October 2nd.
Prabhupada arrived in Vrindavan today. After resting he asked Tamal Krishna to read the prayers of Sukadeva Goswami from the second canto, chapter four, text 12. The trip was by train direct to Mathura from Bombay. Today Prabhupada said.
“They must be alert about the system of bell ringing at the hour and on half hour. Everyone is sleeping. After my departure they will stop”.
He asked at what time in the afternoon is the darshan of the Deities.
Prabhupada said.
“So, I have to inquire to see that these things are going on?”
“No! Srila Prabhupada. We have to be vigilant”. Replied Tamal.
Prabhupada exclaimed.
“The bell is ringing, but whimsically”.
He also inquired in regards the temple president Ashoyananda.
“That is my concern that you are all managing properly or it will be finished. In this condition it is impossible for me, even I cannot move my body on the bed. Let me die little peacefully without any anxiety. I have given you everything”.
Tamal confirmed and praised His Divine Grace by saying.
“People will say these are fit sons and disciples of their Guru Maharaj”.
Srila Prabhupada was silent and pleased. He chuckled.
“Anyway, I must thank you, you took me to London and again brought me here without difficulty. That is a great credit, that is my condition, a bundle of bones. Yesterday I saw so great a crowd. Because of the deluxe train. This instrument invented by modern civilization, and so dangerous, and without hands and legs. Therefore, Vedic civilization everyone is engaged. The system should be made in such a way that everyone is engaged”.
Vrndavana seems to have changed him. For he has not spoken so much in a long time.
October 4th.
Yesterday we gave him an enema. He felt relief, but was too weak to go to darshan. He mentioned wanting twenty-four-hour kirtan, but this morning after some time he dismissed the kirtan party so as to rest better. He did not feel
strong enough for darsana again. He hardly sits up now, as in Bombay. Yesterday we applied turmeric and salt lime to his limbs, but it did not help at all. Tomorrow I will ask him that it be discontinued.
This morning instead of going to the temple, Tamal suggested Srimad-bhagavatam reading. Srila Prabhupada went to sleep during the reading, so everyone left quietly. About 10:00 a.m. Prabhupada asked,
“Where is the palanquin?”
Brahmananda pointed to him that it was just at the foot of the bed.
“Let us sit in it”. Said Prabhupada.
So Srila Prabhupada took darsana of the Deities after all. The palanquin was not at all proper, still His Divine Grace said nothing. During the kirtana he moved his head in rhythm and motioned with his hand to dance. He circumambulated the temple once before returning.
He spoke with Gopal Krishna for a while and said that money should not be kept in the bank but invested, especially in the printing of books.
He again requested kirtan. At the moment, no program has been worked out. There seems to be a lack of coordination by the leaders in this regard.
Although we recommend various drinks, he generally refused. Tamal says his independence is more assertive now that he is in Vrindavan and so many devotees are here.
He is sleeping on a new mattress now, and he does not appear to move or fidget as much. This new mattress is meant to prevent bed sores. At about noon, his cough has slightly reoccurred. He had complained just earlier. He would have called a father and son doctor, but it being Thursday afternoon he postponed. He asked again for a GBC kirtana. His cough disturbed him again. We put different powders on his swollen extremities.
He told Tamal.
“Do not pray to Krishna for my recovery. Let me pass away”.
His cough increases.
“Anything to be asked before my passing? If Hamsadutta is not tired he can continue chanting”.
He is sitting up now. Tamal rubs his back. His Divine Grace has a certain resolve about him. Beatific, even in his ill health. Hamsadutta was singing prayers to the Goswamis, but could not recite one line. Srila Prabhupada said them without hesitation.