Prabhupada and Arundhati devi dasi

Expressions researched:
"Arundhati" |"Arundhati's"

Notes from the compiler: Quote not yet compiled for: Letter to: ISKCON N.Y., Bhavananda and others — London 15 August, 1971

Wedding Ceremonies

Initiation of Sri-Caitanya dasa and Wedding of Pradyumna and Arundhati -- Columbus, May 14, 1969:

Devotees: Hare Kṛṣṇa! Haribol! (break) (fire sacrifice)

Arundhatī's father: Arundhatī.

Prabhupāda: (Arundhatī's father repeats) "...was so long under my care. Now I give you a charge. You please take and accept her as your wife." (Pradyumna repeats:) "Yes, I accept Arundhatī as my wife and I take charge of her life in all conditions. I will never separate with her and jointly we shall execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!

Prabhupāda: You say, (Arundhatī repeats) "I accept you as my husband, Pradyumna, and I shall help you in the matter of Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout my life. I shall never separate from you in all conditions, in happiness or distress." Now you change the garland. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya. Now you... You put this cloth upon... Now cover the head. Yes. And give her head vermillion, red. (break) (prayers continue) Put silently on this. Now chant, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. (devotees repeat) (Prabhupāda repeats) (end)

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

Discussion with BTG Staff -- December 24, 1969, Boston:

Hayagrīva: And then Jayadvaita does the composing.

Prabhupāda: Jayadvaita and others.

Satsvarūpa: Pālikā and Arundhati.

Prabhupāda: Now, I heard that you are composing fifty pages daily, altogether?

Jayadvaita: No, not fifty pages. The manuscript pages, yesterday we composed about forty manuscript pages.

Discussion with BTG Staff -- December 24, 1969, Boston:

Prabhupāda: No, no. These forty pages, they are complete?

Jayadvaita: Yes. They are complete.

Prabhupāda: That's nice. That is encouraging. So even if you complete thirty pages daily, that will be very nice.

Pradyumna: They'll get faster because Śyāma dāsī and Arundhati were just typing fourteen hours a day in Columbus and they were getting at least twenty manuscript pages done, and now it's...

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- July 26, 1976, London:

Bhagavān: Yes. You have a cook here? Your temple was cooking?

Jayatīrtha: No, Arundhatī is cooking. I think Palika should come? Palika should not come for cooking?

Prabhupāda: She has come?

Jayatīrtha: Should she not come? She wants to come.

Arrival at Farm -- July 29, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

Harikeśa: Hari-vilāsa's wife? Parijāta?

Prabhupāda: Oh, she's,...

Harikeśa: She's here.

Prabhupāda: All right.

Harikeśa: So I explained to her, and Arundhatī's going to show her the cooker and everything, so...

Prabhupāda: Arundhatī cannot. She cannot.

Harikeśa: No, she's not so... She knows the mechanics of it, but the details are difficult. When we get to the farm there is a separate kitchen, and every spare minute I will be with him and just teach him everything in great detail.

Room Conversation -- July 31, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

Jyotirmāyī: Because you were saying that the parents can keep their children and teach them themselves, like Arundhatī is teaching Aniruddha. So does it mean that the parents can...

Prabhupāda: He complained that "My boy is not being properly..." So I said that "You teach your son."

Jyotirmāyī: She can keep him and teach him all the time? Until he's older and so on?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. Yes. That is the duty of the father and mother. Along with that, he can teach others also. These things are to be organized. But some way or other, our students should be given education and spiritual life, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Individually, collectively, somehow or other.

Evening Darsana -- August 11, 1976, Tehran:

Prabhupāda: So Aniruddha Prabhu requires spectacle? Or it is...

Arundhatī: No, it is just a toy glasses, toy. He does not require.

Prabhupāda: You require spectacle, glass?

Arundhatī: No.

Prabhupāda: No, I am asking him. Do you require? Yes?

Arundhatī: Prabhupāda is asking if you need those glasses.

Garden Conversation -- September 7, 1976, Vrndavana:

Hari-śauri: The monkeys live on the porch. One of those porches on the guest house where Arundhatī's room is. Around the other side.

