This is the sign of death

Gurukripa Dasa: In the beginning Prabhupada started getting little symptoms. Actually it began in Hawaii in 1976, it was about May, June. Tamala Krishna, I would jump back to that point. Tamala Krishna was ordered... Because he was causing a lot of problems in the temples taking men, the temple presidents didn't want him there. I think you have heard these things. So Prabhupada told him to go to China. Just get him away. So he had been in New York and ultimately he couldn’t get a visa. China was a closed country that time. 

So he had come to Honolulu with Drshtadyumna and he was having no service, trying to find something to do. About one in the morning, then 12:30 I believe, the servant - I don't remember the servant - he came and got me and got Tamala, and said Prabhupada wants to talk to you.

We went into his room at about 12:30 at night and Prabhupada said, "My feet are beginning to swell, my teeth are beginning to get loose, I have to pass urine often," he said "This is the sign death is coming." So that was when he first gave some notice. 

Then immediately the next day Tamala Krishna decides to be Prabhupada's personal servant.