Oh, Tejiyas is here? How is the Hyderabad farm?
Tejiyas : I was staying at the Hyderabad farm, which was important to Srila Prabhupada. When I heard that Srila Prabhupada was not feeling well and that there was a chance he might leave the world, I went to see him in Vrindavan around November 8th. Prabhupada's room was packed with devotees and I tried to be as inconspicuous as possible, to not disrupt the mood. Everyone was very quiet, and I could see Prabhupada's condition. He hadn't eaten for almost six months. He was lying in bed, emaciated, weighing maybe
70 pounds if that much, drinking one spoon, two spoons of water, maybe eating a little bit. I was sitting in the back, listening. There was kirtan, and Kirtanananda came in and offered Srila Prabhupada strawberries from New Vrindavan. Srila Prabhupada asked, "What is the value of strawberries?" No one knew what to say. Several devotees poked me to say something, as I'm known as a walking encyclopedia. I didn't want to intrude on Prabhupada, but I said, "Srila Prabhupada, the value of strawberries is that they are very high in fructose and that provides immediate energy." Even lying on his departure bed, not eating, Prabhupada was pragmatic. The devotee next to Prabhupada said, "Tejiyas says that . . ." and he repeated what I'd said. Prabhupada said, "Oh, Tejiyas is here? How is the Hyderabad farm?" Even in his state he was so cognizant. I gave him a report that we were growing corn, rice, can grind the corn and then there are big pieces which you can cook with water like rice," it was called bhata." "And the fine powder, you make that like a chapati and you cook it on the cooking pan. The villagers like this very much." From a physical point of view Prabhupada was starving, but what was he thinking? How we could make corn in the most delicious way to make the villagers happy when they took prasadam. This is a person of unlimited compassion.
Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 3 by Siddhanta Dasa
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