Satyanarayana Dasa was interviewed by a devotee “BALADEVA V”; his question or comments are in  “Quotes & Bold, & Blue” Font.)

Oh, and now that I remember, I just want to say it while I remember that there is the Harding Library, or something like that, in New Delhi.  Prabhupada went to that library, and he used to speak to the librarian every weekend.  The librarian told me because I saw Prabhupada’s books there, the ones that he had put in.  Just his first three volumes, and I put the whole other set in; the new set.  I felt it was such an historical event, so I went to one of the librarians and he said,

“Yes, Bhaktivedanta used to come in here, and he would have long talks with the librarian every weekend.”

They had his name even written down.  He had signed a book; some kind of a guest ledger of something.  So, I think you should visit that library.  It is Harding and Horning, something like that.  It is right off Chandi-chowk, where the famous Alabi is.  Everyone in Delhi knows it.  It is a famous Jalabi-walla.  It is called The Old Famous Jalabi-walla In 1890 or something, he won something like the World’s Fair Medal.  Anyway, half-way down Chandi-Chowk is this Jalabi-walla, and more or less across the street, and up a way is this Harding something Library.  Prabhupada did a lot of work in Delhi, with his own book distribution.  I am sure this librarian could tell you an awful lot.          

“Did they mention what year that was? ”                      

No, I did not ask, but now they have a new set also.                                                                                             

“Do you remember which librarian that actually spoke with him?”                                                           

I think they might have said that he had retired or something.  Then there was another very nice man.  I think he also knew Prabhupada.  he was one the one who was telling us this.  So, I did not think it will take too much research to find that out.  You can find the library and see if there is anything else.                     

“That is an unusual story where you actually found Prabhupada’s books, and they knew him?  Are there other places like that?  It would be good if we could document it, because that is the kind of stuff that we want.“                                                         

Well, I know that library, and I think there is a state library there.  If that library was visited, certainly all the other libraries were visited.  I think you will just have to look up, the way the library boys do, if you want to see if Prabhupada’s books are there.  You immediately go to Bhaktivedanta, in the catalogue, and you will see his books.  and then you take those books back, and you try to find the librarian who met the book seller.  You will eventually find it in every library, I think, and also the big book stores.                

“Prabhupada has mentioned that he went to those big book stores.”                                                          

Yes, he did — Varanasi, Malila Varanasi das.  It is a very famous big book store in Delhi.  I am sure he went there.  That would be very hard.  I think ———– should have done all this because he was also doing libraries in New Delhi.  

Oh, in that meeting also.  After we talked a bit, I gave him the honey.  He liked it very much.  I gave him this honey, which was from this Mahatma Gandhi Aviary. 

“Aviary?  Is that with bees?” 

Yes they have bees there,  In addition, it was this really thick honey, and I talked to Palika later and she said he loved it.  She would put it in so many preparations.  He loved honey, when it was good honey.  It is very hard to get good honey in India.  It is almost impossible.  They are all like water, but this was right from the bee hives.  So, I know he liked that honey.

 So, it was a very short meeting, and I got up, and was just about to give Dandavats, and he said that verse:

“Whomever you see, wherever you go, whomever you meet, tell him about Krishna”. 

And he also gave the verse:

“One who knows the science of Krishna, he is the guru”.  and he said,

“You are blessed”. 

So, then I felt like my life was . . . And he said,

“Continue this”. 

Therefore, I felt it was his mercy that I was allowed to travel.  From that point on, in India and then for the next three years, I went around to twelve countries in Asia, including Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaise. 

From those places, I would send telegrams to Prabhupada.  I remember one telegram, I sent from Indonesia: I made it sound like a military attack.  It was like,

“ENTERING THE INTERIOR.  35 STANDING ORDERS SO FAR FROM MUSLIN INSTITUTES AND UNIVERSITIES”. 

I later found out that Prabhupada got that, and he was extremely pleased by that, although he did not have time to write a letter.  I also sent him one huge telegram from Gujarat, because he had gone to Gujarat.  He had done many programs in Gujarat.  Yanomami-nandana, the President of Ahmedabad temple, can possibly tell you lot about those.  So, everyone remembers Prabhupada, and I think we got more standing orders in the State of Gujarat than any other state in India because of his influence.                                                

“About that tunnel and all … was there any more to that conversation?  Did he say anything more about his trip in 1935?” 

He did not.  It was so selfish and absorbed, in myself getting his mercy, that I was not even ask him.   I should have had more interest in finding out from Prabhupada, because that was a very fascinating fact.  I did not think anyone ever knew that he went to Kashmir in 1935, and was distributing some books.  I did not even know he had any books.  Maybe I have the date wrong, because I cannot imagine him having any books at that time.

“When did he start translating the Bhagavatam? ”

It was not until very late.                  

“Well, but he was writing the whole time, and BTG was started in 1944.”                                        

He did say 1935.  Maybe he went there for some other reason — maybe on his Ahmedabad business, his Prayoga Pharmacy business.  Maybe it was not to distribute some books. 

“But that is what he said? ”                                               

That is what I remember.  Jagadisa was in the room, and he was also interested in that, so he might remember.  We knew each other for a long time, so he might remember that meaning. 

“Anyone else in the room?”                  

 Just one Hindu and Vayasaki.  He is the President of Bangladesh temple, and I had travelled with him.  He was in on all this, so he might also remember that, but he was sitting in the back of the room, and was not asking anything.  He was like afraid or something so I did not know how much he caught on to.  I was doing all the talking.  I wish I could remember more.       

Oh, also you should check the Scottish Church College.  I helped to get them a standing order also.  Prabhupada went to that school.  That is only about a mile and a half from the temple in Calcutta.  Scottish Church College.  It is still being run.  And I mentioned Prabhupada’s name.  First of all, I had to meet a particular person to get any standing order.  However, that person was gone, so I could not get any more books in. When I mentioned Prabhupada’s name, they all remembered him.  They all knew of him.  They had Prabhupada’s association for years during his school, so that could be checked out.

When Prabhupada left, I was in Bali, Indonesia; when he left the planet.  I was sort of banging my head against the will, crying when I heard.  Not only because I was feeling something, but because the disciple is supposed to do that.  Not bang his head, but cry.  Prabhupada says in the Srimad Bhagavatam that when the spiritual master leaves, the disciple must cry, and must practically go crazy.  He just must do this.  There is no question.  Just like we must dance in front of the deities mean.   I also felt terrible, but I also felt there was a duty that the disciple has to shed tears.  It was not very difficult to do.  There was another disciple who I was travelling with me in Indonesia, and he simply said, without any emotion,

“Oh, guess what, Srila Prabhupada left”.

I could not believe that attitude, but anyways, it is not important.  Nevertheless, principally, when the spiritual master leaves, the disciple must feel very, very terrible separation.       There are so many little things.  Like I was on that morning walk, when Prabhupada gave that talk about Varnasrama dharma; the famous morning walks in Vrndavana in 1974.  That was also in the time when George Harrison came.  He gave that talk, but, of course, it is all on tapes.  It is a famous orange tape; one of those when they had the orange series.  I did not know if there is anything else. 

“Do you that New Vrndavana kirtan?“      

Yes.  It is a bit messy.