Svarūpa Dāmodara: It's Svarūpa Dāmodara. I don't know if this will be proper or not, but I got a telegram from family in Manipur saying that the grandfather expired, and so they want me to come back for few days to do the ceremonial rites. So do you think shall I go for a few days, Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: It is necessary?
Svarūpa Dāmodara: It is not absolutely necessary.
Prabhupāda: Those who are engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service, they have no necessity for all this. Sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ parihṛtya kartam.
- devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṟṇāṁ
- nāyam ṛṇī na kiṅkaro rājan
- sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ
- gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya kartam
- (SB 11.5.41)
Anyone who is fully engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service, he has no other duty. He has finished all other duties. Tepus tapas te (SB 3.33.7). This is the injunction of the śāstra. He's no more anyone's servant, or he has got any duty to do—śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyam—because he has taken the shelter of the ultimate Supreme Person. This is the injunction of the śāstra. So this śrāddha ceremony is not required for a devotee fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Gato mukundaṁ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyam. Śaraṇyam: He is the only shelter. And who has taken shelter of Kṛṣṇa, he has no other duty. This is the śāstra. Yes. (break) You now give. (drinks) (break)
Bhavānanda: Prabhupāda just asked where it was.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh. Locked in the almirah. Locked in your almirah.
Prabhupāda: Why?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, because it's valuable. I wanted to make sure it was not lost or anything. I mean, this medicine is going to save your life, Śrīla Prabhupāda, so I consider it most valuable.