A lway s E m b r a c e d
by
Kåñëa
Śrīla Prabhupāda Enters the Eternal Pastimes ‘duùkha-madhye kona duùkha haya gurutara?’ ‘kåñëa-bhakta-viraha vinä duùkha nähi dekhi para’ Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu asked, “Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?” Çré Rämänanda Räya replied, “Apart from separation from the [dear] devotee of Kåñëa, I know of no unbearable unhappiness.” (Çré Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä 8.248) Håiñékeça däsa: I was in Våndävana two weeks prior to Çréla Prabhupäda’s leaving, the mood was very intense and there was constant kértana. When I got there the discussion about Çréla Prabhupäda going to Govardhana had begun. Then the devotees were expressing their anxiety about him going. He may leave on the bullock cart. The kaviräja said that if he goes out, he would leave this world within a very short time. That was the mood, how to get Çréla Prabhupäda to stay and take up the preaching again. Maybe a miracle would happen, everyone was praying for a miracle. Just a few days prior to Çréla Prabhupäda leaving there was an open invitation for unlimited mercy to get the chance to massage Çréla Prabhupäda’s transcendental body. I, for the first time in my life, had the glorious opportunity to render physical service to my Gurudeva and massage his lotus feet. Bhagavat däsa: I returned to Våndävana after two weeks in Orissa. I was determined this time to stay until Çréla Prabhupäda had recovered completely or he had left. I did not realise at that time how things would turn out and in great anticipation and anxiety sat in the station in Delhi waiting for the train to Mathurä. When I arrived there in Mathurä and then finally Våndävana I was greatly excited. I jumped
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