Prabhupāda: You have not closed?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: They're not in the dome. We looked into that. It's covered. Dome's completely...

Prabhupāda: No, the top room they have not closed?

Hari-śauri: No, they have balconies. They said... I was told that they're living on one of the balconies around the other side where Arundhatī's room is. They don't chase them away so they just stay.

Room Conversation -- November 11, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Where is Arundhati?

Hari-śauri: Probably still upstairs.

Prabhupāda: Ask her to make that bitter melon separately in little quantity.

Hari-śauri: Just fried or...

Prabhupāda: No, boil and then fried. Make it soft.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Or if you make two or three baras with nim, that is easy to take, and palatable. With chick pea flour, fresh nim leaf paste and equal quantity of chick pea flour. Just fry it.

Hari-śauri: Oh. Like those spinach pakoras.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Arundhati was doing that in Vṛndāvana.

Hari-śauri: With nim leaf?

Prabhupāda: Yes. She was doing nice.

Hari-śauri: You would like those for breakfast?

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is good for the... So if Arundhati makes, she can come and tomorrow make one or two baras in the morning.

Hari-śauri: For your breakfast.

Prabhupāda: So you are keeping your health all right?

Girirāja: Yes.

Prabhupāda: All right.

Room Conversation -- January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: So both Arundhati and Pālikā, they're in period. So this girl...?

Hari-śauri: Abhirama's wife.

Prabhupāda: Wife. She knows?

Hari-śauri: She knows how to cook, yes. She got trained up by Pālikā.

Prabhupāda: In the cooker. And she'll cook today?

Hari-śauri: Yes.

Prabhupāda: This was suitable.

Rāmeśvara: What to do? Every month this happens. They both at the same time every month?

Hari-śauri: Not usually.

Prabhupāda: No... So the today's standard is nice. So she must take instruction or you do it. This was all right. We shall continue this standard for the time being. Yes.

Room Conversation -- February 10, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: Last night I could not work.

Arundhati: Pradyumna just gave me a tape. It must have been from the other night?

Prabhupāda: Ācchā?

Arundhati: So...

Room Conversation -- October 14, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Should I... One thing I can do. Since Arundhatī will be typing, I can sit here with the dictaphone rather than tape recorder. Then she can do just as she always did, typing off the dictaphone.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- October 24, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Who will go with me?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Your Divine Grace, Bhavānanda Mahārāja, myself, Bhakti-caru Mahārāja, Śatadhanya Mahārāja, Upendra Prabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Bharadvāja. That'll be on the plane. Then in the train, Pradyumna, Arundhatī, some other devotees also. So eight of us will be going on the plane with you, seven plus Your Divine Grace, and you will have three seats. Altogether, we're purchasing ten seats. So I don't think there will be any difficulty. We're going in full team. Scientist is with us. In case of any special knowledge, Svarūpa Dāmodara will be there. Bhavānanda with his gun. (laughter) Full team. I think it will be a nice journey, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: I hope.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Arundhati -- Los Angeles 26 January, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter of dated January 22, 1969, and I am pleased to send herewith your beads duly chanted upon by me. Your spiritual name is Arundhati which means the great star. It is the name of the wife of Vasistha, a great devotee of Krishna.

I am very pleased to know that you are taking a very sincere interest in perfecting your life in Krishna Consciousness. You are fortunate to have the association of your godsister, Jadurani, and I am sure that she, along with the other devotees in the Boston temple will be able to help you in many ways. Be sure to chant your sixteen rounds daily and read one chapter of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, one chapter daily. Follow the four regulative principles strictly, and I am sure that Krishna will see that your life quickly becomes more and more happy in devotional service. The attitude which you expressed is very nice, and please continue to develop this attitude always.

Letter to Arundhati -- Los Angeles 21 February, 1969:

I thank you so much for your letter dated February 13, 1969, and I have noted the contents with much pleasure. Your tears at kirtana are a good sign, and it shows that Krishna is pleased upon you. So remain in this status and chant nicely. You will see you will be more and more graced by His Lordship.

