Unusual Service
Srutakirti Dasa: During my first trip to Mayapur with Srila Prabhupada, the guesthouse had not been built, so our quarters were very austere. We stayed in a goshala, a thatched hut, which had been prepared for his stay. Srila Prabhupada stayed in one room, and the rest of us stayed on the other side of a partition. I had never seen so many mosquitoes in my life. It was so bad that by the time I had the net over Srila Prabhupada's bed, there were already mosquitoes inside the net. One night after we both climbed under the net, I started massaging his legs. 'There are so many mosquitoes,' I said. 'Should I kill them, Srila Prabhupada?' "Yes! They are attacking," he said.
"According to sastra if one is being attacked, you have the right to defend yourself. And they are attacking." So as I massaged him, I watched. Whenever I saw a mosquito in the air, I raised my hands and clapped them together. Sometimes I gently smacked Srila Prabhupada's body as one landed on his head or back. It was the most unusual service I had ever done. I enjoyed it immensely. I never considered myself much of a warrior, but this enemy was no match for me. I had finally been given a service I was good at, killing insects.
Srila Prabhupada was very kind. He also had the best description of these pesky insects. One morning he rang his bell very early. I walked into his room slowly, still half asleep. He looked at me with a touch of anger and said, "Some mosquito last night, he was cutting my forehead. He created so much disturbance. He made it difficult for me to do my translating work."
"According to sastra if one is being attacked, you have the right to defend yourself. And they are attacking." So as I massaged him, I watched. Whenever I saw a mosquito in the air, I raised my hands and clapped them together. Sometimes I gently smacked Srila Prabhupada's body as one landed on his head or back. It was the most unusual service I had ever done. I enjoyed it immensely. I never considered myself much of a warrior, but this enemy was no match for me. I had finally been given a service I was good at, killing insects.
Srila Prabhupada was very kind. He also had the best description of these pesky insects. One morning he rang his bell very early. I walked into his room slowly, still half asleep. He looked at me with a touch of anger and said, "Some mosquito last night, he was cutting my forehead. He created so much disturbance. He made it difficult for me to do my translating work."
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Uvacha by Srtuakirti Dasa
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