Krishna's direct order seemed too difficult, so Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed the loving way—and ordered all to spread it.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
[First 28 minutes of audio is talk between 2 interviewers and Prabhupāda in Hindi, discussing, among other things, books produced in other languages. A few English words interjected.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. What He had said, people could not understand, therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has appeared as a devotee in this world. The Supreme Personality of Godhead personally descended and preached sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg 18.66] [Transl. He asserted, but people could not understand His favor. Therefore He again appeared as a devotee, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and taught how to learn devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. So we are trying to preach the teachings of Mahaprabhu. Actually we not manufacturing anything new. Whatever Lord Kṛṣṇa had personally tried to instruct when He descended in this world five thousand years ago, that same thing Caitanya Mahaprabhu tried to spread five hundred years ago. And actually He did it. [Transl. So following in His footsteps this Kṛṣṇa Consciousness movement is carrying it on. Why this has been done? Not everybody is following? Why are we so much in a hurry? There is reason. The reason is, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, He has said to everyone, do this, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra' ei deśa, yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa. [Cc. Madhya 7.128] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Please repeat, let me write it down.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra' ei deśa, you will find in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. tāra ei deśa?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Yes, wherever you are.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. tāra ei deśa.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṇa upadeśa. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. He further said, bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya janma yāra, janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra. [Cc. Ādi 9.41] [The interviewer notes it down]. This is the condition. Bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya janma yāra. He also instructed, pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma [CB Antya-khaṇḍa 4.126] Interviewer (1): [Transl. pṛthivīte ache yata…] Prabhupāda: [Transl. nagarādi grāma. Sarvatra haibe pracāra mora nāma. Just understand that Bharata-varṣa has got a duty. Bhārata bhūmite haila manuṣya janma yāra. One who has taken birth in Bharata-varṣa as a human being, not as a dog, but as a human being, it is his duty to preach this to the whole world. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. That I am trying to do. Not only trying but also following. [Transl. Now they are accepting. So far nobody followed this. Anyway, somehow or other I am trying to do it and people are accepting it seriously. So, why people of India are not given this culture systematically? There is a cultural department in the Indian Government where they are simply arranging extra vagant dance festivals. What they are helping in spreading Caitanya Mahaprabhu's messege? [Transl. You write about this in your paper. What we are doing is beneficial for all. Based on Caitanya Mahaprabhu's authority we are doing this and people respond. Why Indian Government, Indian people are not helpful? They misunderstand on the contrary.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. You might be having some discomforts?] Prabhupāda: Yes. The first discomfort is that our land. [Transl. We have big, big buildings as you see here, not in one place in India but six, seven places like Bombay, you must have heard, a huge establishment.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Where in Bombay?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. In Juhu.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Where did you go? [indistinct] [break]] Prabhupāda: [Transl. …we sell. This is his blessings. He had a heartiest desire to do that. And whatever little intelligence I had with that I tried to fulfill it. According to that order…he left this world in 1936. So I always had that desire within my heart that I should do it. Then in 1944 I started one paper called "Back to Godhead." [devotees showing B.T.G] I started that. It was in 1944.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. How old were you in 1944?] Prabhupāda: Eh? Interviewer (1): [Transl. What was your age then?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. About 50 years. I was born in 1896.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Oh. 1896.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. That means in 1944 I was 48 years old.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. What was your profession at that time?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. My business was some chemist.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Chemist?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. I was the Manager in Bose's laboratory.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Really? Interesting.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Do you know Kartik Bose?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes I know Kartik Bose.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. We had very close relationship with Kartik Bose. I gave him a book called "Paralokera Katha" or topics of the spiritual world. That time I was the Manager. So he said "My son. I belong to this world, so how will I understand the topics of the spiritual world?" He told me like that. Kartik Bose was just like my father. My father's intimate friend. He offered me the post of Manager. He treated me like his son. Pancanan Bose was also there. They were of same age. There I was Manager. Then with his agentship I went to Allahabad. That's a long history.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. When did you go to abroad?] Prabhupāda: Eh? Interviewer (1): [Transl. Abroad? Journey?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. What did you say?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. When did you go to foreign country?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Foreign, oh that my Gurudeva asked me to go and preach there. That he ordered me in the very beginning. He said "You are an educated person, why don't you preach the messege of Mahāprabhu in the west?"] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Were you a devotee from your childhood?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. I was born in a vaiṣṇava family.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Born in vaiṣṇava family.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Our family, relatives are all vaiṣṇavas. Therefore from the beginning arranging Ratha-yātra, worshiping Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Deity, not eating meat and fish, were part of our lives. We were fortunate to feed mahātmas. That's why my "Kṛṣṇa" book I have dedicated to my father.] [aside:] Find out this book Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa. Devotee: Kṛṣṇa book? Prabhupāda: Yes. First part. Devotee: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda. Translated into Japanis, Chineses. Prabhupāda: [Transl. We have in Japanis, Chineses also. See them how nicely they are decorated with tilaka. All well behaved vaiṣṇavas. And our boys are roaming around. All together three volumes this Kṛṣṇa book. Selling like anything.