Your desire to serve me is very praiseworthy. But because I am the humble servant of Krishna I cannot accept any service on my account. So what I say you follow so you may advance in Krishna Consciousness. That is your service and I accept it on behalf of Krishna. This is a very good attitude, and your wish to serve me actually means to serve Krishna.

Now there is ample activities for you as the Radha-Krishna Murtis are installed in Boston temple. So under the direction of Satsvarupa try to help out in these activities as far as possible.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Columbus, Ohio 14 May, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 12, 1969, delivered by Arundhati here in Columbus. This evening Arundhati will be married to Pradyumna, and they appear to be a very nice couple.

Letter to Pradyumna -- New Vrindaban 16 June, 1969:

Now Arundhati and Syama Dasi shall be in charge of composing at least four hours alternately. In this way, the machine should be used from 7:00 in the morning till 10:00 at night. Syama Dasi may type from 7:00 in the morning till 11:00 o'clock. Then Arundhati will type from 11 till three. Then Syama Dasi from three until seven o'clock, and Arundhati from seven o'clock until ten o'clock. In this way, you and Hayagriva shall guide them so that the machine will be fully utilized.

Letter to Arundhati -- New Vrindaban 16 June, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 11, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding your question about offering Prasadam, whatever is offered to the Deity actually it goes through the Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master offers to Lord Caitanya, and Lord Caitanya offers it to Krishna. Then Radha Krishna eats, or Jagannatha eats, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu eats, then the Spiritual Master eats, and it becomes Mahaprasadam. So when you offer something, you think like that and chant the Gayatri mantra, and then everything is complete. At last, ring the bell, take out the plate and wipe the place where the plate was kept.

Regarding your second question about greeting karmis, if a karmi is a friend, you just greet him Hare Krishna, and with folded hands touch your forehead. If the karmi is a superior relative, then chant Hare Krishna and bow down down to him on the ground. That should be the etiquette in our society transactions. Whenever you have questions, you ask your husband or ask me. You should always be very sound in knowledge about Krishna Consciousness. But as you are very much attached to chanting, there will be no difficulty for you.

Regarding your last question about the ecstatic symptoms of chanting Hare Krishna, you should know that the Hare Krishna Mantra has an equal effect upon all devotees. Just like the sunshine has an equal effect on everyone, but when it is covered, the sunshine has a different effect. Similarly, the influence of the Hare Krishna Mantra becomes manifest when one is no longer covered by the ten offenses to chanting. The more we become free from the ten offenses, the more the effect of chanting becomes manifested through us. Everyone can become a great devotee, being freed from the offenses 100%, simply by one's determination and effort.

When the Composer machine is purchased, you will be engaged from eleven till three PM, and from seven till ten PM. That means seven hours in a day. When you are typing, you should know that it is as good as chanting, because the work is also on the matter of Krishna. Chanting on the beads and chanting on the typewriter Composer machine are both transcendental sounds of Krishna. Krishna's Name, His Fame, His Qualities—all of them are on the absolute platform, and therefore there is no difference between one and another. So do not be misled that you are typing and not chanting. Our books should be on the standard sample of Teachings of Lord Caitanya. Your husband will guide you, and Hayagriva will guide you, so do it nicely.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 4 July, 1969:

Regarding Gayatri Mantra, Arundhati's insistence is not very good. If she wants to offer prasadam to the Deities, she can simply chant Hare Krishna Mantra. There is no need of chanting Gayatri Mantra. One has to be formally accepted by the Spiritual Master for this, so you can tell her this fact. That is not the system. For the time being, if Arundhati wants to offer prasadam, the Hare Krishna Mantra will do.

I hope this will meet you in good health,

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. You have written nothing about Arundhati's training for the Compositor machine.

