She was born on your appearance day, we want a name for her

Hrimati Dasi: So when Srila Prabhupada came, I believe, it was at the end of the rainy season. My daughter was born on Nandotsava, on Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja day. My little girl was born in Vrindavana.

Prabhupada had a friend, his name was Bhagatji, who lived very close by. He was very excited that I was going to have a baby. So he immediately wrote down the date and the time of birth. He had some friends who prepared an astrological chart. And, he said, "Prabhupada is coming in a few days. So don't name the baby; wait for Prabhupada. I will take you to Prabhupada."

I was very lucky we got darshana with Srila Prabhupada. I took my daughter, she was about nine days old, I put a little dress on and I gave her to Srila Prabhupada. Himavati was in the room; she helped me to give her to Prabhupada. And he is like, "Oh, so small." Then Bhagatji talked to Prabhupada, "Srila Prabhupada, she was born on your appearance day; we want a name for the baby."

Prabhupada, the whole time, was holding the baby on his lap. He was looking at me and he goes, "Nandini." I said, "What?" "Nandini," again he said. I said, "What does it mean?" Then he goes, "Oh, there was so much excitement about Nanda Maharaja that day." So just imagine we are thinking, "Oh, this baby is born on Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja day." But what is Prabhupada thinking when we are telling him, "Oh, she is born on your appearance day." He is thinking of Krishna and Nanda Maharaja; he is not thinking of himself. So he gave the name according to that. That struck me really, really deeply.

Again and again, every time I saw Srila Prabhupada in my life, he always thinks about Krishna and his Spiritual Master. Those were the two things that were important for him in life - Krishna and his Guru Maharaja. And this is how I felt, this is how I think everybody should feel - to just think of those two things: How I can please Krishna and how I can please my spiritual master?