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Sell so many?] Prabhupāda: Millions. Interviewer (1): Oh? Prabhupāda: [Transl. We have so many books of different kinds. We daily sell about five, six lakhs of rupees worth of books. They are accepting with respect. Many big, big scholars, intelligent persons are accepting that Kṛṣṇa Consciousness is authorised. They are trying to preach. The big, big universities, colleges…] Interviewer (1): [Transl. In America?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. ...all standing orders.] Bhavānanda: This is yesterday's. Kṛṣṇa tattva. Interviewer (1): I have with me. Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa-lila. Give me spect. [Prabhupāda reads the report] Interviewer (2): [Transl. I have written it.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Is it good?] Prabhupāda: Hmm. Interviewer (1): [Transl. The other day we stayed up whole night at the airport.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. I was also thinking who would go so early in the morning. But you all went at night.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Whole night…whole night we stayed. Yesterday…the day before yesterday in the evening, whole night we were just waiting. Always telephoning the briting and others, the tower, when the plane is landing, when the plane is landing. Is it in the circuit, is it coming here Calcutta? Ranchi-Calcutta?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. It was published in all newspapers?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. All newspapers. I was very happy to hear the news. I thought "Give a full coverage." I received seven thousand phone calls. So he immediately rushed me. "Go and see and write it peacefully." If you can kindly give me few important books of yours it will be very helpful. I could write it very nicely.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. What important books?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. A few books written by you. Like this Kṛṣṇa book etc so that I can write elaborately.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. You have got books in different languages. Chinese, Japanese, Russion, the communist countries where people do not believe in this. You have got.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Here is Chinese.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Yes. Chinese, Russion, Polish.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. These books are not sold here, these are here to show people.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Anyhow, You have got them here.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. See. See them all.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Which language is this one?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. This is German.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. This is German. Okay. German. And is this not Russian?] Is it Russian or Polish? Devotee: Russian. Interviewer (2): This is Japanese. Devotee: That's Japanese. Interviewer (2): Which one? This one is Japanese and that one is Chinese. Any other languages? Devotee: So many languages. Bhavananda: Communist countries. That one is Polish. Prabhupāda: Spanish language. Bhāgavatam. [Transl. I have given you.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes you have given.] Prabhupāda: Spanish language. And English Kṛṣṇa book. English. Interviewer (2): [Transl. Yes. English is in our country also. That we will see later.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. What was your previous name?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. A.C. Abhaya charan, Abhaya Charanaravinda.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Abhaya charan De?] Prabhupāda: Hmm. Interviewer (1): [Transl. Where did your transformation take place?] Prabhupāda: Eh? Interviewer (2): [Transl. From here only.] Prabhupāda: What? What? Interviewer (1): [Transl. Your spiritual transformation?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. That I told you, from the very beginning of my life.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes you told me, but what was the turning point?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. After retirement I was living in Vṛndāvana.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. I see. You retired from Vṛndāvana?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. No. After retirement I was in Vṛndāvana.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Before that you were in that laboratory. From there you took retirement?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. No. No. I didn't work in the laboratory for a long time. I opened my own laboratory. I was in Lucknow.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Do you know Dr. Akhil Roy in Lucknow?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. No. That was many years ago. I know Barister Bhattacarya. There is place called Batlarganj where I was staying. [Indistinct] Then in Allahabad I had a big pharmacy. Prayag pharmacy. Jawaharlal was my customer.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Prayag pharmacy. Was it known as King's pharmacy before?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. On Kartik Bose's advice I had go wherever he wanted. At that time I was 21 years old. Then the Director Umesh Bharati put an objection that I should be replaced by his own son. But the Kartik Bose said "No, I need my own man in that post. He is educated. You will see how he will manage everything." [Transl. In 1921, I was Kartik Bose's Manager. And in 1922, I took his agentship and went to Allahabad. There I worked hard to establish my prayag pharmacy. Then in 1945 I opened my own laboratory.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Are those laboratories still present?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. The Supreme Lord has destroyed them all. yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ śanaiḥ [SB 10.88.8] Had He not destroyed them would I be able to come to this line?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. That's true.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. The intelligence…someone read my palm and said to me "You will build a big house and enjoy a lot of fresh air like Birla." So I was trying to become Birla. But the Supreme Lord smashed that idea of mine and made me such a Birla who is bigger than fourteen generations of Birlas. [everybody laughs] That is Supreme Lord that even Birla doesn't have so much money! Birla…who is such a Birla who has got sixty, seventy big, big buildings in the whole world?] [aside:] Somebody told me "You will be like Birla." Oh? Then my business was taken away. Now I am bigger than Birla. Interviewer (2): Now you are earning daily five lakh rupees. [laughs] Interviewer (1): [Transl. So after retirement you went to abroad?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. No. After retirement I was residing in Vṛndāvana.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Oh, you were in Vṛndāvana.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. There were others in Gauḍīya Maṭha like Bon Mahārāja and so on who could not do, did not do. But since Guru Mahārāja told me to do it, I thought let me try. At the age of seventy, just before leaving, I published three volumes of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam…] Interviewer (1): [Transl. In Bengali?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. … in English and in 1965 I went to America.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. You had any prior invitation to go to America?] Prabhupāda: Eh? Interviewer (1): [Transl. Did you have any invitation to go to America in 1965?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Nothing at all.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. So you went of your own accord?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Of my own accord. All alone.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Didn't take anyone with you?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Eh? No.