Letter to Arundhati -- Los Angeles 10 July, 1969:

I beg to thank you for your letter dated July 7, 1969, and I have noted the contents. I know you are a very sincere devotee girl, and Krishna will bless you more and more because your qualifications are quite on the standard line. It is ordained in the Vedas that a person who has got implicit faith in Krishna and the Spiritual Master, to such person the real import of the Vedas is revealed. I see that you are chanting very nicely, you have good service attitude; so continue this attitude. You have a very nice husband also, so I shall be very glad if I see both of you advancing in Krishna Consciousness as you are doing it nicely at present. Maya is sometimes strong enough to put impediments on our progressive march. But if you stick to the principles of rules and regulations and chanting, keeping faith in Krishna and Spiritual Master, then Maya cannot touch you.

At present your most important duty is to compose books with the help of your husband. I am very much anxious to see that you begin this work as soon as possible. You have written nothing about your training in working the composer machine. I hope this will meet you in good health. Please offer my blessings to your husband and the others.

Letter to Jaya Gopala -- Los Angeles 12 July, 1969:

Krishna Consciousness is the absolute need of the present day society, and there are many people who will come to join us if we simply make these teachings of Bhagavad-gita and rest of the Vedic literature available to them. So try to sell Back to Godheads as far as you are able to do with only Arundhati and yourself on Sankirtana Party, and soon others will come to join you. I have no objection to sending you some men from Los Angeles, but you also should try to recruit some men from amongst the residents of Columbus. That is the best plan.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 15 July, 1969:

Regarding the Composer Machine, let things go on as quickly as possible, and when the earliest time can be set up, then Arundhati and Syama Dasi will learn how to operate the machine. This Composer is a vital part of our book program, so if you can do it combinedly very nicely, it will be the greatest service to my Guru Maharaja.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 24 July, 1969:

Please offer my blessings to Arundhati. I hope this will meet you in good health.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 6 August, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter of July 31, 1969, along with Arundhati's letter, and I have noted the contents carefully.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 6 August, 1969:

Arundhati asked me whether the two pictures she has described in her letter are bona fide. The answer is no. For a picture of Nrsimha Murti, she may refer to the one painted by Jadurani. That is very nice.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 16 August, 1969:

If you want to learn Bengali, there are many sources. Simply Caitanya-caritamrta will be sufficient. I shall deliver to you my old copy when I go to New York on the way to Europe. Don't worry. Your immediate attention is to make the book composition perfect, in cooperation with Arundhati, Hayagriva and Syama Dasi. When it is nicely done and it is in due course, then you can divert your attention to other subject matters.

Letter to Arundhati -- Hamburg 9 September, 1969:

I beg to thank you for your most recent letter (undated), and I have noted the contents. I hope by this time your health has improved, and as you are doing such important work for Krishna, you must be careful to take proper care of your health. You are an intelligent girl, so conjointly with your husband, Pradyumna, you can determine what are the best measures to be taken in this connection. I understand that you have quickly learned how to operate the Composer machine, and I am anxious to learn how things are progressing in this connection. Have you begun yet to compose Nectar of Devotion? Several days ago more pages of this book were sent to you, up to page 233, and as you finish work on these pages, I shall be sending you more.

Regarding your question, "What does Rama mean in Hare Rama? Is this Balarama or Lord Ramacandra?", you can take it both ways, because there is no difference between Ramacandra and Balarama. Generally it means Krishna, because Rama means enjoyer. So either Ramacandra, Balarama or Krishna are all Visnu Tattvas and are always enjoying. The sakti tattva, or jiva tattva is always enjoyed. Our position is always predominated. If we remain in that position and properly use our small independence, then we remain happily eternally. But artificially, if we want to be independent and imitate the Supreme Enjoyer, then it is delusion. Material life means trying to imitate the Enjoyer, and spiritual life means to remain in one's eternal position as enjoyed. This Hare Krishna Mantra is addressed to the energy of the Lord and the Lord Himself to keep the chanter in his eternal position of being enjoyed. The prayer is "My Lord, Oh the Spiritual Energy of the Lord, kindly keep me engaged in Your service." Regarding your other question, Krishna in His four-handed Visnu Form is within our hearts, but He is not different from two-handed Krishna.

