Childhood deity worship grows into lifelong devotion; scholarly brilliance bows before divine grace.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Room Conversation with Allen Ginsberg — May 14, 1969, Columbus 690514R1-COLUMBUS [33:46 Minutes] Conv_690514R1-COLUMBUS Prabhupāda: ...six or seven years old, my father was worshiping, so I wanted to imitate. I asked him that "Give me Deity." So he gave me. Allen Ginsberg: Did you wash Them and play with Them?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Washed, changed dress. Allen Ginsberg: Fed Them.
Prabhupāda: Yes, everything. Allen Ginsberg: You still? You still? Do you still wash Them and feed Them and play with Them?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Now my disciples I have. [laughs] At home I was doing that. Allen Ginsberg: Yes.
Prabhupāda: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. This is original Sanskrit. There are eight commentaries by big, big stalwart scholars. Allen Ginsberg: These are the commentaries?
Prabhupāda: This is text. Allen Ginsberg: What does the Sanskrit sound like? Is that to be... Is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to be chanted?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Just like... I will read some portion. Tasmai tubhyāṁ bhagavate vāsudevāya vedhase to vāsudevāya śantāya yadunām pataye namaḥ, SB 10.10.33-36].