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. You just left alone?] Prabhupāda: Yes. Interviewer (1): [aside: to his partner] Anything else to ask? [Transl. Didn't any of your family members object? Your wife, children?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. If they object, who cares?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Then?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Everybody objected.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Where did you land in America?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. New York.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. New York.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Then I used to sit down in the park and do kīrtana.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. You used to sit down in the park and do kirtan. This was in which year?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. 1965. I would stand underneath a tree and give lecture and these boys would hear.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Which year was it?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. 1965. The two boys who joined first, they both are present here. You can talk to them.] [aside:] You can call Brahmānanda and Acyutānanda. Interviewer (2): [Transl. They took initiation first?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. When I used to do kirtana there they were the first to start dancing and singing. Of the two, Brahmānanda was the son of a very rich man. His father was a big businessman. But he left everything and came.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Joined you. One is Brahmānanda and the other one is?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Acyutānanda. They joined first.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Not individually, but we will interview all of them together separately.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. I had no place. Who would call me? They would come by hearing my kirtan. I would sit down in a park, Tomkin park, Tomkin square.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Tomkin square.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. There I used to perform kīrtan from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. daily.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Were you staying in someone's house there?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Not like that, but yes I was living in someone's house in the begining. Then I rented a room.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Their appearance looks like Bengali.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. He speaks good Bengali.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes, he speaks good Bengali.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. You speak in Bengali with him. After you finish with me you can talk to them.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Is he Brahmānanda?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. No, he is Acyutānanda. That time perhaps he was 15 or 16 years old. [asks Acyutānanda in Bengali. How old were you then?]]. Interviewer (1): [Transl. How old are you?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. He came to me in the park.] Acyutānanda: [Transl. I joined in 1966.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. How old were then?] Acyutānanda: [Transl. I was 18.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. 66.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. If you were 18 then how old was Brahmānanda?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. 66 or 67.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. How old is Brahmānanda?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. He may be litter older than him.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. 20?] Acyutānanda: [Transl. 25.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. 25.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. He has learned very good Bengali.] Prabhupāda: (aside) [Transl. Where is Brahmānanda?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. That you took up this daring work of going to the west, sitting in the park and so on, how did it come to your mind, who actually inspired you?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. That I already told you. My Guru Mahārāja ordered me.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Guru Mahārāja.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. He said "Go".] Interviewer (1): [Transl. You didn't fear? How people will react? People may not take.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Fear? I didn't fear the fearful?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. You didn't fear.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. You didn't face any obstacles then in their country?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Till now they didn't, but nowadays they are putting obstacles.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Now they are creating impediments according to to the law of their country?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Here is Brahmānanda. Now you talk to them. These two joined first. They chanted and danced in that park with me.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Come and sit closer. Sit closer.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. I will take them to the other side and talk. Otherwise we can interview them separately.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. No, here is good as all the books are right here. You come to this side.] Interviewer (1): Come closer. Prabhupāda: They were the first recruits. Interviewer (1): Ah, they were the first conscious people of the Western world. [laughter] Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa conscious. Brahmānanda: We were the first to dance to the name of Kṛṣṇa. Interviewer (1): But how do you feel when… Prabhupāda: [Transl. You tell them about your experience at that time. Of that time. They are press people.] Brahmānanda: It was the first major article written about Prabhupāda when he came. Prabhupāda started his kīrtana in a park in New York City. When Prabhupāda came, he did not bring any mṛdaṅga, so one of his students gave him some small drum, with only one head, one drum, and he was playing, and... Prabhupāda: That picture I am playing. Interviewer (1): Sidney Shengal he was very good friend of us. Brahmānanda: Shubra? Interviewer (1): Shengal. Brahmānanda: Shengal. Interviewer (1): Several times he was in India. Couple of years. Brahmānanda: Who? What is his position? He's a writer? Or an editor? Interviewer: Shengal[?] is an editor. He is on the editor writing. Interviewer (2): No, no, no. He was in Singapore. Interviewer (1): No, no, no. He was editor. He was acting editor of New York Times. Interviewer (2): He has written a book. Interviewer (1): Now, maybe now he’s written a book, but he’s working editor. That time he was working in Delhi or working with Delhi correspondent. Brahmānanda: That paper's very favorable to our movement. Interviewer: I see. New York Times. Brahmānanda: Throughout all these years, they've always written very favorable articles, positive. Interviewer: I think New York Times must be one of the most influential papers in the States. Brahmānanda: Oh, yes. We've been covered with very extensive type[?]