Letter to Arundhati -- Tittenhurst 2 November, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 24, 1969. Regarding your working hours, if you can work more, of course that is very good. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that we should be engaged in Krishna's service always, without any gap. So we should mold our life in such a way that not a minute will be blank without Krishna's service. Regarding your first question, the proof of Krishna Consciousness is that the Bhagavad-gita it is oldest transcendental literature about God-consciousness in the history of the world. It is estimated from authoritative sources of Vedic literature that Bhagavad-gita is eternal truth and was first revealed within our knowledge at least 120 millions of years ago. So what other literature can be compared with Bhagavad-gita throughout the whole world or universe? The second proof is that Krishna is accepted as the Supreme Personality, not only in the modern age, namely within two thousand years, by great acaryas like Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Lord Caitanya, etc., but before this in all Vedic literatures given by Vyasadeva, Krishna is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So whatever is spoken by the Supreme Lord Himself is certainly the most authoritative. So far as we are concerned, we do not make any alterations in the statements of Krishna. Therefore we are also authority. Just like 2 plus 2 equals four is mathematical truth. Anyone who accepts this axiomatic truth and works on this principle is also authority. To become authority is simply to follow the authority. If someone makes 2 plus 2 equal to 3 or 5, he is a rascal. That means he does not follow the authority and thus he fails to become himself an authority.

Regarding crying, when someone cries during kirtana, this crying is crying of the soul. But if anyone tries to imitate such crying to get some adoration, that is a bodily function. Regarding you final question, Krishna is the Cause of all causes. That is a fact. But we being subordinate to Krishna, sometimes we create our cause under Krishna's sanction only. Just like a child may persist in trying to do something, but unless the mother allows he cannot do it. Another example is that a criminal is put into jail by the trying judge; this is caused by the judgement of the court, but it is actually caused also by the criminal person. I hope this will meet you in good health.

Letter to Hayagriva -- London 7 November, 1969:

Recently I received one letter from Arundhati that she wants to work very hard. So Syama Dasi should also do this as it was previously programmed. The main point is that the press should not sit down for want of printing matter. That you will kindly manage.

Letter to Pradyumna, Arundhati -- London 14 November, 1969:

I am very much anxious to hear from you. In my last letter I was informed by you that you were going to send me some specimens of the composed version of Nectar of Devotion, but I have not received anything till now. Besides that, you have not called for the remaining portion of the manuscript. This means the major portion is not yet composed. In the meantime, the press is ready. The press has already begun to print, and without having any book ready, they are printing other materials. But the press is specifically meant for printing my books. So far as I can understand, 12 or 13 books are ready for going to the press. Simply they require to be composed. So please let me know what is the exact position why the work is going slowly. Here some respectable friend has promised to publish my book, Krsna, in two parts. The manuscript is also ready. So after Nectar of Devotion, I want to take up this work immediately. Formerly the plan was that Arundhati and Syama Dasi combinedly will compose at least 20 pages daily under the guidance of Hayagriva and Pradyumna; Pradyumna will be responsible for the diacritic marks and Hayagriva for correct English and grammatical composition. This was the arrangement. The press is ready, the manuscripts are ready, but I find from your department things are not up to the standard. So please let me know what is the position whether it is possible for you to take this responsibility. If you take the responsibility, what is the difficulty that things are going so slowly? I shall await your reply to this letter and shall thank you very much in anticipation.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- London 14 November, 1969:

Regarding the delay in composing books, I have just now written to Pradyumna and Arundhati asking them the reason why they are delaying the matter. So on receipt of their clear reply I shall take necessary action.

Letter to Jaya Gopala -- London 19 November, 1969:

I have written one letter to Pradyumna and Arundhati regarding composing my books, so I am very anxiously awaiting the reply. Please inform them about this and let me know what is the situation there.

Letter to Pradyumna -- London 27 November, 1969:

Prior to this I received one letter from Arundhati explaining why things were delayed, and you have also kindly explained it. So everything by Krishna's Grace is all right. Regarding your dismissal from the job, I think it is Krishna's indication that you are not meant for such kind of service. Now you can freely and completely engage yourself in Krishna's service as He has very kindly allotted to you in the matter of editing, transliterating and helping your wife in composing. This is sufficient engagement for you.

