Laboring vigorously to publish Srimad-Bhagavatam

Mahanidhi Dasa: Beginning in September 1962, Prabhupada resided in Delhi for four months while laboring vigorously to publish the first volume of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Prabhupada personally hauled paper, proofread manuscripts, arranged for binding, checked the covers, collected donations for publishing and supervised the printing and distribution. With one thousand one hundred copies of his newly published Srimad-Bhagavatam in hand, Srila Prabhupada began the new year by selling them, and presenting Srimad-Bhagavatam to notables like Dr. Radha Krishna and Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Gita Press founder.

Prabhupada also placed his Srimad-Bhagavatam volumes in the leading libraries, universities, schools and institutions. The U.S. Embassy took eighteen copies for American distribution. Favorable book reviews from publishers, politicians, and Godbrothers proved the value of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the success of Srila Prabhupada's efforts. Prabhupada happily returned to Vrindavan to finish volume two of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

After many months of determined writing, Prabhupada returned to Delhi late in 1963, anxious to secure funds for printing volume two. He stayed in Delhi to promote his book among such luminaries as India's Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Vice President Zakim Hussain. In June 1964, Srila Prabhupada settled back in the serene surroundings of Radha-Damodara to complete the last volume of the First Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. A July jaunt to see Sumati Morarji of Scindia Steamship Company, secured sufficient funds to print Prabhupada's Bhagavatam.