. We've been certified to be the most widely publicized... Interviewer: Yeah. Brahmānanda: ...of all. Interviewer: By all [indistinct]. Brahmānanda: Oh, yes. For sure. It was a very famous paper. Prabhupāda: In America, Hare Kṛṣṇa Movement is known, home to home. Brahmānanda: Home to home. Prabhupāda: So also in Europe. Brahmānanda: Whole of Europe. Interviewer: Why they react so favorably in the materialistic world? Brahmānanda: Well, I think they are impressed by our…, the purity of this movement. We follow four regulative principles: prohibited from intoxication—even cigarettes, coffee, tea, alcohol, drugs—illicit sex, meat-eating and gambling. So other gurus who have come to the West, they don't say these things. Rather, they say you can…, first you can meditate, then you can go ahead and do these things. They don't prohibit. Prabhupāda: They say, "Why should we prohibit? Lord has given you senses. Enjoy." Brahmānanda: They even say that "Do not restrict yourself in any way." So people actually don't respect them. They may think it's popular, but they don't respect it. So our movement is preaching these principles, and in conjunction we have many books, very respectable books. We're getting reviews—very favorable reviews—from big scholars, all universities. Even now Prabhupāda's books are being used as textbooks in major universities. So this gives a… Interviewer: Anywhere in Europe? Brahmānanda: Oh, yes. Interviewer: Take books. Brahmānanda: Oh, yes. They've been in Europe. They've been all over—Scandinavia, France, Germany... Interviewer (2): London? Brahmānanda: London. We have favorable reviews from Oxford, all the big universities. We've published a booklet, and we can give you a copy. Prabhupāda: These are reviews of our books. Interviewer: [Transl. These?] Brahmānanda: Yes. So many reviews. This is one review from a Harvard scholar. Harvard. Rādhā-vallabha: Can you get it? [brings in pictures] Prabhupāda: This is in Los Angeles? Rādhā-vallabha: Yes. There are 300 of these, all totaled, like this one. Brahmānanda: Framed like this? Rādhā-vallabha: Yes. Prabhupāda: Three hundred? Brahmānanda: Three hundred. Rādhā-vallabha: Yes. Plus these. Brahmānanda: These are pictures, for being displayed. Prabhupāda: Yes. Brahmānanda: For the downstairs. Rādhā-vallabha: This is an award from a books fair in America, "Excellence." Prabhupāda: What is written there? Rādhā-vallabha: Says, "Printing Industries of Metropolitan New York, Certificate of Special Merit for outstanding example of printing displayed in the Bicentennial Exhibition of Printing, 1976, presented to Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta..." Prabhupāda: [Transl. They gave me a certificate. Our printing is so nice. [aside:] Give them a photo.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. We will publish this along with the books.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. No. No. We will write about the books separately.] Rādhā-vallabha: Lord Caitanya’s Ratha-yātrā… Prabhupāda: [Transl. Caitanya-caritāmṛta has been published.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Already done!] Brahmānanda: This is the volume that won the prize. Interviewer: [Trans_What is that?] Rādhā-vallabha: There’s Bengali script. There’s an [indistinct]. [indistinct background comments] This is a Swedish Back to Godhead. Prabhupāda: Oh. Swedish? I have not seen it before. Published in Sweden language. These pictures, framed there or here? Rādhā-vallabha: Framed in Los Angeles and shipped here. Prabhupāda: [indistinct] Rādhā-vallabha: A few broke—not many. Prabhupāda: Broke… Rādhā-vallabha: The glass. Prabhupāda: …glass Rādhā-vallabha: They can be repaired later. Prabhupāda: Yesterday I see pictures? Brahmānanda: Of Berkeley... Prabhupāda: Yes. [Transl. We have such beautiful temples there, we brought them here.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. The temples are here?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. No. The pictures of those temples are here.] Berkeley, San Francisco. Interviewer: Berkeley. Prabhupāda: [Transl. Have you ever been there?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Abroad?] Prabhupāda: Han? Interviewer (1): [Transl. I haven't gone as yet, but I have a strong desire to go.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Come and stay with us. We have facility to stay everywhere.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Will you take me?] Prabhupāda: Hmm. Interviewer (1): [Transl. Let me write a full coverage first, then.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. First you write then we will take you.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes. Yes. I am writing. I have come here to write.] Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: This is a total of books printed, at our press. Prabhupāda: Hmm. [Prabhupāda and interviewer talk in Hindi about architecture of temples] Prabhupāda: Hmm. [Transl. See how beautifully the temples are decorated! Just the way they decorate the Deities in the temple courtyards here in India, same like that.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. The archietecture looks very stylish.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. All they have done. Australian. They visited and saw.] Brahmānanda: They came to India and took photographs of the Indian temples here and studied very carefully. The Berkeley temple is known as New Jagannātha Purī. Interviewer: New Jagannātha Purī. Ācchā. Brahmānanda: Yes. It was the scene of our first... Prabhupāda: Ratha-yātrā. Brahmānanda: ...Ratha-yātrā festival. Prabhupāda: [Transl. The local Government has declared a holiday on that day.] Interviewer: Ācchā? In which city? Brahmānanda: In Berkeley. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Near San Francisco. Brahmānanda: New Jagannātha Purī. [Prabhupāda and interviewers converse in Hindi] Prabhupāda: [Transl. In the firsr ever Ratha-yatra festival one of your Reporters, Sarkar came. Does any of your staff Reporter live there?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes. Yes. Someone stays there. Dr. Sarkar.] New Jagannātha Temple. Brahmānanda: Purī. Interviewer: New Jagannātha Purī. Ācchā. Rādhā-vallabha: Yes. Brahmānanda: Just like there is New England, New York... Interviewer: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Brahmānanda: ...New Amsterdam. So Prabhupāda has named "New Jagannātha Purī." Berkeley is of…, the scene of the Berkeley University, where every year the students there become very unruly and they make some riots and so on. But when we have our Ratha-yātrā parade, we go right where these students are, and there's never any fighting or rioting, and the police have given a certificate, that "Your Society... We commend your Society because when you have your demonstration at Ratha-yātrā it is very peaceful and it gives us no trouble." Prabhupāda: And not only that, last year—not last year, but year before last—when I was coming, riding in the car, all the students surrounded me, and—you remember that?—"Thank you, Prabhupāda. Thank you, Prabhupāda.” They are not my students, they're outsiders, but still they have received it, and they said this word: "Thank you, Prabhupāda." They're getting a life, new life. Interviewer: Yeah. Actually, this movement is a movement of the youth. Brahmānanda: That is our great confidence in the future of this movement—it's the young people that’re taking it up; so therefore we’re progressing the movement. Interviewer: How the young, the younger generation in the other countries, they're taking... Prabhupāda: Everywhere. Interviewer: European countries? Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Maybe I should give them… These... This is the total number of books we have printed in various different languages, and they’ll give you an indication of how our movement is being accepted around the world: In the English-speaking countries we've published a total of forty-three and a half million books. Forty-three and a half million. In Spanish-speaking countries—this is in copies of books—Spanish, three million; in German, two and a quarter million copies of books. In Japanese the same number, two and one quarter million; in French, one and three quarter million copies. Interviewer: Three quarter million. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: One and three quarter million. Interviewer: One and… Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: One point seven million. In Portuguese, one million copies—that means Brazil and Portugal. Dutch... Interviewer: Dutch. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...six lakhs copies; Italian, five lakhs copies; then Chinese, fifty-five thousand copies; Korean, twenty thousand copies; Yugoslavian, twenty thousand copies; Polish, ten thousand copies; Hungarian, ten thousand copies; Czechoslovakian, ten thousand copies; Russian, five thousand copies. Total, fifty-five million copies of books. Interviewer: Total. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Fifty-five million. Brahmānanda: The Russian books...We are of course not able to distribute in Russia, because they don't allow religion; the way our men distributed, that they are trained to travel between Finland and Russia. So the men get on the trains—because the trains go up to the border, coming from the border of Russia—they sell them to the Russian people... Interviewer: I see. Brahmānanda: ...but not inside Russia. In this way the people bring the books back with them. In this way we're getting books into Russia. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So these books, the books that we have printed, are Bhagavad-gītā—the numbers I have given you are for Bhagavad-gītā—Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam… You can say Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, because our Bhagavad-gītā's special name, "As It Is." Interviewer: "As it is." Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: …Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and many other books. Prabhupāda: Just see how our books are reprinted, and here is one list. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Just see how it's increasing in every year, in many languages. The Bhagavad-gītā—this is worthy of note—that this year we are printing Bhagavad-gītā: one million five hundred thousand copies in English. Prabhupāda: See Bhāgavata we printed. Brahmānanda: We’re printing history. Prabhupāda: It has nothing to do what I printed in India. Brahmānanda: This is the first book Prabhupāda printed, before coming to America. He came with this book, printed in India. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Course, we have printed many lakhs copies of books in India also—I did not give you totals—but we are printing in many Indian languages: Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi... One other I didn't tell you is Swahili... Interviewer: Swahili, yes. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...one hundred thousand copies—one lakh. Prabhupāda: Any new book we print not less than twenty lakhs. Then increases it to fifty lakhs. Interviewer: In India, who published these books? Prabhupāda: India, now we are publishing Usha Printing. Interviewer: No, previously, before going to the States. Prabhupāda: No. That is a small press in Delhi. [indistinct background discussion as guests look at books] Now we are changing the format—more attractive. You have got Bhāgavatam? Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. [background discussion about new covers] Rādhā-vallabha: This is Perfection of Yoga, which is taken from Bhagavad-gītā, essays on Bhagavad-gītā. Prabhupāda: We are the first, number-one publisher of these books in religious subject in the world. Rādhā-vallabha: They're all of Kṛṣṇa culture. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: These are three new covers... This is a... [break] People treat these books as holy scriptures. They don't take these books as ordinary. They keep them in special places on their bookshelves. And many people have become full-time Vaiṣṇavas simply from purchasing these books. They have become so much impressed with the philosophy that they have dedicated their life to Lord Caitanya after reading these books. Rādhā-vallabha: In the English language alone Śrīla Prabhupāda has printed sufficient books that one out of every five people in the United States can have a copy. Interviewer (1): [Transl. Where did you get these pictures?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Our boys painted them.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. They did it. Took from old books?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. No. I explained to them.] Rādhā-vallabha: Our recent order for Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, we had to order the paper to print it, so it required seventy-six cars on the train to carry it to the printer. Tamala Kṛṣṇa: I think that’s worthy of mentioning in the newspaper. Rādhā-vallabha: Seventy-six ox carts. Brahmānanda: Wagons. Seventy-six wagons, full of paper. Prabhupāda: For printing one book. Interviewer: Fantastic! I don't think these people know about the world so much, for the publications. They know about the movement overall. In the West, Prabhupāda’s books. Rādhā-vallabha: The paper company, which is one of the largest in the world, sent us one letter—it will be here in a week—stating that this is the largest paper order ever made for one book in history. Tamala Kṛṣṇa: Phew! Rādhā-vallabha: Any book. Interviewer: This is in the States? Rādhā-vallabha: United States. And the printer for that particular book said he has never heard of one single order for a hardbound book being that large. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: One million, five hundred thousand copies. Interviewer: One million, five hundred thousand. Tamala Kṛṣṇa: Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. Brahmānanda: Now we are starting to reprint the books here in India and exporting. This Bhagavad-gītā is published here, printed here in India, and it's being exported to UK, Australia and other countries. This is printed in Bombay. Interviewer: Yes. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Bombay is the center of our publication of books. Interviewer: This is Thomson Press? Interviewer (1): [Transl. Usha offset.] Brahmānanda: No. Usha. Prabhupāda: Thomson is in Delhi. Interviewer: Punjabi. Brahmānanda: Now Usha Press is going to establish a special press—they're going to import a special printing press machine—and it's going to be established somewhere in Gujarat, where the government has given one area only for export industries; and therefore they will be getting certain tax benefits. So everything that they print there must be exported—they cannot use it in the country. So this is specifically for our printing needs. Prabhupāda: We get paper from government on concession. Interviewer: Oh, from the government of India. Interviewer (2): Then why they're encouraging on one hand and they're discouraging the other hand to do something Prabhupāda: They have got different department, encouraging and discouraging. [others all laugh] You know better than me. Interviewer: Uh? Prabhupāda: You know better than me. Discouraging department; encouraging. And we are concerned with both departments. Interviewer (2): Concerned with both department. Interviewer: How can I get some of your books? We take and write a special article on the books. Prabhupāda: So, which book you want? Interviewer (1): Some of the specific, specially written, which will give you more publicity. Prabhupāda: Bhāgavatam. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Maybe one copy of Bhāgavatam, one copy of Caitanya-caritāmṛta... Prabhupāda: Yes. We have got so many. You can give one of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: One Śrīmad Bhāgavatam... Prabhupāda: First part. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: [indistinct] Devotee: Then you can... Prabhupāda: You can take that copy, that Bhāgavatam there. That Bhāgavatam? Yes? Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That one? Prabhupāda: Yes. Interviewer: [indistinct] completed [indistinct] Brahmānanda: This is a special edition which they printed for you, Prabhupāda. Prabhupāda: This is the latest, printing. Rādhā-vallabha: It's the gold copy, special gold copy for you. Prabhupāda: Hmm. Give him gold. [others laugh] If you want to give, give gold. So you can take it. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh boy! Interviewer (1): You have to write something. Please. [indistinct background comments as they find Caitanya-caritāmṛta] Interviewer: Complete in seventeen volumes. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah. You can see. Interviewer: So we need the Caitanya-caritāmṛta complete volumes, complete translation. Prabhupāda: [Transl. What is your full name?] Interviewer: [Transl. Amar Prasad Sarkar.] Rādhā-vallabha: The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam will be completed in sixty volumes. Sixty. [indistinct background comments] Brahmānanda: Prabhupāda begins writing between one and two o'clock in the morning. He rises at one o'clock in the morning and begins his writing in the early morning hours. Rādhā-vallabha: He has to fit this in while managing an international Society. Brahmānanda: He dictates tape on this Dictaphone here. He dictates tapes. Then these tapes are sent to America. Rādhā-vallabha: And it shows where it is... Brahmānanda: Yes. Prabhupāda: What is the date? Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Today's the twenty-sixth; 26/2/77. Prabhupāda: [Transl. Read thoroughly whether you write or not. Read.] Interviewer: [Transl. Sure. Definitely.] Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think that you'll also be able to keep one of these copies, because this will give you a lot of detailed information. Interviewer (1): Certainly. Interviewer (2): [Transl. And listen, try to get a picture of their temple in the west.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes. Will you publish a picture of their temple abroad? They have wonderful Indian sculpture.] Indian sculptural beauty, in Berkeley and other places. Typical Indian. Brahmānanda: This… Prabhupāda: There is similar temple in Australia? Melbourne? Interviewer: Yeah. Rādhā-vallabha: Same rock. Interviewer (1): [Transl. They were made of rock like Indian sculpture. They sent this photo.] Brahmānanda: That sculpture is outside the temple, it weighs over one ton, made of stone. Interviewer: Huh. But where is it? Brahmānanda: In Berkeley. Rādhā-vallabha: It was made on location. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Siṁha-dvāra. Interviewer: Siṁha-dvāra. Siṁha-dvāra. Berkeley. Rādhā-vallabha: When they held the grand opening of the temple... Prabhupāda: You can bring our New York Deity? Rādhā-vallabha: When they held the grand opening of the Berkeley temple all the television stations came. In the news it showed the kīrtana and the Deity. [pause] Have you been to [indistinct]? Brahmānanda: Never. [indistinct background comments] Interviewer (1): [Transl. This is sufficient.] Prabhupāda: This is our New York Deity. Interviewer: That's the New York Deity. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Rādhā-Govinda. Interviewer: Ah, Rādhā-Govinda. Prabhupāda: This is Los Angeles Deity. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Los Angeles. Rādhā-vallabha: Rukmiṇī-Dwarkadīśa. Interviewer: But who has done all these Deities? Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda. [devotees chuckle] We have taken instruction from him in this way. Interviewer: These photographs? Brahmānanda: The photographs are taken by our own men. Interviewer: Ah. From…, from Indian temples? Prabhupāda: No. That... This our New York temple Deity. Interviewer (2): Ācchā. Interviewer: But how you got this Deity? Prabhupāda: Huh? Interviewer (2): Here. Brahmānanda: From India. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: From Jaipur. Brahmānanda: Jaipur, but all the śṛṅgara decorations, they're all made in America... Interviewer: Oh, I see. Rādhā-vallabha: Everything's made in America. Brahmānanda: ...by the American devotees. Interviewer: Ācchā. Beautiful. [pause] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Like this we got one hundred and two places.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. One hundred and two places. All over the world.] Interviewer: All over the world. Prabhupāda: All big, big cities. London, we have got two temples. Interviewer: London, two temples? Brahmānanda: Many gurus and svāmīs have come to the West, but they have not established not one temple. And Prabhupāda has established one hundred. Prabhupāda: Neither so many devotees. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The daily…, the monthly expenditure in our New York temple is six lakhs rupees, every month... Interviewer: Every month. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Just for that one temple in New York. Interviewer (1): [Transl. Don't our ministers and others from India visit New York and see all this?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Tarun went to London.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. What did he say?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. He and his wife. He was praising so much.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. He is fond of all this.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Here he says "This is Vaikuṇṭha." He always praises us.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Any other minister like Siddhārtha Roy or any Central ministers or Prime minister?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. No. Only Tarun went. When I was in London that time he, Shipu and some of the secretaries visited.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. This year I have applied for a sponsorship and discount in the Home ministry, if it works out then I will go and see.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Good. Go and stay in our temples. Either in the city or outside the city. The temple donated to us in the outskirts of London… have you heard the name of George Harrison?] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes. George Harrison.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. He donated that house worth 55 lakhs.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Harrison? In London?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Hmm. He is one of our good devotees. There is another devotee named Alfred Ford who is the great grandson of Henry Ford.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Alfred Ford.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. He also gave me so much money. Millions of rupees.] Brahmānanda: Ambarīṣa. Prabhupāda: Ambarīṣa. [Transl. He is my disciple. I changed his name to Ambarīṣa.] Ambarīṣa. Interviewer: Ambarīṣa. Prabhupāda: Ambarīṣa. Interviewer (2): Ambarīṣa. Prabhupāda: Ambarīṣa. [Transl. There was a king named Ambarīṣa.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes, Ambarīṣa Mahārāja.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. He was a son of a rich man. He used drink wine and do nonsense. Now he has become a devotee. He says "Now all my money is yours."] Interviewer: Where is that? Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: In Berkeley; Berkeley, California; just next to San Francisco. Interviewer (1): [Transl. Just recently you brought 316 devotees from New York by chartered Jumbo flight, so how was the response from the Government of India?] Prabhupāda: That is recent. Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes. Did the Government react favourably?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. That I don't know. But they have come.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. They came. Every year they come like this?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Yes.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. They come every year like this for Dola or Holi festival? These] devotees are only from States or from other places also? Prabhupāda: No, no. Various places... Interviewer (2): Various places. Prabhupāda: Europe, America, Australia... More from America. Interviewer: [Transl. More from America. These names ending with "Dāsa"] You have given the Indian names, Vaiṣṇava names. [Transl. You have got thousands of ] …devotee also. How you give every individual an Indian name, spiritual name? Prabhupāda: That is a mystery. Rādhā-vallabha: Jaya. Brahmānanda: It is a mystery. Prabhupāda: [Transl. They are there in the Śāstra.] Interviewer: I asked some of the women devotees who were just standing front of your car, and they are giving typical Indian names. I asked, "How you got the names?" "My spiritual leader who has given," and so I have that name. Prabhupāda: [Transl. They get initiation. At that time their original name is changed.