra hoy braja-bhūmi bās. There is no difference. Gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi. And if there is any danger, Bhavānanda has got his gun. [laughter—Tamāla Kṛṣṇa repeats to others—laughter]
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Every moment with you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, is so wonderful.
Prabhupāda:
So I shall prefer.
Devotees:
What, Prabhupāda?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
“So I shall prefer.” Maybe Svarūpa Dāmodara Prabhu can arrange some conferences for himself in Calcutta. Then he can come and visit you regularly in Māyāpur.
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Svarūpa Dāmodara:
Yes, we’ll do that in Calcutta. Calcutta is a big place for us.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
That way he can come regularly and give you report on how the science conferences are going. That will be very enlivening. [to Svarūpa Dāmodara:] That’s part of your plan.
Bhavānanda:
I’m already thinking, Śrīla Prabhupāda, what preparations we have to make.
Prabhupāda:
Simply fresh vegetable.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
Simply fresh vegetable.
Prabhupāda:
And mung dāl also.
Bhavānanda:
Everything comes to life when you come to Māyāpur. You are the crown jewel. Māyāpur is such beautiful setting, but without Your Divine Grace’s presence, we are always feeling empty-hearted. And as soon as you come, all of us are enlivened.
Prabhupāda:
So let us go in a team.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
I think we may have enough devotees to fill the whole train.
Bhavānanda:
By looking at all the devotees assembled here, Śrīla Prabhupāda, the looks on their faces indicate that everyone likes this idea.
Prabhupāda:
So do it. Do it.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:
It’s a good idea.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa:
So shall we perform some kīrtana, Śrīla Prabhupāda? Haṁsadūta Swami is here.
Prabhupāda:
Jaya.
Bhavānanda:
Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Devotees:
Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda. [break]
Vaidyaji:
[Brought by Bhakti-cāru] [Transl. Let me feel your pulse.]
Prabhupāda:
[Transl. I can speak Hindi.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Yes sir. [pause] Maharajaji, in your nature air and bile are prominent.]
Prabhupāda:
[Transl. What?]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. In your nature air and bile are prominent. In Ayurveda the system of pulse is, [quotes an indistinct verse] according to your pulse, there is air and bile imbalances in your body. The heart is [indistinct]]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. The heart is what?]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. The heart is a machine and it is the center point of the whole body. There are one hundred blood vessels and one hundred smaller blood vessels in it. Actually there are ten thousand small and finer arteries and veins in and around the heart and through them the heart circulates blood all over the body. The heart is weak. The kidney is weak. It is situated here in this place. His pancreas situated on the left side of the navel is also weak. His nature is overpowered by air and bile. And his three organs heart, kidney and pancreas are not in good shape because of which he does not feel hunger. The function of the pancreas is to produce hunger. Our Ayurvedic Ācāryas have recommended [quotes an indistinct verse]. The function of the kidney is to filter fluid. This is his physical condition.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. So can you cure him?]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Now I will arrange for the treatment. What does he eat nowadays?]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. He only takes fruit juice and sugar candy water.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Okay.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. He doesn’t feel like eating.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. What about water?]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. Water? He drinks little. And for food, he doesn’t want to eat anything.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. You should not give him any food. Among the four types of foods which is chewed, sucked, licked and drunk. You know the meaning?]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. Yes, I know.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. You can only give him liquid things. Because, in such a state the intestines do not function properly. The treatment will help lessen the burden of the intestine and pancreas. His prāṇa vāyu which governs the intake functions and his apāna vāyu which governs the eliminative functions are now distorted and they have to be brought to normal condition. He should be treated very smoothly and not stongly. In old age and specially in the life of the saintly persons these things are normal.]
Prabhupāda:
[Transl. Tell him I had a dream that a vaiṣṇava from Rāmānuja Sampradāya is giving me makara-dhvaja medicine.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. Okay. Last night he had a dream and he saw a Vaidyarāja, a vaiṣṇava Vaidya from Rāmānuja Sampradāya has brought makara-dhvaja for him.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Makara-dhvaja* must be given to him. Makara-dhvaja has to be given and also Gaṅgā-jala for drinking. No other treatment is necessary at this point. These two things should continue.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. Okay.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. I was also thinking like this. Other than this nothing should be given. Makara-dhvaja is available in the pharmacy.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. He saw in the dream that the Vaidyarāja is preparing makara-dhvaja himself.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. I can prepare…]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. Like that we have makara-dhvaja with us here.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Makara-dhvaja* is available everywhere, but that is not pure makara-dhvaja. Preparing makara-dhvaja is a complicated matter. I can explain the procedure to prepare makara-dhvaja. Purified mercury, purified gold [indistinct]]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. What about deer musk?]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Deer musk is not required in this. Accoring to his age and physical condition makara-dhvaja will be appropriate. No other medicine can be administered to him.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. Will you be able to prepare here?]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Yes, I can make it. Can you arrange for Gaṅgā-jala? It will be arranged. A copper vessel is needed. This will go on. Continue to give him fruit juice.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. He doesn’t want to eat anything else.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Slowly he will start eating.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. That will be later.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. That is for protecting the body. Give him liquid now, that is sufficient. We need the blessings of the great souls. As long as we can have his good association that is beneficial.]
Prabhupāda:
[Transl. What is he saying?]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. He says that the fruit juice you are taking, that is good for you now. In this condition you should stick to liquid only. You should avoid solid food so that there will be no pressure on the intestine. He also says that generally great souls are above medical treatment.]
Prabhupāda:
[Transl. So what is to be done now?]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. So what medicine will you give? Will you prepare makara-dhvaja?]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Yes.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. He will make makara-dhvaja Śrīla Prabhupāda. He says makara-dhvaja and gaṅgā-jala…]
Prabhupāda:
[Transl. The makara-dhvaja that is already prepared, will it be useful?]
Bhakti-cāru:
To the Indian man: [Transl. There is a Vaidyarāja-Kavirāja here in Vṛṇdāvana at Gopināth Bazar. He has a Pharmacy, shop there. He used to treat Śrīla Prabhupāda before. So he prepared makara-dhvaja, makara-dhvaja rasāyaṇa. Is there any difference between makara-dhvaja and makara-dhvaja rasāyaṇa?]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. No.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. I see. He made it, but he doesn’t want to give him now as his body is very weak.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. No, there is no problem for makara-dhvaja, but it should be given in very little quantity.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. Let me show you. Here, this is what he made.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. This is *makara-dhvaja vatika.*This is not makara-dhvaja. This is not makara-dhvaja.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. Then what it is?]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. This is vatika. May be there is some makara-dhvaja in it. This is duplicate. It may contain a bit of makara-dhvaja.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. It says here makara-dhvaja rasāyaṇa.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. Makara-dhvaja* is not like this. You arrange to prepare it here. You can make it here in front of your eyes as I tell you the ingredients and procedure. You collect the ingredients and after checking with me you can make here. It has to be processed by a special method called Jāraṇa. This stuff is useless.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. When we go back now, on the way we will stop at the Kavirāja’s place. He has already treated Prabhupāda.]
Vaidyaji:
[Transl. I don’t have to meet anyone as I am independent.]
Bhakti-cāru:
[Transl. I was thinking to bring him here along with you.]
[break] [end]