One day he called for all the devotees to his bedside. When they arrived, expecting Srila Prabhupada to engage them in service, Srila Prabhupada asked his servant to help him sit on the bed. Then, Srila Prabhupada looked at the assembled devotees and smiled at each one of them. After a prolonged silence, Srila Prabhupada said, “I called all of you because I wanted to see you. I feel life when I see you. You are all Vaishnvas; please be merciful to me.”
A month later when Srila Prabhupada, despite his failing health was leaving for U.K, his friend Seth Bisan Chand came to see him off and cried in worry- what would happen to Srila Prabhupada in such a foreign land. He appealed to Srila Prabhupada to stay in Vrindavan as his old age and ill health could worsen. Srila Prabhupada assured him that he’d return to Vrindavan and confessed that his devotees love him and he feels obliged to reciprocate with their love.
On reaching the Delhi airport, Srila Prabhupada saw Bhavananda, who had just been released from the jail during the Mayapur episode, come to part him goodbye. Srila Prabhupada embraced him and bathed him with his tears of gratitude and affection.
It’s forty-two years since Srila Prabhupada has left the planet and now we have thousands of more devotees in the Krishna consciousness movement. Srila Prabhupada wanted each one to be cared for. He asked devotees to be careful and not make him an Alexander the great- the conqueror who won new territories but lost the previous ones as soon as he left them to embark on a new conquest. Srila Prabhupada said often we preach and expand but may neglect the existing devotees and lose them if we are not careful. He said he always prayed to Krishna to give them strength to carry on their devotional life.
During his final moments on his deathbed, Srila Prabhupada took out his watch and gave to a devotee to offer to George Harrison as an expression of thanks. George Harrison was a household name in Europe and America at that time and the biggest celebrity with millions of followers. Srila Prabhupada said George was a ‘good boy’ who helped preach Krishna consciousness all over the world through his music and support to the devotees. On his disappearance day anniversary, let us remember Srila Prabhupada’s desire and care for each devotee who has rendered even a little service to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.