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. But how? You are sitting here. How do you change the names of devotees who are living far away?] Prabhupāda: No. [Transl. I do it. I manage it through letters.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. By letters. How many letters do you receive?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Every day I get about twenty, twenty-five letters at least, sometimes more. I have to manage everything personally. But I have chosen some secretaries.] I have got about twenty secretaries. Interviewer (1): [Transl. Twenty secretaries. Why twenty secretaries? What they do?] Prabhupāda: Different parts of…, of the world managed by them. Interviewer (1): [Transl. Are all of them here now?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Yes. They have come now. He looks after Africa.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Africa.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. He is in-charge of Africa.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Where do you live in Africa?] Brahmānanda: Nairobi. East Africa. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: [indistinct] Brahmānanda Swami. Interviewer: [Transl. All the] ...money he was speaking totally on your books and collection, from your devotees. Prabhupāda: [Transl. Yes. We have no other special source of income. They also contributed, but not in cash. They gave house, land etc.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Who?] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Just like George Harrison.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. George Harrison.] Devotee: Just in Chinese language. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He's translated Bhagavad-gītā into Chinese, and this is his wife. She is from China also. Prabhupāda: [Transl. He has also come,] and his wife. Interviewer (1): I see. [Transl. Tell me his Indian name.] Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yaśomatīsūta dāsa. Interviewer (1): I see. Very good. Prabhupāda: So you can come forward and bring me book. Both, your wife also. Interviewer (1): [Transl. [aside: to his partner, Hey, you talk to them separately.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. Okay. I can take them outside. But I don't have...] [indistinct background discussion] Prabhupāda: After this, you take them to the prasādam pavilion. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, yes. Actually when we all take—I don't know if they could all… They want to show them all over, and if they take prasādam... Prabhupāda: Anyway, they must take prasādam. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. [indistinct background discussion] Interviewer (1): [Transl. We can use gestures and actions to interview them.] [indistinct background discussion] [laughter] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Just see how their behavior! We have vaiṣṇavas everywhere.] [indistinct background discussion as interviewers ask Yaśomatīsūta questions] Interviewer: Get closer. Where from you came from? Yaśomatīsūta: Hongkong. Interviewer (1): Hongkong. You belong to Hongkong? Yasomatisuta: Yes. Interviewer (1): You adopted this movement in Hongkong or outside Hongkong? Yasomatisuta: In Hongkong. Interviewer (1): In Hongkong. In what year? Yaśomatīsūta: Nineteen seventy-four. Interviewer: Back then, what you were doing? Yaśomatīsūta: I was working. Interviewer: Working as? Yaśomatīsūta: [indistinct conversation with interviewer] Yaśomatīsūta: As an Industrialist, But I was not satisfied. Interviewer (1): Then? Yaśomatīsūta: So I change to [Indistinct] There I met the devotees. Interviewer (1): Met the devotees of this movement? Yaśomatīsūta: Yes. Then I met Śrīla Prabhupāda. Interviewer (1): You said before you had a temple in Hongkong? Prabhupāda: Still we have got. Interviewer: Still you have got. So, you were used to go to that temple...? Yaśomatīsūta: Yes. Interviewer: Is it part of city Hongkong? Yaśomatīsūta: Ah, yes. Interviewer: Kowloon. Yaśomatīsūta: Kowloon. Interviewer: Ah. Yaśomatīsūta: Kowloon is a, is a part of Hong Kong. Interviewer: Is another place? Yaśomatīsūta: Kowloon is a... Interviewer: Kowloon. Yaśomatīsūta: ...is a, is a district. Hong Kong's the whole place. Interviewer (2): Kowloon. Yaśomatīsūta: Yeah. Interviewer: You've been there since 1975, Kowloon? [indistinct] Interviewer (1): I met your Prime minister in 1975 Mr. [indistinct] Yasomatisuta: Kowloon? Interviewer (1): I met your Prime minister Mr. [indistinct] They did all the preaching and all that? Yaśomatīsūta: Devotees have been in Hong Kong since 1974. Interviewer: [indistinct] How you, you make a totally transformed in the Vaiṣṇava philosophy? In '74? Yaśomatīsūta: Yes. Interviewer: Why you came then? Yaśomatīsūta: This question… I very much dedicate to Srila Prabhupāda, and I was convinced totally of the philosophy. Interviewer (2): When did you meet him? Before devotee or after devotee? Yaśomatīsūta: Ah, yes, before. Prabhupāda: [Transl. Those who become my disciple, mostly they become after reading my books.] Interviewer (2): [Transl. After reading books.] Interviewer: You're mainly attracted on the conception of these books, right? Yaśomatīsūta: Yes, and after then... Interviewer: And why…? Yaśomatīsūta: And nice devotees, and dedication and devotion to His Divine Grace. Interviewer (1): They have some, some kind of contact with social work in Hongkong? They used to do? Yaśomatīsūta: Yes. Yes. Interviewer: So what were your previous names? Yaśomatīsūta: My name, my parental name is Yeung. Y-e-u-n-g—that's how you spell it. Interviewer: What is it again? Yaśomatīsūta: Y-e-u-n-g. Interviewer: Y-e-u-n-g. Yaśomatīsūta: Yes. Interviewer: Yeung. Yaśomatīsūta: Yes. Yeung. Interviewer: I think this is not a full name. Yaśomatīsūta: It’s the surname. Interviewer: Huh. Yaśomatīsūta: And then my family name is Pak Hei, P-a-k H-e-i. Interviewer: P-a-k... This is your full name, huh? Yaśomatīsūta: Yes. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Pak Hei Yeung. Interviewer: You transformed into? Your present name now? Yaśomatīsūta: Yaśomatīsūta dāsa. Interviewer: You are Yaśomati? Prabhupāda: Yaśomatīsūta. Yaśomatīsūta means kṛṣṇa. Interviewer: Ah, Kṛṣṇa. Prabhupāda: [Transl. Sūta means son.] Interviewer (2): Ah. [Transl. You have given him a wonderful name.] And your wife? Yaśomatīsūta: Ah, Mai Shen Wa. She's from Taiwan. Interviewer: From Taiwan. You married Kṛṣṇa conscious or after coming? Yaśomatīsūta: After. Interviewer: After. What is her name—previously, or present name? Yaśomatīsūta: Mai Shen Wang. Ah, M-a-i S-h-e-n. Family name. S-h-e-n. Wang. [interviewer repeats spelling] Interviewer: Present name. Yaśomatīsūta: Nityalīlā dāsī. Interviewer: What? Yaśomatīsūta: Nityalīlā. [spells name for interviewer] Interviewer: Nityalīlā dāsī. Oh I see. You believe in this Vaiṣṇava teaching? Nityalīlā: Yes. Interviewer: Can you say [indistinct]? Yaśomatīsūta: Yes. Interviewer: You can speak in Sanskrit or Bengali or any language? Yaśomatīsūta: Oh, no. Prabhupāda: Huh? Ah. Interviewer: Only Chinese. Prabhupāda: Chinese, English. Yaśomatīsūta: Also English. Interviewer: English? Do you believe that, ah, this philosophy will still be here several thousand years in this world? Nityalīlā: [indistinct] Interviewer: Kṛṣṇa is already [indistinct]. Do you get special, ah, response from your heart after this prayer and all that? You get mental peace, other peace? Nityalīlā: Surely. [indistinct] Interviewer: [indistinct] Nityalīlā: [indistinct] Interviewer: Do you believe in its eternity? Nityalīlā: Pardon? Interviewer: Do you believe in its eternity, that this is eternal? This will live long for years? Nityalīlā: [indistinct] Prabhupāda: It is eternal. Yaśomatīsūta: Eternity. Interviewer: You believe so? Nityalīlā: [indistinct] Interviewer: So now you have your own copies full of this devotional work. Nityalīlā: [indistinct] Interviewer: But your translations will reach the Chinese people? Yaśomatīsūta: Those you mentioned. Nityalīlā: [giggles] Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, because they come over to the Hong Kong side, and we have distributed so many thousands of these literatures; so some of them have taken and gone back. Nityalīlā: China. Interviewer: You will go then after this Dola, or you stay here? Yaśomatīsūta: Ah, [indistinct]. Interviewer: In the festival. After the festival you go back to Hong Kong. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He has job there also. Interviewer: He? Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He’s working there also. Interviewer: In, in that... Yaśomatīsūta: Hong Kong. Interviewer: Very good; very intelligent. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He has to translate all these books into Chinese now. Lifelong work. Yaśomatīsūta: [indistinct] [laughter] Interviewer: How is the standard of the translations? Nityalīlā: [indistinct] Yaśomatīsūta: This one, ah, [indistinct]. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What did he say? Yaśomatīsūta: Well, he said he's going to write a comment [indistinct]. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: One Chinese professor from Harvard reviewed his translation work and was willing to give a review for it. He appreciated so much he's willing to write a complete review on the book. Interviewer: Is this in South China [indistinct]? Yaśomatīsūta: [indistinct] Brahmānanda: In Harvard University... Yaśomatīsūta: Harvard. Brahmānanda: ...in America. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Harvard. Interviewer: Harvard. Have you been to United States? Brahmānanda: He just spent, uh, six months in New York, in our New York center… Interviewer: I see. Brahmānanda: …doing translation. [pause] Interviewer: Thank you very much. Just fold your hands like this. That's all. They are never happy with photographs, you know? Please stop this. Please stop this. Not to me. [indistinct discussion between interviewers and devotees] Interviewer: Special fair, or something like that is going? I'm totally sure that you're on a special fair. Yaśomatīsūta: Thank you. Interviewer: How is the reaction of the other Chinese people about this movement? Yaśomatīsūta: Well, their recep…, their reaction is, ah, rather slow. [indistinct] ...we have so many books in so many languages that [indistinct]. Interviewer: It is slow but steady. Yaśomatīsūta: Yes. Brahmānanda: Just like Prabhupāda came to America alone. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Forty rupees only. Interviewer: Forty rupees only? Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Interviewer: This is really an adventure, just think of, that a man, at the age of seventy, with such difficulty. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Hmm. Most daring. Interviewer: Most daring. Prabhupāda: Many friends doubted, that "This man is going to die." Interviewer: Going to die. Brahmānanda: Before Prabhupāda left... Interviewer: Ah. Brahmānanda: ...and people were saying that "You will go there, you will die.” Prabhupāda: They discouraged, that "Don't go at this age..." Interviewer: Ācchā. Prabhupāda: "...leaving Vṛndāvana." The bābājīs said. Interviewer: [laughs] And what is the reaction of your coming back as such a [indistinct] preacher? Prabhupāda: Appreciate. Interviewer: They appreciate. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The main road of Vṛndāvana, Chattikara Road, they have renamed it, ah, "Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Road." In Vṛndāvana. Interviewer: They have transformed the name. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Brahmānanda: And we will build two gates, Bhaktivedanta Gates, on eith…, on both, either entrance to Vṛndāvana. Interviewer: Why? Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: City, ah, Municipal…, the Municipality has decided the main resolution for this—changing the name of the main road and putting two main gates on the entrance of the city in Prabhupāda's honor. Brahmānanda: Some people in the Municipality wanted to make it "Indira Gandhi Road"... Interviewer: Ah. Brahmānanda: ...but they have decided to make it "Bhaktivedanta Swami Road." Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The things they questioned, "Who has done the most to spread the fame of Vṛndāvana worldwide?" And they had to certainly agree that Śrīla Prabhupāda had done it. Interviewer: I think that is why Government is sometimes discouraging. [laughter] Prabhupāda: No, I don't mind that, discouraging. Only that I did not say that they do not allow these boys to stay... Interviewer: In Vṛndāvana. Prabhupāda: No... Prabhupāda & Brahmānanda: …in India. Prabhupāda: The Immigration Department.... Interviewer: Why? What is that? Prabhupāda: That is their policy; special policy is there. And the result is that I have to send back, and again they come back, at ten thousand rupees. Such fifty cases, at least, happening every year. So just imagine, at least fifty cases, ten thousand per—head—what is the loss. Brahmānanda: Big money. Prabhupāda: Unnecessary. [Transl. Try to do something about this.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Yes.. For this you will have to ask the External Affairs Minister.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. You should write about this. These people are vaiṣṇavas. They come here to live and study. Here they have a misconception that the English priests had come here before like this also. But these people are not politicians.] Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So Śrīla Prabhupāda, we should give them a tour now... Prabhupāda: Yes. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...of…, and of everything ending with the prasādam pavilion with prasādam. All the devotees will be taking prasādam, so they may get some good photographs. Prabhupāda: Ah, [Transl. While taking prasādam you take a photo.] Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: All is.... We have at least five hundred international devotees assembled, and they all take prasādam. Make a good photograph... Interviewer: Oh, yes. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And there's plenty of light inside. Interviewer: Is it... Will there be special anything special during this Dola festival? Prabhupāda: [Transl. There will be a theatrical performance. You all come and watch. See how they act.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Because I am going to mention that you are preparing some special function for Dola.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Yes. You write.] What play we shall...? Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We're performing Rāma-līla, Caitanya-līla, and some Kṛṣṇa-līla. Oh, yes, and also some special plays of, ah… [aside:] What is the playwright? That playwright, Ghosh, the Bengali playwright? Prabhupāda: Oh, Girish Ghosh's Caitanya-līla, a portion of it. Interviewer (1): That we will write tomorrow in English. [interviewers discuss whether or not to remain for dramas] Prabhupāda: [Transl. The scripts are from our books.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. You have them all.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. And a portion of Girish Ghosh's Caitanya-līla. If you simply read that book of ours nicely, you will understand everything about us.] Interviewer (1): [Transl. Okay.] Prabhupāda: [Transl. Everything.] Interviewer (1, 2): [Transl. So we take your leave.] Prabhupāda: Hmm. Devotees: Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda. [offer obeisances] Yaśomatīsūta: There's a tape on. Prabhupāda: Then stop it. [break] [end]