January 10, 1973 : Bombay
Srutakirti: During my first tour of India, Malati devi cooked for Srila Prabhupada. She was the wife of Syamasundar Dasa, Srila Prabhupada's secretary. Their daughter, Sarasvati, was about three years old at the time. She was the most fortunate little girl. She was the only person I knew who was able to go in and out of Srila Prabhupada's quarters unannounced.
She seemed to appear out of nowhere, like a tiny Narada Muni, in different temples around the world. She always ended up in Srila Prabhupada's room. Then, as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared. He enjoyed her company. Sometimes she sat on his lap. Other times, like a grandfather, he affectionately teased her. She always had prasadam in her hands or mouth. Srila Prabhupada observed this and supplied her with sweets from a container on his desk.
This day, as I massaged Srila Prabhupada, Sarasvati entered his room. As usual, she was eating. Srila Prabhupada laughed. "You are always eating," he said. "You know what you remind me of, Sarasvati?" She looked at him with a mouthful of food and shook her head. "You remind me of New York City - the garbage trucks," he told her. "Do you know the garbage trucks in New York City?" She nodded.
"In New York City," Srila Prabhupada continued, "they have these big garbage trucks. They go down the street and workers put the garbage in." Stretching one arm over his head and the other towards the floor, Srila Prabhupada said, "They go down the street and put garbage inside the big mouth of the truck and then the truck goes zzzzzuuuuummmmm and it closes and the truck eats it. Then it goes iiiimmmmmmm and opens back up. Like this." He imitated the up and down crunching movement of the jaws of the garbage truck extending his arms in an opening and closing motion.
"Your mouth is just like that. You are always putting things in. Just like the garbage trucks in New York." Sarasvati was amused, but disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. Perhaps she went to get more prasadam from her Mataji. I continued massaging Srila Prabhupada, once again amazed by his greatness. I wondered what pious activities Sarasvati must have performed to be able to play with His Divine Grace on such an intimate level. My getting to witness Srila Prabhupada's lila was certainly a sign of his causeless mercy. Srila Prabhupada's playful affection continues to soften this stone heart.
She seemed to appear out of nowhere, like a tiny Narada Muni, in different temples around the world. She always ended up in Srila Prabhupada's room. Then, as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared. He enjoyed her company. Sometimes she sat on his lap. Other times, like a grandfather, he affectionately teased her. She always had prasadam in her hands or mouth. Srila Prabhupada observed this and supplied her with sweets from a container on his desk.
This day, as I massaged Srila Prabhupada, Sarasvati entered his room. As usual, she was eating. Srila Prabhupada laughed. "You are always eating," he said. "You know what you remind me of, Sarasvati?" She looked at him with a mouthful of food and shook her head. "You remind me of New York City - the garbage trucks," he told her. "Do you know the garbage trucks in New York City?" She nodded.
"In New York City," Srila Prabhupada continued, "they have these big garbage trucks. They go down the street and workers put the garbage in." Stretching one arm over his head and the other towards the floor, Srila Prabhupada said, "They go down the street and put garbage inside the big mouth of the truck and then the truck goes zzzzzuuuuummmmm and it closes and the truck eats it. Then it goes iiiimmmmmmm and opens back up. Like this." He imitated the up and down crunching movement of the jaws of the garbage truck extending his arms in an opening and closing motion.
"Your mouth is just like that. You are always putting things in. Just like the garbage trucks in New York." Sarasvati was amused, but disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. Perhaps she went to get more prasadam from her Mataji. I continued massaging Srila Prabhupada, once again amazed by his greatness. I wondered what pious activities Sarasvati must have performed to be able to play with His Divine Grace on such an intimate level. My getting to witness Srila Prabhupada's lila was certainly a sign of his causeless mercy. Srila Prabhupada's playful affection continues to soften this stone heart.
Reference: What Is The Difficulty? - Srutakirti Dasa
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