Letter to Pradyumna -- London 27 November, 1969:

The next point is centralization of our publication department in one place. Krishna has given us now a nice press in Boston, and you are now free from your job, so it will be very nice if you and your wife move to Boston conveniently. As you have written that Brahmananda has almost agreed to pay for the machine, so you have no anxiety. We have already discussed about purchasing another machine. So far as Syama Dasi is concerned, I do not know how it will be possible for her to live alone without her husband. I think her husband also requires her help in so many ways. So I am not very much sure about Syama Dasi's moving to Boston. But you and Arundhati can do it immediately. I am also going there, so we shall sit down together and call also Hayagriva and Syama Dasi to hold a nice meeting of all the editors, printers, etc. We will chalk out a nice program so that our work may go on very smoothly without any impediments, and surely Krishna will help us. So far as I am concerned, I would have been very glad to stay with all the editors and press workers in my presence, but the only consideration is the climatic influence.

Letter to Pradyumna -- London 27 November, 1969:

Thank you very much for your letter and be blessed by Krishna. Offer my blessings to Srimati Arundhati. She is a very nice girl, sincere servant of Krishna, and I shall always pray for her advancement in Krishna Consciousness.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 22 February, 1970:

Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Arundhati, and be happy in Krsna Consciousness.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 20 March, 1970:

Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Arundhati. I hope you are both in good health

Letter to Arundhati -- Los Angeles 1 April, 1970:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated "nil."

If you have got extra time, I encourage you to learn Sanskrit along with your husband. So far your movement is concerned, in pregnancy, you should strictly not ride on cars or any conveyance until your delivery, neither should you dance also.

So you stick to the composition work, and according to Brahmananda's program I understand you will have enough work to do now. Actually, the composition work was taken from August 1969, but still they are not yet completed. If you have no other composing work to do, then you may begin to compose Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Canto, immediately.

Regarding the Sushruta Samhita, I have no information about this. Sushruta Samhita is a big book of medical science, it is not able to be understood by ordinary laymen. I do not know why you bother about this, but if somebody helps you from this book, I have no objection.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 21 June, 1970:

Please accept my blessings and offer the same to your good wife, Arundhati, and your firstborn son, whom you may give the name Aniruddha. This is very good news. Now you must take the responsible post of both husband and father to guide both these good souls, your wife and son, to the perfection of human life in Krsna consciousness. You and your wife are both intelligent and advanced in devotional science, so work conjointly to raise your son in the best atmosphere of ideal family blessed by Krsna in Krsna consciousness.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 11 July, 1970:

I am very happy to know that your family is doing well in Krsna consciousness. Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Arundhati, and your son, Aniruddha.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Arundhati -- Bombay 22 March, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 1, 1972, wherein you state that you have returned to your rightful position of serving Krishna in the Miami center, and that you are very much repentiful and wish to return to your husband. That is very good news to me, as I am always glad to see when my disciples exhibit good sense. Yes, you have understood rightly that one can never really be satisfied apart from Krishna, so I think that now if you simply stick very closely to the regulative principles and always keep yourself and your child 24 hours engaged in devotional service, so much so, that you will be too much busy serving Krishna to think about other things. In this way, your mind can become steady.

Now I have taken your husband with me, and he shall always remain with me from now on to learn perfectly sanskrit language exactly as it is understood by our line of acaryas from Krishna Himself. We shall be leaving India in a few days time, and after visiting our centers in the Far East we shall be returning to Los Angeles, so I do not think it will be practical for you to join your husband just now, but perhaps later we shall see.

Letter to Arundhati -- Amsterdam 30 July, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 19, 1972, and I am simply surprised that you want to give up your child to some other persons, even they are also devotees. For you, child-worship is more important than deity-worship. If you cannot spend time with him, then stop the duties of pujari. At least you must take good care of your son until he is four years old, and if after that time you are unable any more to take care of him then I shall take care. These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear.