April 2, 1972 : Sydney
Kurma: The devotees were given a special treat for morning class. Instead of speaking on Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada decided to sing a bhajan, accompanying himself on harmonium, as Syamasundara and Nanda Kumara played karatals and mridanga.
It was an intimate setting. No guests were in attendance, and the devotees felt themselves included in something rare and confidential. Prabhupada chose his favourite song - Hari Hari Biphale by Narottama dasa Thakur. He sang, eyes closed and face tensed, with deep feeling and emotion, his head shaking slightly as he deftly fingered the keyboard, playing a rarely heard, almost mystical, melody. Afterwards he opened his eyes. "I will now speak on it," he said, and proceeded to give the song's meaning.
"O Lord Hari, I have spent my life uselessly. Although I have taken this rare human birth, I have not worshiped Radha and Krishna, and so I have knowingly drunk poison." Prabhupada paused as he glanced around the room. "There is so much depth of meaning," he said. The devotees settled in, and listened with rapt attention for the rest of the class.
It was an intimate setting. No guests were in attendance, and the devotees felt themselves included in something rare and confidential. Prabhupada chose his favourite song - Hari Hari Biphale by Narottama dasa Thakur. He sang, eyes closed and face tensed, with deep feeling and emotion, his head shaking slightly as he deftly fingered the keyboard, playing a rarely heard, almost mystical, melody. Afterwards he opened his eyes. "I will now speak on it," he said, and proceeded to give the song's meaning.
"O Lord Hari, I have spent my life uselessly. Although I have taken this rare human birth, I have not worshiped Radha and Krishna, and so I have knowingly drunk poison." Prabhupada paused as he glanced around the room. "There is so much depth of meaning," he said. The devotees settled in, and listened with rapt attention for the rest of the class.
Reference: The Great Transcendental Adventure - Kurma Dasa
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