Srila Prabhupada: Teasing and Testing Grandfather
Rukmini Dasi: In Delhi, the temple was a house in Anand Niketan, a neighborhood of embassies and diplomats, and Prabhupada's room was on the roof. One night when we came in, a sannyasi was playing the harmonium. Prabhupada saw Baradraj and said, "Let him play, he is better." The sannyasi gave up the harmonium so Baradraj could play. Prabhupada loved Baradraj's harmonium playing. After the kirtan, Prabhupada was quoting from the Siksastakam prayers. I was sitting toward the back as there were many sannyasis in the room as well as Pradyumna the pandit. As Prabhupada would sometimes do, he tested us by appearing to forget a verse. He said, "Nay anam galada. . . what is that? Nayanam galad -a . . ." There was a room full of people who were much higher in the hierarchy than I was, and none of them appeared to know the verse, so I quietly said, "Nayanam galad-asru-dharaya." Prabhupada's eyes got big and he said, "Yes. what is that? What is that verse?" and I said the verse. Prabhupada teased the sannyasis by making sure that they noted I had spoken. and when he did that, I fell into the trap of false pride. Then Prabhupada quoted the last verse of the Siksastaka prayers, "Aslisya Va.. .what is that verse?" I guess the sannyasis had memorized other verses, so I again said the verse, aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam. Prabhupada said, "Yes, what is that verse?" and made me chant the verse. Then he looked at all of them and said, "You see? This little girl knows. You don't know, she knows." He was our teasing grandfather. But then, of course, he had to take care of my false ego. Prabhupada began to talk about the ugra-karma civilization and about how people work long hours in hellish factories. He said, "Just like they have these. . . what is it called? A crucible?" I went, "Hmmm." Prabhupada looked at me and said, "Do you know what a crucible is?" I didn't but I said, "A crucible is a little room where monks meditate." Prabhupada tossed his head disgustedly. He threw my answer away and said, "Does anyone know what a crucible is?" Brahmananda said, "Yes. A crucible is a vast form in which they melt molten steel to make beams for building skyscrapers." Prabhupada said, "Yes, that is crucible" and looked at me. I was properly chastised.
Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 3 by Siddhanta Dasa
Recently Added
Trending Today